Vali Motcham Translated into Tamil, by S. Sanjeevi, Priest of Kothanda Ramar Temple The central theme of the book is based on Ramayana epics, written in Tamil. It is named as 'Kama Ramayanam' in this regional language. Poet Kambar born in the 13th century, was honored as 'Emperor of Poets.' His Ramayana little bit differs with the Valmiki Ramayana which was original. Poet Kambar did not agree with Rama when he killed the king of monkeys, Vali. He killed Vali when he was fighting with his brother. It was done without his conscious. So Kamba wrote that Rama has done a sin, even though he was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. So far he wrote that Rama kept silence, when he was asked by Vali, why he has done that injustice thing to him, even though he was not an enemy to Rama. By that silence, Kamba declares that Rama accepted his sin. But in this book it is definitely proven that Rama did not do any mistake. He has already conveyed his presence in many ways. It was the mistake of Vali, who did not receive the message properly. To strongly prove that, unlike in the Kamba Ramayana, Rama declares the proper answer to Vali in his own voice. Lord Rama's benevolence, braveness, deplomacy, sense of keeping the promise at any cost, all has been explained in a beautiful way. At last the book also salutes the great Vali also, for his uncomparable braveness, and love with Lord Rama. The first edition of the book is a poetic translation, but I am working on an enlarged version with more commentary. If you are interested to help print the book, please contact me. Sincerely, S. Sanjeevi Priest, Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple

Dave Schiller and S. Sanjeevi pose with local fisherman in Ramesvaram. Photo by Nori Muster, 1989. return to India tour

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