# Jagamohana Ramayana

The Jagamohana Ramayana (Odia: ଜଗମୋହନ ରାମାୟଣ , pronounced Jågåmohånå Rāmāyåṇå ), also known as the Dandi Ramayana (Odia - ଦାଣ୍ଡି ରାମାୟଣ, pronounced Dānḍi Rāmāyåṇå ) popularly across Odisha is an epic poem composed by the 15th-century poet Balarama Dasa. This work is a retelling of the Ramayana, though not a direct translation.

## Synopsis

The story of this version is presented as a detailed narration by Shiva to Parvati, while the composer is Sri Jagannatha, who is said to sit on the tongue of the author. The story begins with Sati and how Shiva is reunited with Sati in the form of Parvati. After being reunited with the goddess, Shiva narrates the story of Rama to Parvati. The central plot of the Sanskrit Ramayana is followed in the text, with many significant departures in the plot and the characters, influenced by local Odia tradition.
The plot of the Ramayana begins with Adi Parba through Dasharatha's efforts of getting a son by holding a yajna. It shows Ayodhya as developed medieval Odia village, strewn with large cottages and hardworking people
According to the author, the Nirguna Brahman (formless creator) has manifested in Kaliyuga as Jagannatha, who is addressed as the oldest god (Odia - ବୁଢ଼ା ଦିଅଁ, pronounced Buṛhā Diã). Rama is Jagannatha or Vishnu himself, Sita is Lakshmi, Lakshmana is Balabhadra and his other brothers are partial incarnations of Vishnu. The gods scheme to have Rama exiled from his kingdom following his wedding so that he would fulfil his destiny of slaying Ravana, sending the heroes Khala, Durbala, and Saraswati to influence Kaikeyi's hostility towards Rama. Shiva is regarded to have achieved liberation by chanting the name of Rama. Jagannatha himself is attributed as the author of the work according to Balarama Dasa, who calls himself the scribe. In his chapters, the author employs versions of the legend from the Puranas, kavyas, southern and northern folk traditions, and natakas.

## Structure

The work is written in the Dānḍi metre (Odia - ଦାଣ୍ଡି ବୃତ୍ତି). It is a 14 letter meter suitable for narrative style. It is a lengthy work. Each Kānḍå of the Odia version starts with an ode (Odia - ଈଶ ସ୍ତୁତି) to Sri Jagannatha. Further, it follows the framework of the seven cantos as in the original Sanskrit Ramayana, with only the names of Bāla Kānḍa and Lankā Kānḍa being changed to Ādi Kānḍå and Jyudhdhå Kānḍå respectively. The cantos in Dānḍi Rāmāyåṇå are:
* Ādi Kānḍå (Odia: ଆଦି କାଣ୍ଡ)
* Åjodhyā Kānḍå (Odia: ଅଯୋଧ୍ଯା କାଣ୍ଡ)
* Āråṇyåkå Kānḍå (Odia: ଆରଣ୍ୟକ କାଣ୍ଡ)
* Kisikindhā Kānḍå (Odia: କିସ୍କିନ୍ଧା କାଣ୍ଡ)
* Sundårå Kānḍå (Odia: ସୁନ୍ଦରା କାଣ୍ଡ)
* Jyudhdhå Kānḍå (Odia: ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କାଣ୍ଡ)
* Uttårā Kānḍå (Odia: ଉତ୍ତରା କାଣ୍ଡ)

## Cultural aspects

This work brought the tale of Ramayana to the Odia speaking region and it became quite popular. It faced significant opposition from the Sanskrit proponents and opponents of Odia literature. It is heavily influenced by the Jagannath culture. In multiple places the writer says that the writing is carried out by Jagannath himself. The book also enlightens some significant aspect of contemporary lifestyle. There are descriptions of pregnancy, customs and rituals followed during pregnancy etc. There descriptions of cultural practices that follows the birth of a child. There are descriptions of natural beauty of Odisha, living standards, foods, locations etc. It also contains reference to the popular Indian foods at the time such as puri, malpua, laddu, and rasgulla.

## Derivative works

There were multiple books written that summarised the Jagamohana Ramayana called Tika Ramayana. There were several of these abridged versions. One such work by Maheswara Dasa was just forty printed pages.
In southern Odisha, the original Odia Ramayana circulated with new material being added over the years. This eventually grew to a massive volume of 3000 pages. This version is known as Dakhini Ramayana.