Medieval retelling of the epic story of the Rāmāyaṇa, wherein the hero Rāma is identified with the universal spirit (adhyātma) and is nonviolent; narrative takes the form of a dialogue between the Hindu deities Śiva (as Maheśa) and Pārvatī (as Umā); traditionally ascribed to the legendary author Vyāsa. Manuscript, Rāma's heart (Rāmahṛdaya), is a devotional (bhakti) praise text from the opening section (Bālakāṇḍa) of the Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa to be used in private or public meditation and worship and deals with the primordial manifestation of the Hindu deity Viṣṇu as his incarnation (avatāra) as the earthly king Rāma. Opens with a series of mantras and evokes heavenly imagery (such as Rāma's form of light or jyotirūpa).
Title from colophon (f. 4r); alternate title Rāmahṛda from the title page (f. 1r).; Written in 9 lines per leaf.; 4 leaves foliated 1-4, upper left and lower right verso.; Colophon: iti śrībrāmāṃḍapurāṇe uttarakhaṃḍe umāmaheśvarasaṃvāde // adhyātmarāmāyaṇabālakāṃḍe // śrīrāmahṛdayastotrasaṃpūrṇaṃ // saṃvat // 18 // 40 // miti adynasudi // śukravāre // parasarāmadāsavaiṣṇavā (f. 4r).; Dated saṃvat 1840 (1783) (f. 4r).; Mistakes covered over in yellow or blacked out; significant syllables, words, or phrases highlighted in red throughout.; Non-Latin script record.; In Sanskrit (Devanāgarī)
Physical Location:
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Coll. 390 Item 2668
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