CHAPTER - III
METHODOLOGY
S.No. Content Page
No.
3.1 Srimad Valmiki Ramayana A Brief Account 81
3.2 Sri Sundara Kanda Its Importance and Greatness 89
3.3 Pictorial Classification of Kandas (Parts) Sargas 93
(Cantos) and Slokas (Verses)
3.4 Content Analysis 98
3.5 Content Analysis as a Research Method 100
3.5.1 Applications of Content Analysis 103
3.5.2 Types of Content Analysis 103
3.6 Content Analysis Applied In the Present Study 105
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CHAPTER - III
METHODOLOGY
3.1 SRIMAD VALMIKI RAMAYANA A BRIEF ACCOUNT
. It is followed by the Upanishads, the Puranas and the two
great epics -- the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (which includes
Bhagavad Gita philosophical doctrine given by Lord).
The Vedas are almost regal in authority, as they hand out diktats
for every human activity. The Upanishads convey the message of the
Vedas mostly through dialogues among many rishis (monks) like
Yagnavalkya, Maitreya, Uddalakka etc.
Vedas is a fascinating
and high
of the World, 1996, Page 37).
The puranas convey the message in a friendly way by relating
stories of people who prospered by sticking to the path of righteousness
and those who perished by choosing to take the path of evil. For their
part, the Itihasas, which recount history of archetypal heroes, heroines,
and villains, have profound thoughts and subtle meanings. The two epics
the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are together seen as a
transformation of the Vedas. The latter is hailed as the fifth Veda.
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Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is a very great contribution to India and
it is a treasure-trove of values. It is read all over the world with great
reverence, as it depicts the most authentic story of Lord Sri Rama who
lived amongst us thousands of years ago and left an indelible impression
on our lives. It is as fresh today as it was during the time of Valmiki, a
classics and excels all in its moral appeal. It is a store house of good
many things about our rich cultural heritage.
Srimad Valimiki Ramayana is the oldest epic and a world asset. It
has been translated into several languages of the world and commented
upon by at least nine great scholars.
The following exceptional scholars have commented on Srimad
Valmiki Ramayana:
TABLE: 3.1 COMMENTATORS ON THE RAMAYANA BY
VALMIKI
S.No. Commentators Commentary Title
1. Sri. Govindarajah. Sri Ramayana Bhushanam
2. Sri Shivasahayah Sri Ramayana Siromanihi
3. Sri Ramah Sri Ramayana Tilakam
4. Sri Srinivasacharyah Sri Ramayana Tatvavimarsanam
5. Sri Madhavayogi Sri Amritaghatakah
6. Sri Bhavadipah Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam
7. Sri Maheswara Tirthah Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam
8. Sri Dhaneskodi Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam
9. Sri Dharmakutah Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam
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Ramayana has been written by many poets in different languages,
following the original text written by the Sage Valmiki during the Vedic
period. So, the original book is named as Valmiki Ramayana. Other
Ramayanas (written based on it) are as follows:-
1. Samskritam: Yoga Vasishtha Ramayana, Adyatma Ramayana,
Ananda Ramayana, Adbhuta Ramayana, Brahmananda Tatva
Ramayana, Sangraha Ramayana, Prema Ramayana,
Raghuvamsam, Mantra Ramayana, Gayatri Ramayana,
Sapatarshi Ramayana, Nama Ramayana, Samkshepa
Ramayana, Alankara Ramayana, Bhoja Ramayana,
Hanumatkrita Ramayana.Vamala Ramayana, Raghuveera
Kathyam (Vedanta Desikar), Samartha Ramadasa Ramayana,
Madhva Ramayana, Bowddha Ramayana, Pasa Ramayana,
Bhavabhuti Ramayana, Murari Ramayana.
2. Prakritam:Pavumacariyam (Jaina Ramayana)
3. Tamil: Kamba Ramayana, Thakka Ramayana, ArunachalaKavi
Ramayana, Pasurappadi Ramayana
4. Hindi: Ramacharitamanas (Tulasidas), Ramanatha Ramayana,
Kesavadas Ramayana, Dattakatha Ramayana.
