Book Review

The Oracle of Rama With Commentary by: David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri), published: First Indian Edition: 1999, ISBN: 81-208-1558-0 (cloth), 81-208-1559-0 (paper), Format: Softcover, pages, 190, Price: Cloth Rs.195, paper Rs.95. Order from Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Limited, 41 UA Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 110 007.

David Frawley in the book under review has taken up the adaptation of Tulsi Ramayana’s Ajna Prashna viz ‘Ramacharita Manasa’. Oracles are a means to gain special knowledge about our destiny by consulting cosmic powers that transcend the ordinary level. The two most common oracles used today are the Chinese I Ching which follows a nature symbolism, and the TAROT cards which reflect a medieval hermetic symbolism. Sometimes oracles were spoken through a person. Some oracles work through nature spirits who dwell in the mountains and forests.

The Oracle of Rama consists of seven chapters divided into seven sections with each section in turn further divided into seven verses making a total of three hundred and forty three verses. The outline of the Oracle of Rama is similar to Ramayana in that both are divided into seven chapters. Chapters one, two, three, five and six reflect the course of the life of Rama. The fourth chapter stands apart from the story as a glorification of the divinity of Rama and his companions. The fourth and middle section of each chapter is similar (except in the seventh chapter). The seventh chapter, after the conclusion of the story contains diverse prognostications.

© "Dilip" (July/Sept. 2001) published by Sudakshina Trust (Regd.), 126A, Dhuruwadi, AV Nagvekar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400 025.

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