Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic describing the deeds of Lord Rama, the
seventh avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Ramayanamasam or 'the
month of Ramayana' begins on the first day of Malayalam month Karkkidakom
(July 17, 1999) and, called so because as a ritual in almost every
Hindu home in Kerala the epic is read and completed within a span
of 31 days.
The practice was considered auspicious as well as a consolation to
the agrarian society, as this rainy month gave least yield and was
marked with poverty, diseases and unhappiness.
The ritual of Ramayana reading evolved in the 16th century after
Ramayanam Kilippattu, written by the great poet Thunchathu Ramanujan
Ezhuthachan the father of Malayalam langauge, became popular among
the common man as this Malayalam version of the epic was simple and
easy to understand. Ramayanam has always been an integral part of
every Hindu's life. There were scholars to interpret the epic in every
court and they even accompanied the king/nobility everywhere - so
says the Hamilton's Hand Book about the importance of Ramayanam.
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