5. Marathi: Ekanatha Ramayana, Laghu Briha Ramayana,
Dasabodha Ramayana, Manobodha Ramayana, Karunashtaka
Ramayana (Samartha Ramadasa), Ramavijayam (Sridhar),
Bhavartha Ramyana, Morobanda Ramayana, Matkulkara Gita
Ramayana.
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6. Gujarathi: Premanatha Ramayana, Ramalila Ramayana
(Balanna), Giradhara Ramayana, Uddhava Ramayana
7. Bengali: Krittivasa Ramayana, Ramakavyam (Nityananda),
Meghanada Vadham (Madhusudana Datta), Ghosravana
Vadham (Girish Chandra)
8. Assamese: MadhavaKandali Ramayana, Anantakandali
Ramayana, Ananta Thakurkirtaniya Ramayana, Gita Ramayana
(Durga Bhar), Raghunatha Ramayana, Sitaharnya Kavyam
(Das).
9. Odissa: Vicitra Ramayana, Vilanka Ramayana, Bhagavatadana
Ramayana, Tika Ramayana, Dandi Ramayana, Jaganmohana
Ramayana (Balaramadas), Adhyatma Ramayana
(Haladharadeva Ramacharitam (Kesava Harichndra)
10. Kannada: Nagachandra Ramayana, Toravey Ramayana,
Ramavataram (Devachandra), Ananda Ramayana, Puttappa
Ramayana, Pampu Ramayana, Narahari Ramayana, Kuvembu
Ramayana.
11. Telugu: Bhaskara Ramayana (Ranganathakavi), Molla
Ramayana, Satyanarayana Ramayana (Rangthakavi),
Tyagaraja Ramayana.
12. Malayalam: Ramayna Champu (Nambhodiri), Eluthaccha
Ramayana, Ramachnadra Vilasam (Padmanabhakurup).
13. Urdu : Ramyana Kustar (Munshi Jaganatha), Baravai
Ramayana (Rahiman)
14. Kashmiri: Divakara Ramayana (Prakasa Bhatta)
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15.
- (Kendra Thonder, 2005; Nagarkoil Krishnan, 2005)
Ramayanas Abroad
1. Khotani Ramayana Turkey
2. Japanese Ramayana Japan
3. Mangoli Ramayana Mangolia
4. Livutavutva; Imcha Pavu Ramayana China
5. Tibeti Ramayana Tibet
6. Bhanubhakata Ramayana Nepal
7. Ramavasta Ramayana -- Myanmar
8. Phalaka Phalama Ramayana Laos
9. Ramakiyena Ramayana Thailand
10. Ramakirti Ramayana Kambodia
11. Maharadia Lavana Ramayana Philipines
12. Hakayat Ramayana Malaysia
13. Harisraya Ramayana Kakavina Javi Ramayana Indonesia
14. Lunkapati Kumara Ramayana--Sri Lanka
- (Kalyan Sri Ramabakti Ank, 1994, Gita Press)
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is the first and foremost literary work in
AYANAM
Therefore, RAMA +AYANAM = RAMAYANAM
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The sage Valmiki was doing penance for years together reciting
he external
world, he could not know that he was covered with anthills. So he is
named as Valmiki Maharshi (The great sage) although his original name
-prefix added to the title of the
Valmiki Ramayana Srimad Valmiki Ramayana consists of seven
kandas (parts) which are divided into 648 sargas (contos) and are further
streamlined into 24,000 slokas (verses/couplets).
Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu (omnipresent), a king of
Ayodhya, the husband of Sita (who is the incarnation of Goddess
Lakshmi) is the hero of this great epic Ramayana. Sri Rama was an
example to learn how to live or lead the best way of living in this universe.
Indent Srimad Valmiki Ramayana has been divided into seven
parts, dealing with the life of Sri Rama from his birth to his ascension to
Vaikuntha, as given below:
1. Bala Kanda: Book of the young Sri Rama which details the
miraculous birth of Sri Rama, his early life in Ayodhya his slaying of
the demons of the forest at the request of Vishvamitra and his
wedding with sita.
