6-BOOK REVIEW: THE LAST WORD ON RAMAYANA:     Part-5 (last)
VENTAKESTWARA RAO NARLA (2004) [257P] VISALANDHRA PUBLISHING HOUSE
BOOK REVIEW: BY KAVNEET Singh            
Chapter 23 – Seetha and Rama
_However deeply Rama may have loved Seetha, his love for her was not above his_ _devotion to his father, his respect for Brahmins, his attachment to brother and his_ _obsession with the image of greatness of his lineage. That is why Rama promised Kaikeyi_ _(step-mother_ _that he would be ready to offer not only the kingdom, all the wealth, and his_ _own life, but even Seetha to bharata, if his father_ _were to ask him to do so (19th_ _Sarga-_ _Ayodhyakanda). Seetha angrily took Rama to task, “Like a pretender, you want to leave_ _me at the mercy of others”’_ _perhaps since she had heard Rama’s words that he was_ _prepared_ _to entrust her to Bharata. Again Rama clearly tells Seetha, “O Seetha, I am_ _prepared to give up my life, give up you_ _and give up Lakshmana, but……”’ while_ _promising the Rishis, that he would never fail to fulfill the promises made to_ _them…..[Page 241]_
It is hilarious to see a mature Seetha who makes sense not only about her own personal sensitive situation but also exhorts Rama not to kill people who bear no animosity and ill will against him. On the other hand Rama with his fanciful speeches talks utter nonsense that belies all logic, other than the fact that he is mentally stuck in the same position as trained by the Brahmin-rishis and refuses to see beyond his nose. After the fratricidal war is over, ultimately this great supposed superhero Rama ends up committing suicide miserably ending his life in the river Sarayu. With reluctance, but if someone has to be worshipped then it should be Seetha but definitely not Rama.
The primary purpose of the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the eighteen epics is really to protect and safeguard the determining of birth-status and to strengthen and stabilize the feudal system of the Brahmin combine. This self perpetuating system has got stronger day by day through the advent of modern day leeches, like the Swamis, Yogis, Sanyasis, Babas, etc in addition to the Brahmins priests. This is the barrier of falsehood which stands between genuine critical-radical mental growth and the diabolical digressive system of the Santana Dharam which has stunted and stultified geniuses, in various fields from thriving and prospering in the land of ‘Shiv-Ling’. Narla’s deep study and research into the Ramayana gives the readers a completely new and a candid insight as to the real meaning of the fairytale which millions of Hindus worship as the gospel truth. Narla’s books are joy to read as everything is based on the touchstone of ethics, logic and common sense. Another fantastic book, by V.R.Narla for any serious student of Hinduism.