Namaste,
Ever since HDF member kumar_s mentioned the Hindu company Vimanika Comics and its beautiful art, I've become increasingly interested in exploring Hindu comic books and graphic novels. The art can be inspiring at times. Lengthy and complex sacred stories from the scriptures are compressed into the essential events, providing a convenient summary, and stories of individuals who are part of much larger story are retold on their own. Another advantage of Hindu graphic novels is that they can explore the questions that modern readers have about the gods, heroes, and villains portrayed within the scriptures, as when they explore the puzzles of the mixed moral journeys or dual moral character of Rāvaṇa or Karṇa. I would like this thread to be dedicated to discussing the merits of any Hindu graphic novels, comic books, or related art that any member has discovered.
I recently ordered graphic novels, Dashaavatar: Volume One and The Sixth: The Legend of Karna, from Mumbai-based Vimanika Comics and, to give me something similar to explore during the long, long wait for delivery from Vimanika, I bought five graphic novels from New Delhi-based Campfire: Krishna: Defender of Dharma, Draupadi: The Fire-Born Princess, Ravana: Roar of the Demon King, Sita: Daughter of the Earth, and Tulsidas' Sundarkaand: Triumph of Hanuman, an adaptation of the section that is the heart of the Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa of the poet-saint Tulsīdāsa. (At one level it is about the deeds of Lord Hanumān, but it is also about devotion to God, discovering one's purpose and potential, overcoming obstacles, and, it is said, crossing the ocean of saṃsāra, which is the cycle of suffering and reincarnation, to reach the goal, much like the corresponding section of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.)
Review of Tulsidas' Sundarkaand: Triumph of Hanuman
Campfire (Kalyani Navyug Media Pvt. Ltd) leaves impression that it is not a very Hindu or spiritually-oriented company. Most of its graphic novels are adaptations of classics of Western literature. Its Hindu graphic novels are labeled "mythology*," separated from its classics, and grouped together with stories from the Greek myths. However, it turns out that some of Campfire's writers and artists are spiritual Hindus. I was pleased to read at the beginning of the graphic novel Tulsidas' Sundarkaand: Triumph of Hanuman these words from the author of the adaptation, Shyam Prakash: "This book is dedicated to Lord Salasar Balaji," meaning Lord Hanumān. On the page before the dedication, artist Sachin Nagar drew a Vaiṣṇava tilak or ūrdhva-puṇḍra (a symbolic mark representing the feet of Lord Viṣṇu), although not one belonging to any particular Vaiṣṇava sampradāya (Viṣṇu devotee tradition).
The adaptation is skillful. Other Campfire artists dazzle the reader with more realistic styles, but Sachin Nagar's simpler style works here. The artist effectively portrays the calm faith, cheerfulness, and total devotion of Lord Hanumān that so inspire devotees of Lord Viṣṇu. We see the servant-hero single-mindedly, selflessly, and fearlessly overcoming all obstacles in faithful service of the Lord. Writer Shyam Prakash provides only the most essential dialogue, narration, and text for thought bubbles, incorporating information from outside of the sundara kāṇḍa to clarify what is happening when needed. However, I wish that Prakash had thought to include some of the opening verses of the sundara kāṇḍa section. Perhaps he omitted the first verse as too sectarian, but he might have included, "There is no other craving in my heart, O Lord [Rāma]...Grant me intense devotion to your feet..." (tr. Gita Press) to set the tone and provide a key for young readers as to one part of the deeper meaning of the story. He might also have found space for some of the great proverbs found throughout this section, such as "through the Lord's might, the most tiny snake might swallow Garuḍa" (ibid.). In spite of these omissions, the theme of devotion is clear enough throughout. I was also delighted to find that key scenes involving Vibhīṣaṇa, who is a virtuous devotee of Śrī Rāma, though Vibhīṣaṇa was born an asura among asuras (generally unrighteous spiritual beings opposed to God), were included.
praṇām
* While it's true that modern academics often use the word "myth" in a neutral sense to mean a sacred story that explains an origin, practice, or doctrine, the more common meaning of the word today is something that is widely believed but not true.
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