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2. Ayodhya Kanda: Book of Ayodhya in which Dasharatha comes to
grief over his promise to Kaikeyi
3. Aranya Kanda:
in the forest and the abduction of Sita by Ravana.
4. Kishkindha Kandha: Book of Kishkindha the Vanara kingdom in
which Sri Rama befriends Sugriva and the Vanara army and
begins the search for Sita.
5. Sundara Kanda: Book of Sundara (Hanuman) in which Hanuman
travels to Sri Lanka and finds Sita imprisoned there and brings
back the good news to Sri Rama.
6. YuddhaKanda: Book of the War, which narrates the Sri Rama-
Ravana war and the return of the successful Sri Rama to Ayodhya
and his coronation.
7. Uttara Kanda: Epilogue, which details the life of Sri Rama and Sita
after their return to Ayodhya
Sri Rama pass on to Vaikuntha (the abode of Lord Vishnu).
In Srimad Valmiki Ramayana
something special in each kanda as given below:
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S.No Kanda (part) Personality
1. Bala Nayanabhirama (Childlike)
2. Ayodhya Lokabhirama (Universally)
3. Aranya Ayanabhirama (Guiding)
4. Kishkindha Vinayabhirama (Humble)
5. Sundara Pranayabhirama (Affectionate)
6. Yuddha/Lanka Pranavabhirama (God like)
7. Uttara Paramabhirama
(Striving for Salvation)
Each kanda of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is based on a particular
YOGACAKRA such as:
TABLE 3.3 YOGACAKRA BASED RAMAYANA
S.No Kanda Yoga-Cakra
1. Bala Muladhara
2. Ayodhya Swadhisthama
3. Aranya Manipuraka
4. Kishkindha Anahata
5. Sundara Visuddhi
6. Yuddha/Lanka Ajgna
7. Uttara Sahasrara
Source- Kalyan ,Yogatatvank, 1994 , Gita Press
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3.2 SRI SUNDARA KANDA ITS IMPORTANCE AND GREATNESS
While the other Kandas of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana state their
contents through their titles, the fifth chapter Sundara Kanda (Beautiful
Part) forms an exception.
It is because, there were other three options as given below:-
(i) Most of the actions of this Kanda took place in Lanka. As such
the Maharshi could have called it Lanka Kanda. He did not call
it so.
(ii) This Kanda is full of the glorious and triumphant activities of
Hanuman. So, he could have titled it as Hanumat Kanda. He
did not do so.
(iii) This Kanda describes a lot about Sita, kept a captive in Lanka
Sita
Kanda
following reasons:
Sundara means beautiful. The word Sundara Kanda can be
understo SUNDARA
as its prime character and two, a chapter which is beautiful.
It is Hanuman (a monkey character in Ramayana) who has
Sundara
nature, confidence, competence, abilities and actions all these are
ecstatically beautiful. Again in Sundara Kanda there are beautiful
dialogues between Hanuman and Sita. It is undisputedly a chapter of
Hanuman and Sita (Sita literally means a line formed by ploughing the
earth).
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Asoka garden are extremely beautiful and enchanting. In brief, Sundara
Kanda describes the glorious deeds of Hanuman. Most important Sita,
who was lost, was found. It is Sundara par excellence. For these reasons
the Sundara Kanda held in the highest reverence in Srimad Valmiki
Ramayana.
A beautiful couplet
SUNDARE SUNDARAH KAPI:
SUNDARE KIM NA SUNDARAM
Meaning
The buildings, the gardens, the landscapes etc of Sri Lanka are
beautiful in Sundara Kanda; The admirable virtues of Sita are beautiful in
SundaraKanda; The fantastic and exemplary actions of Hanuman are
beautiful in Sundara Kanda; Which (at all) is not beautiful in Sundara
Kanda? (i.e., everything is beautiful). So, this section of Srimad Valmiki
Ramayana is renowned as Sundara Kanda (Beautiful Part).
