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  • Asura

  • Tale of the Vanquished: The Story of Ravana and His People
  • Written by: Anand Neelakantan
  • Narrated by: Denzil Smith
  • Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (380 ratings)

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Asura

Written by: Anand Neelakantan
Narrated by: Denzil Smith
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Publisher's Summary

The epic tale of victory and defeat

The story of the Ramayana had been told innumerable times. The enthralling story of Rama, the incarnation of God, who slew Ravana, the evil demon of darkness, is known to every Indian. And in the pages of history, as always, it is the version told by the victors that lives on. The voice of the vanquished remains lost in silence. 

But what if Ravana and his people had a different story to tell? The story of the Ravanayana had never been told. Asura is the epic tale of the vanquished Asura people, a story that has been cherished by the oppressed outcastes of India for 3,000 years. Until now, no Asura has dared to tell the tale. But perhaps the time has come for the dead and the defeated to speak. 

For thousands of years, I have been vilified and my death is celebrated year after year in every corner of India. Why? Was it because I challenged the gods for the sake of my daughter? Was it because I freed a race from the yoke of caste-based Deva rule? You have heard the victor's tale, the Ramayana. Now hear the Ravanayana, for I am Ravana, the Asura, and my story is the tale of the vanquished.

I am a non-entity - invisible, powerless and negligible. No epics will ever be written about me. I have suffered both Ravana and Rama - the hero and the villain or the villain and the hero. When the stories of great men are told, my voice maybe too feeble to be heard. Yet, spare me a moment and hear my story, for I am Bhadra, the Asura, and my life is the tale of the loser.

The ancient Asura empire lay shattered into many warring petty kingdoms reeling under the heel of the Devas. In desperation, the Asuras look up to a young saviour - Ravana. Believing that a better world awaits them under Ravana, common men like Bhadra decide to follow the young leader. With a will of iron and a fiery ambition to succeed, Ravana leads his people from victory to victory and carves out a vast empire from the Devas. But even when Ravana succeeds spectacularly, the poor Asuras find that nothing much has changed for them. It is when that Ravana, by one action, changes the history of the world.

©2012 Anand Neelakantan (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Asura

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A perspective that is debatable yet logical.

Loved the conclusion. Who the world belongs to?..Is it the Raavans...the Ramas..or the catalysts. ...A must read/ listen i think..

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    5 out of 5 stars
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An epic retold from the oppressed persons view.

Truly an epic told from the eyes of the oppressed with a cynical humour connecting to today’s politics. A great listening experience.

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4 people found this helpful

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Exceptionally written and read

The book an insight into the other side of the story. I really like how the author portrays every important event from Ramayna. An exceptional listen worthy book. loved it thoroughly.

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Exceptional

Great narrative, great narration, thoroughly keeps your interest bound in the story till the very last chapter!

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Ten Heads of Ravan

Ten heads of Ravan... I think those are the possession of his life. No one I known had given such an acceptable explanation. We are shedding some of them in the ways of life but still wish it was there to live a full life.

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Anand neelakantan has become my latest favourite:)

Brilliant character-sketching and a totally unique perspective drawn of a legendary epic. Thoroughly enjoyed the narration too.

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loved every bit of the storyline

The storyline and narration is complimenting each other word to word. Voice modulation done by Denzil Smith is amazing. Story from Raavan's perception gives different angle to conventional Ramayana story. Loved every bit of the storyline

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Nicely written.

I was wonderstruck at the turn of events in the story. Made me rethink about the fable.

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only for a perspective hearing

the book is quite different to the thought of Ramayana as read and seen by most of us. book tries to give a sneak peek into the life of ravana.
however, there are a lot of points where it seems references are taken from the Indian version of Ramayana and colour it with that of the Asura. e.g. Sita giving the Agni test, death of Laxman, Ram/Laxman getting healed miraculously when hurt
in fact, the Hindu version of Ramayana gives a lot more praise to ravana as a bhakt of Shiva, Brahma and the shiv tandav; whereas this book proclaims ravana to be a mere human

at best a good one time read..

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1 person found this helpful

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Great perspective of the other unknown side!

Its a great book with such detailed and interesting perspective of looking the Asuras from a perspective different from the one we are commonly accustomed to hear. History favors the victors.

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