Namaste, I Am Rāma, and This Is Rāmāyaṇa

iv
N
amaste. I am RAJENDRA PRABHU, the author-illustrator of
this book. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did as its
writer and illustrator. Visit me at: www.namasteprabhu.com
Let me take this opportunity to thank the many individuals whose
contributions made this book in its present form a reality.
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
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First and foremost, my immense gratitude and obeisance towards Maharshi Valmiki and successive
generations of yogis and truth-seekers who documented, preserved, and wrote commentaries on the
Ramayana for us to enjoy and feel inspired to this day.
Special thanks to Shri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao and Shri K M K Murthy who have made Srimad
Valmiki Ramayana with its original shlokas in Sanskrit along with English translations easily
accessible via their website valmikiramayan.net. The English translations of Sanskrit shlokas from
Valmiki Ramayana mentioned in this book have been taken from this website (copyright dated
1998-2008) with minor modifications if at all.
Additionally, a note of thanks to authors of other Ramayana books, especially those by Shri R K
Narayana and Shri C Rajagopalachari, and other sacred and philosophical books which were vital
research materials for this book and inspired my writings.
Deepest thanks to Shri Girish Prabhu K, Shri (Dr.) Vikram Dravid, and Shri Premanand Bhat, who
generously gave their time whenever sought, and whose invaluable inputs and feedback on multiple
drafts have enriched this book significantly. I am much obliged to them for their love and care
towards making this book as complete and accurate as possible.
A big thank you also goes out to Shri Dhaval Jamnadas, and Sanskrit scholar Shri (Dr.) Nayan
Manindra Jha, Ph.D., for providing their editorial services with the same devotion that I had when I
wrote my manuscript. I am truly humbled by their dedication and their guidance to me for the
success of this book.
When it comes to self-publishing, it truly helps when you have supportive friends and relatives you
can bank on. I sincerely thank Shri Dilip Shah whose prior experience as a self-publishing author of a
children’s book series (“The Story Pyramid”) has been a blessing in disguise for me. It is because of
many such noble souls who have provided much-needed support and encouragement at the right
times that I could proceed further along on this project. My earnest gratitude to all of them.
Finally, heartfelt gratitude to my parents who
Sanatana Dharma and spirituality, and all
inspired me to stay true to the spiritual path.
kindled my early interest in the tenets of
those I have encountered in my life who have