Räm(a)däs(a) 150death and Räma’s merging with Vi•æu.
The Rämäyaæa, both in its original as
well as in vernacular recreations such as
Tulsïdäs’s (Hindï) Rämcaritmanas or
Kambha’s (Tamil) Kambharämäyaæam,
has remained extremely popular in
India and parts of it are performed in
the yearly Rämlïläs, theatrical recre-
ations especially of the battle between
Räma and Rävaæa, and Räma’s entry
into Ayodhyä. The Rämäyaæa has been
edited in seven volumes in a critical edi-
tion by the Oriental Institute of the
University of Baroda (1960–75).Räm(a)däs(a), Swami
(1608–81)
Maharatta poet-saint, author of the
Daÿabodha, founder of the Rämdäsi
saƒpradäya, a very popular order
which attracts mainly low-CASTEpeople.
Its headquarters is in Sajjangad, near
Satära.Rameÿvaram (‘Lord Räma’)
A famous place of PILGRIMAGEon an
island between India and Ÿrï Laökä. Its
17th-century Ramanathaswamy temple,
considered the most perfect example of
Dravidian architecture, is set on the
place where according to tradition
Räma established a Ÿivaliöga (see
LI¢GA(3)) to atone for the killing of
Rävaæa, a brahmin by birth, who had
abducted his wife Sïtä. (See also
RÄMÄYANA.)Ranade, R. D. (1889–1957)
Eminent Indian scholar, professor of
philosophy at Fergusson College, Pune,
and at Allahabad University, vice-chan-
cellor of Allahabad University and
founder of Adhyatma Vidyapith at
Nimbal. He was a lifelong student of
mysticism and the author of A
Constructive Survey of Upanisadic
Philosophy(1926), The Creative Period
of Indian Philosophy(1928), Pathwayto God in Hindi Literature (1959),
Pathway to God in Marathi Literature
(1961), Pathway to God in Kannada
Literature(1960) and of many books in
Marathi, Hindï and Kannada.rasa (‘juice’, ‘taste’, ‘flavour’)
In Indian aesthetics, a term for emotion-
al experience in drama and poetry.
Usually nine rasas are enumerated:
ÿøögära(erotic love), häsya (laughter),
karuæa (compassion), krodha (anger),
bibhatsa (vexation), vïrya (heroism),
bhayänaka (fearfulness), adbhüta (won-
derment), ÿänta (tranquillity). The
GAU¥ÏYA VAIÆŒAVAschool under the
inspiration of CAITANYAused the rasa
theory in the development of a religion
based on emotion. Kø•æa is called akhi-
la-rasa-amøta-mürti, the perfect embod-
iment of all rasas, and devotees are
instructed to develop all emotions in
relation to Kø•æa, culminating in
ÿrögära rasa, which was most perfectly
embodied in the GOPÏS, among whom
RÄDHÄstands out as Kø•æa’s favourite.Rä•tøïya Svayamsevak Sangh
(‘National Volunteer Organization’)
This was founded in 1926 by K. V.
Hedgewar (1889–1940), a member of
the HINDÜMAHÄSABHÄ, to counteract
the perceived rising Muslim influence in
the Indian National Congress. It devel-
oped into a tightly organized para-
military movement with many branches
and front organizations attracting stu-
dents, workers and businesspeople. It
claims a membership of 5 million.
Members of the RSS were instrumental
in the development of the VIŸVAHINDÜ
PARIÆAD. Its weekly, The Organiser,
keeps pressing for the establishment of
Hindü rä•flra.ratha-mela (‘chariot-festival’)
A gathering at which the IMAGEof a
deity is placed on an often multi-storeyedEncyclo - Letter R 10/2/03 9:57 am Page 150