Concordance of the Fauna in the Ramayana
Summary
This instalment of a concordance of the Ramayana catalogues animal names from SAKUNA to SYENA. Each entry defines the Sanskrit term, offers synonyms and cites occurrences in the epic and other texts. SAKUNA denotes a large bird that gives omens, while SAKUNI is a smaller divinatory bird. SAKULA is identified as a type of fish and SANKHA as the conch shell used in ritual. The list continues with SABALA (spotted cow), SARABHA (deer), SARARI (heron), SALABHA (grasshopper or moth), SALYAKA (scaly fish) and SASA (hare). For each term, the author provides definitions from lexicons like Amarakosha and cites chapters in the Ramayana—covering books such as Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara—where the animal appears. Cross‑references to Vedic Samhitas, Brahmanas and Upanishads illustrate the continuity of these terms in Indian literature. This concordance aids scholars in locating animal references, understanding their symbolic roles and examining the epic’s zoological vocabulary. It continues a project begun in earlier issues and will proceed alphabetically through the remainder of the epic.
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Conclusion
By systematically listing animal terms and their occurrences, the concordance highlights the Ramayana’s rich zoological imagery and provides a valuable reference for scholars. It demonstrates the epic’s connections to earlier Vedic literature and supports studies of symbolism, ecology and cultural perceptions of animals in ancient India.