Bali as an Ethical Hero: Rereading of Ramayan...

Bali as an Ethical Hero: Rereading of Ramayana and Review of Vanaras

Author Name : Heera B

ABSTRACT

Ramayana is an ancient epic in India considered sacred by Hindus. As the title suggests, it is the story of Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The epic deals with the Great War waged against the Asura King Ravana by Rama to regain Sita who is abducted by Ravana. The story delineates many evil characters ranging from Asura King Ravana to Vana Nara king Bali. This paper is an attempt to analyse the character Bali with reference to Vanara by Anand Neelakantan. In Ramayana, the character Bali is delineated as a cruel, primitive and barbaric Vanara king who deserts his own brother for attaining his brother’s wife and kingdom. Anand Neelakantan in his book Vanara gives an entirely different perspective.

Keywords: Vanara, Bali, heroic, Ramayana