There are lessons to learn even on starting a new venture,
planning technique, overcoming obstacle, achieving success and above
all, reporting to various levels of hierarchy. So, one could say that the
entire Ramayana is encapsulated in the Sundara-kanda. For this reason,
persons who seek fulfillment of their wishes, devotedly read this part
instead of the entire Ramayana.
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Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is a priceless possession of our land
and Sri Sundara Kanda ranks high among all the seven chapters in the
Ramayana, with an extraordinary beauty of its own. Sri Sundara Kanda
consists of 2,865 slokas.
Navaratnamala ( a garland of nine precious stones)
There is a garland of nine precious stones in Sri Sundarakanda:-
TABLE 3.4 NAVARATNAMALA IN SRI SUNDARA KANDA
S.No Sloka (verse) Ratnam (Gem) Graha (Planet)
1. (5\1\1) Manikyam (Ruby) Surya: (Sun)
2. YASYA. \1\201) Mowktikam(Pearl) Candra: (Moon)
3. ANIRVEDA \12\10) Vidruma (Coral) Angaraka: (Mars)
4. NAMOASTU...(5\13\59) Marakatam Budha: (Mercury)
(Emerald)
5. PRIYANNA \48) Pushparagam Guru: (Jupitar)
(Topaz)
6. RAMA \35\8) Hira: (Diamond) Sukra: (Venus)
7. JAYAT \42\33,34) Nila : (Sapphire) Sani :(Saturn)
8. YADYASTI \53\27) Gomeda: (Gomeda) Rahu: (shadow)
9. NIVRITTA \68\28) Vaiduryam (Lapis- Ketu: (shadow)
lazuli)
-Venkatraman, M.K. (1992)
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SITA
Value HANUMAN
SRI RAMA
Fig.3.1 VALUE TREE OF SRI SUNDARA KANDA
Sri Rama to His best-
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is rich with several lessons in the
development of various skills. Its fundamental significance is to reveal
how to go ahead with a righteous living without infringing any rule of the
Nature. Lord Rama is a shining example of virtues (Dharma). Rightly, it
Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmah
living. Mahatma Gandhi (the father of India) was inspired by the life and
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Gandhi wanted to send a message to the leaders that good governance is
always directed towards the upliftment of the downtrodden. Mahatma
Rama Rajya
The main characteristic feature of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is its
universality. Mahatma Gandhi considered Sri Rama an ideal model for
lived or not on this earth, the ancient ideal of the Ramayana is
3.3 PICTORIAL CLASSIFICATION OF KANDAS (PARTS), SARGAS
(CANTOS) AND SLOKAS (VERSES)
Table showing the number of sargas/cantos in each kanda of
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana
TABLE 3.5 KANDAWISE SARGAS
S.No. KANDAS SARGAS
1. Bala 77
2. Ayodhya 119
3. Aranya 75
4. Kishkindha 67
5. Sundara 68
6. Yuddha 131
7. Uttara 111
Total 648
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Graph showing the number of sargas/cantos in each kanda of
Srimad ValmikiRamayana
Source: Srimad Valmiki Ramayan (Volumes: I & II), Gita Press Gorakhpur
FIG 3.2 KANDA WISE SARGAS
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana.
