Wikipedia:Peer review/Rama/archive1

Rama
Hari Om - I strive to make this a Featured Article. I've added a lot of material and fresh references, and I request your much-needed help and advice. Jai Sri Rama! Rama&#39;s Arrow 07:44, 1 February 2006 (UTC)


 * This is not 100% related but currently the WP:INCOTW is Diwali and I asked someone to to translate Ganesha from Italian wiki it:Ganesha, which is featured and has now done so. After these become FA, I will start helping make Rama one too.


 * Currently the article is too much focused on the Ramayana, more needs to be on temples about him, why he is popular, his appearance etc.  D a Gizza Chat  &#169; 07:50, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

Scope of work
Hi - I didn't want to summarize the Ramayana all over, so I've organized this article in the following logical format:


 * 1) Classical names, literature on Rama
 * 2) Two sections on Avatara
 * 3) Prince of Ayodhya
 * 4) Rama's dharma on banishment issue
 * 5) The love of Rama-Sita
 * 6) Ideal manhood - supplemented by Bharata, Lakshmana, Hanumana, etc.
 * 7) Rama's dharma and actions in war
 * 8) Rama Rajya
 * 9) Myth differences and historical analysis
 * 10) Rama across the world - SE Asia, festivals, inspirations

There's a lot more work to be done, including many revisions to reduce size. Rama&#39;s Arrow 08:09, 1 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Please get more refs, especially from more sources. Consider naming all the regional Ramayanas. Also, try to reduce the size to keep it at a constant 40kb.-- May the Force be with you! Shreshth91 ($ |-| r 3 $ |-| t |-|)  14:43, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree with this. I said in the peer review for Lothal that it probably wouldn't matter if only one/two sources were used. This is because Lothal is a much less controversial topic than Rama. With conflicting modes of belief/worship, Babri Masjid, etc., you need multiple sources to ensure that all major POVs regarding Rama are given voice. I don't know much about Hindu mythology, so I'll leave contents analysis to the neighborhood experts. Saravask 08:06, 2 February 2006 (UTC)


 * I'm yet to complete reading the article. Following is my wishlist at this point.
 * Rama's characterisation in other works like Panchvati, Ramayan by Tamil poet Kambar, Iravana Kaaviyam and others which I've not read. I vaguely remember the poets' bias in favour of Lakshman, Vaali and Ravan respectively. It would be interesting to bring those views on Rama as well. However, the comparision of the different versions of the story itself may be left for Ramayan. (I notice that the article mentions the other Ramayans.)
 * Mention his gesture towards Gukan. A critical note can be that the author might have had a "patronising" attitude there. Of course, without references, these might be original research. * -- Sundar \talk \contribs 06:42, 3 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Hi Sundar - thanks for your tips - I know that this article needs to incorporate a lot from Southern renditions, SE Asian renditions. And it must not be a summary of the epic, but a discussion of Rama himself. I plan to do a major revision on Feb 6. Rama&#39;s Arrow 17:13, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

1. The first paragraph seems to imply that Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu who became the subject to Valmiki's work. But I suppose he really is a character in Valmiki's work who later got elevated to the level of a God.

2. Please make sure that the story follows the Valmiki version rather than the regional ones.

3. Maybe something about the status of Rama over the centuries. My understanding is the Valmiki treated him more like an ideal human and that the godly status that he enjoys now came in the c.14-16 centuries with the Bhakti movement.

4. The two paragraphs about Parasurama are not too important to the main narrative and may be trimmed.

5. I have heard a version of Rama and Lakshmana ending their life by jumping into Sarayu river as they could not fulfil a word that gave to Durvasa. Does this appear in Uttarakanda ?

6. Can you expand the idea of him as a North Indian king invading the South which currently is just two lines. I suppose there will be literature available on this.

The article is a bit too pious for my liking. It should be told a little more dispassionately, but that is a subjective opinion. The little that I know on this topic, it comes from misc. sources. So feel free to reject the comments which aren't good. Tintin (talk) 00:41, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Reply on Tintin's points
Hi - thanks for your input, Tintin, but I have some comments:

(1) There are a lot of revisions to make - first will come Feb. 6. I want to balance, as you say, the assertion that Rama was an Avatara, as well as simply a mythological king who inspired religion, folklore, social traditions.

(2) The story primarily follows Valmiki, but understand that to describe Rama, one needs to add the perspective of others: for instance, Laos regards Rama as a Buddha - how does this fit in with the war he fought to rescue Sita. A big difference that re-defines Rama.

(3) Status of Rama will be discussed in length but only with credible sources - I agree with you and I'll work hard to make sure this point is covered.

(4) "Initiation of the Avatara" is important, but I'll add it in with the section on the "Avatara". It is important becoz it discusses the nature of an Avatara, of what it means when one says Rama is an Avatara - it gives literary evidence of his nature. Plus, its just gripping to read of how the Divine mantle passes from One to His Successor...

(5) The end of life section is coming up Feb 6th.

(6) North-South question will be expanded - I'm trying to dig up credible sources on this, coz most of the assertions come from Dalit, Dravidian extremists.


 * The Ramayana has a huge number of different versions. My source from Ramesh Menon conflicts with some of the points you raise. A lot of the sources on Rama's Aryan/Dravidian thing, other stuff are really obscure and unreliable themselves. But I will try to solve the problem with inline citations.


 * I know about the piousness - I'll do my best to clean it up. Rama&#39;s Arrow 05:14, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Rama&#39;s Arrow 07:26, 4 February 2006 (UTC)


 * 1. Please verify the copyright status of the images. 2. Avoid starting a section with left aligned images. 3. I've got a pic of Banganga Tank that u can use here. =Nichalp   «Talk»=  09:49, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Ascent
I will introduce a major round of revisions, expansion and re-organization from February 13 to February 18. I believe this article will be ready by that day. Jai Sri Rama! Rama&#39;s Arrow 14:30, 10 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Rama will be significantly upgraded, expanded and refined on February 23, 24, 25 and 26. Rama&#39;s Arrow 13:48, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

helloddg

Status of review
I request that the PR be kept open, becoz major changes are forthcoming (sorry about previous promises not coming through) and the PR will have to tackle fresh developments. Rama&#39;s Arrow 17:30, 28 February 2006 (UTC)