Hanuman in the Ramayana of Valmiki and the Ramacaritamanasa of Tulasi Dasa.

• Author: Anderson, Leona

Catherine Ludvik's Hanuman in the Ramayana of Valmiki and the Ramacaritamanasa of Tulasi Dasa is a well-researched volume that contains an abundance of information on the popular monkey deity of Hinduism, and an interesting analysis of the development of his character. Essentially, this is a textual study focusing on Valmiki's Ramayana and Tulasi Dasa's Ramacaritamanasa. Both are important to the understanding of Hanuman historically and in contemporary times. The emphasis here is on articulating and contextualizing Hanuman's transformation from a trusted minister in the early stages of the tradition to the ideal devotee of the later tradition.

The book begins with some general comments on Hanuman, paying special attention to his monkey identity and the origins of his mythology. Some remarks follow on the development of Hanuman's character in the Valmiki Ramayana, its changes between the Valmiki Ramayana and the Ramacaritamanasa, as well as Tulasi Dasa's own perception of Hanuman.

As Rama becomes recognized as an incarnation of Visnu with the addition of books one and seven of Valmiki's Ramayana, Hanuman's story is also expanded. New exploits are added, such as the burning of Lanka, flying to the Himalayas, and bringing the mountain peak back to the battle site. Ultimately Hanuman becomes endowed with superhuman powers and skills and he acquires immortality.

In a brief but thorough survey of the medieval Ramayana literature Ludvik, following Bulcke's work, examines four new personae acquired by Hanuman, viz., an incarnation of Siva, the founder of Ramabhakti, a brahmacarya, and an object of veneration in his own right. All of these further define the monkey god's personality and coincide with his increasing popularity and the development of a distinctive cult following.

Turning to the Ramacaritamanasa, Ludvik explains the prominence of Hanuman in light of Tulasi's own devotion to him and emphasizes that after Tulasi Dasa's death, the cult of Hanuman became especially important in north India. Legends which arose after Tulasi Dasa are magnified manifestations, she argues, of his own devotion to Hanuman.

Ludvik's analysis takes us, scene by scene, through exploits of Hanuman in the order they occur in the Ramakatha. The majority of the text, chapters three through seventeen, is devoted to an in-depth study of these scenes. These chapters are as comparative as they are detailed. Valmiki's Ramayana and Tulasi's text are situated in...