Rama is the breath of Karnataka — from Mysore to the smallest halli, Dr. Jyothi Shankar reveals how deeply Valmiki’s epic lives in Kannada soul.

Dr. Jyothi Shankar from Mysore opens with an invocation and makes a striking observation: for the people of Karnataka, Rama is not just a deity but a daily practice. From the humblest village Hanuman Gudi requiring only jaggery and coconut as prasad, to the grand Ramotsava, Ramapattabhisheka and Ramanama Sankirtana traditions, Rama-bhakti runs unbroken across all of Karnataka’s social strata.

The talk explores why Karnataka, despite its strong regional identity, accepted Valmiki as Adhikavi (supreme poet) and Ramayana as Adhikavya — pointing to the twin anchors of Satya and Dharma that make the Ramayana as relevant in the 22nd century as it was in the Treta Yuga. Karnataka’s own Ramayana tradition — including the Torave Ramayana — is celebrated as a living continuation of this civilisational inheritance.

About The Speaker:
Dr. Jyoti Shankar is a scholar and storyteller known for her work in bringing the Ramayana to a wider audience. Dr. Shankar is dedicated to preserve and disseminate the Ramayana through accessible and engaging formats.