Following is a list of the great devotees of Sri Rama and Sri RamaNama
1. Sri Ramananda
2. Sri Tulasidasa
3. Sri Kabirdasa
4. Sri Badrachala Ramadasa
5. Sri Samartha Ramadasa
6. Sri Bahirama Bhatta
7. Sri Mandalika
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8. Sri Ramaraja
9. Sri Padmanabha Vedika
10. Sri Bhakta Uddhava Citguna
11. Sri Sridhara Pandita
12. Sri Tyagaraja
13. Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar
14. Sri Sridara Ayyaval
15. Sri Sadasiva Brahmendral
16. Sri Madhvacharya
17. Sri Raghavendra
18. Sri Bodhendra
19. Sri Kulasekharazhkar
20. Sri Vedanta Desikar
21. Sri Kanhangad Ramadasa
22. Sri Sukha Brahma
23. Sri Adi Sankara
24. Sri Yamunacharya
25. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
26. Sri Ekenatha
27. Sri Raidasa
28. Sri Gurunanak
29. Sri Purandaradasa
30. Sri Kshetragna
31. Sri Narayana Thirta
32. Sri Pillai Perumal Ayyangar
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33. Sri Thirunavukarasar
34. Sri Thirugnana Sambandar
35. Sri Arunagirinather
36. Sri Papanasam Sivam
37. Sri Swati Thirunal
38. Sri Eluthachan
39. Sri Kambar
40. Sri Saibaba
41. Mahatma Gandhi
in the verses of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana
S.NO KANDAS NUMBER OF TIMES
1. Bala 314
2. Ayodhya 809
3. Aranya 517
4. Kishkindha 225
5. Sundara 309
6. Yuddha 634
7. Uttara 354
Total 3162
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used in the verses of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana
KANDA
Table showing the number of verses in each kanda of
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana
TABLE 3.7 KANDAWISE VERSES
S.No. KANDAS VERSES
1. Bala 2270
2. Ayodhya 4273
3. Aranya 2473
4. Kishkindha 2462
5. Sundara 2865
6. Yuddha 5894
7. Uttara 3763
Total 24000
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Graph showing the number of verses in each kanda of Srimad
Valmiki Ramayana
Source: Srimad Valmiki Ramayan (Volumes.I&II), Gita Press, Gorakhpur
FIGURE 3.4 KANDAWISE VERSES
3.4 CONTENT ANALYSIS
Since the present investigation intended to identify Value
Education Concepts as reflected in Srimad Valmiki Ramayana , it was
decided to adopt content analysis as the research method. This method
is employed to examine the occurrence of words or concepts within texts
or sets of texts, indicating some selected idea or ideas. Researchers
quantify and analyse the presence, meaning and relationships of such
words and concepts, then they make inferences about the message within
the texts, the writer(s), the audience, and even the culture and time of the
subject matter.
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Bernard Berelson (1974) defined Content Analysis as "A research
Technique for the Objective, Systematic, and Quantitative Description of
Manifest Content of Communications". Content analysis is a research
tool focused on the actual content and internal features of learning
materials or resources. It is used to determine the presence of certain
words, concepts, themes, phrases, characters, or sentences within texts
or sets of texts and to quantify this presence in an objective manner.
Texts can be defined broadly as books, book - chapters, essays,
interviews, discussions, newspaper headlines and articles, historical
documents, speeches, conversations, advertising, theatre, informal
conversation, or really any occurrence of communicative language. To
conduct a content analysis on a text, the text is coded or broken down into
manageable categories on a variety of levels--word, word sense, phrase,
sentence, or theme--and then examined using one of content analysis'
basic methods.
According to Dr. Klaus Krippendorf (1980 and 2004) six questions
are to be addressed in every content analysis:
1. Which data are analysed?
2. How are they defined?
3. What is the population from which they are drawn?
4. What is the context relative to which the data are analysed?
5. What are the boundaries of the analysis?
6. What is the target of inferences?
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3.5 CONTENT ANALYSIS AS A RESEARCH METHOD
Most content analyses in education have been aimed at answering
questions directly relating to the material analyzed. These analyses have
generally been concerned with fairly simple classifications or tabulations
of specific information. Content analyses of pupil compositions, for
example, can give us a classification of grammatical and spelling errors
as well as information on the frequency of different types of errors. This
information can be directly applied to the revision of English courses or
the development of remedial programs. A content analysis of current
textbooks in first year Algebra can tell us such things as what topics are
covered by all books? What emphasis is placed on each topic? In what
sequence are topics usually presented? What mathematical terms are
introduced? What system of symbols is most frequently used? Such text
book analyses are often carried out by test publishing companies that
produce standardized achievement tests in order that their tests thus
constructed have high content validity.
Among the important early content analyses carried out in
education there were simple frequency counts of words in order to identify
those words most commonly used in the English language.
