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SHRI RAMACHARITAMANASA of Tulasidasa is the single most popular book of the Hindus, which, for over four centuries, has greatly appealed equally to the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, the old and the young, and the scholar and the common man. Its popularity is by no means limited to India, nor are the Hindus its only readers. The message of the Ramacharitamanasa is all the more relevant today as it reiterates man`s faith in the soundness of moral order that sustain the world. Dark and evil forces may, and will, on occasiions, threaten to disrupt that order but divine intervention will ultimately chasten and subdue those forces.Keeping in mind people`s ever-increasing quest for the epic, this unique edition of the Ramacharitamanasa with verse to verse Hindi and English translation along with Tulasidasa`s original text has been prepared. The translation rendered by an accomplished scholar maintains the intrinsic richness of the original. Special care has been taken for making it useful to the Indian brethren living abroad to whom the dialect of Tulasidasa`s original may be somewhat incomprehensible. There has been a long-standing demand from the vast Indian community settled abroad for a standard and authentic edition of the Ramacharitamanasa. The present edition has been designed to meet their requirement by using the most modern printing and processing techniques to make it a work of international standard.A speical feature of this edition is the inclusion of Lavakushakanda, Shri Hanumanchalisa and Shri Ramashalaka Prashnavali. The mode of its recitation is given as a separate appendix. Adding to its uniqueness is the inclusion of important section containing Indian, European and American scholars` criticisms on Tulasidasa`s Ramacharitamanasa. A glossary of important proper nouns and epithets is given at the end. DR. R.C. PRASAD translated Shri Ramacharitamanasa into simple and lucid English and Hindi. He was University Professor of English in Patna University where he taught for about three decades. He was an eminent author, translator and editor. He had a good number of books to his credit. The book is a highly rewarding experience for those who want to know the essence of Hinduism and the reason why the poet calls the story of Rama a "perpetual source of blessing and joy." A.J. PHILIP, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES
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