Concordance of the Fauna in the Ramayana

Sibadas Chaudhuri’s article “Concordance of the Fauna in the Rāmāyaṇa” provides a systematic index of animal names mentioned in Vālmīki’s epic. Recognising that the Rāmāyaṇa is rich in descriptions of the natural world, Chaudhuri compiles references to birds, mammals, reptiles and mythical creatures across the poem’s seven books. For each animal he lists the Sanskrit term, an English or vernacular equivalent and citations of cantos and verses where the term appears. The concordance includes domesticated animals such as horses, elephants and cows; wild creatures like lions, tigers, deer and monkeys; aquatic beings including fish and crocodiles; and avian species like peacocks, parrots and swans. Chaudhuri notes that certain animals carry symbolic meanings—for example, the vulture Jaṭāyus represents loyalty, while monkeys personify bravery and devotion in the Kiṣkindhā episode. The article also highlights regional terms and dialectal variants used in different recensions. Chaudhuri sometimes cross‑references the Rāmāyaṇa’s fauna with zoological information from the Mahābhārata and Purāṇas to clarify identifications. For species where the Sanskrit term is ambiguous or has multiple referents, he discusses philological interpretations and cites Ayurvedic or lexicographical sources. The concordance is arranged alphabetically by animal name, with each entry followed by a list of book (kāṇḍa) and verse numbers. Because the article is primarily a reference tool, it does not present a narrative argument but serves scholars interested in the epic’s ecological imagery. By cataloguing the fauna, Chaudhuri enables comparative studies on symbolism, mythology and ecology in classical Sanskrit literature. He concludes that the rich animal imagery of the Rāmāyaṇa reflects the poet’s intimate knowledge of forests and wildlife and underscores the epic’s setting in a landscape teeming with diverse creatures.

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