Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

Second only to the Mahabharata, the longest epic narrative in history, the Ramayana of Valmiki stands alone in its influence over the centuries throughout eastern Asia in the fields of dance, music, theatre, art and history. Just as reading Shakespeare cannot communicate the full power of a theatrical performance, so such an epic loses its great vitality
when limited to the printed page.
Michael Sternfeld’s background in dance and theatre made him keenly aware of this fact. And so from a deep love affair with the Ramayana which began over 11 years ago, came the persistent idea to bring forth for the first time in English the entire narration on audio cassette. His background in East-Indian religious studies and sensitivity as a performing artist gave him the unique combination of talents required for such an ambitious project. The idea conceived and begun seven years ago has at last reached fruition with the publishing of the third volume at the end of 2003.