<DIV>A sweeping tale of abduction, battle, and courtship played out in a universe of deities and demons, <I>The Ramayana</I> is familiar to virtually every Indian. Although the Sanskrit original was composed by Valmiki around the fourth century BC, poets have produced countless versions in different languages. Here, drawing on the work of an eleventh-century poet called Kamban, Narayan employs the skills of a master novelist to re-create the excitement he found in the original. A luminous saga made accessible to new generations of readers, <I>The Ramayana</I> can be enjoyed for its spiritual wisdom, or as a thrilling tale of ancient conflict.<BR><BR></DIV>