(Edward L.Thorndike, 1932 )
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Such word-lists then formed the basis for determining the
readability of textbooks and for the development of elementary reading
textbooks and spelling lists. However readability is a function of other
factors besides frequency of word occurance. Therefore later researchers
attempted a more complex content analysis of text book materials in
developing readability formula.
(Irving Lorge, 1944, Rudlf Flesch, 1951)
Other areas of education that have been studied using content
analysis include the analysis of Propaganda, the sociological effects of
reading, the treatment of blacks in history textbooks, the Soviet Union
programs, the readability of books and newspapers and the social ideas
in McGuffey readers.
It may be seen from these examples that content analysis can be a
valuable tool for obtaining certain types of information useful in identifying
or solving educational problems.
Whereas most early studies employing content analysis relied on
simple frequency counts of objective variables (e.g., spelling errors).
Recent studies more often aim at using content analysis to gain insights
into complex social and psychological variables. Such studies are much
more difficult to carry out than the simple frequency studies and often
depend on a high level of sophistication of the researcher in psychology,
sociology or other behavioural sciences.
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For example, a study compared the kinds of words used by black
children aged three, four, and five.
(James C.Montague Jr, 1976)
Such research can give us valuable insights into theoretical issues
related to the development of affective and cognitive processes in young
children. This study also employed a computer to conduct the content
analysis and tried out wireless microphone transmitters to gather samples
Content analysis is often used in conjunction with observational
studies. The researcher tape records classroom verbal behavior for
example and makes a typed transcript from the audiotape. The content of
the transcript is then analyzed in order to measure variables formulated
by the researcher.
A later trend in content analysis studies is to consider not only
content frequencies but also the interrelationships among several content
variables or the relationship between content variables and other research
variables. An illustration of this trend in content analysis is provided by
of the types of feedback statements that teachers use to
inform students about the adequacy or correctness of their responses.
(John A Zahorik, 1968)
Most content analysis in education is aimed at producing
descriptive information. For example a content analysis of themes found
in history textbooks used in soviet schools provided descriptive
information that gave us a better understanding of what the average
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Soviet citizen knows about history and how he might interpret current
international situations.
(Charles D.Cary,1976)
3.5.1 APPICATIONS OF CONTENT ANALYSIS
Ole Holsti (1969) groups 15 uses of content analysis into three
basic categories:
1. Make inferences of the antecedents of a communication
2. Describe and make inferences about characteristics of a
communication
3. Make inferences about the effects of a communication
3.5.2 TYPES OF CONTENT ANALYSIS
According to Bernard Berelson there are two types of content
analysis: Conceptual Analysis and Relational Analysis. Conceptual
Analysis can be thought of as establishing the existence and frequency of
concepts in a text. Relational analysis builds on conceptual analysis by
examining the relationship among concepts in a text.
Conceptual Analysis
In conceptual analysis, a concept is chosen for examination and
the number of its occurrences within the text recorded. To limit the
subjectivity in the definitions of concepts, specialized dictionaries are
used. In conceptual analysis, the researcher simply wants to examine
presence with respect to his/her research question, i.e. whether there is a
stronger presence of positive or negative words used with respect to a
specific argument or respective arguments.
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Steps for Conducting Conceptual Analysis
Decide the level of analysis.
Decide how many concepts to code for.
Decide whether to code for existence or frequency of a concept.
Decide on how you will distinguish among concepts.
Develop rules for coding your texts.
Decide what to do with "irrelevant" information.
Code the texts.
Analyze your results.
The steps given above are followed with modifications in the
present study.
Relational Analysis
As stated above, relational analysis builds on conceptual analysis
by examining the relationships among concepts in a text. For relational
analysis, it is important to first decide which concept type(s) will be
explored in the analysis. Studies have been conducted with as few as one
and as many as 500 concept categories. Obviously, too many categories
may obscure the results and too few can lead to unreliable and potentially
invalid conclusions. Therefore, it is important to allow the context and
necessities of the research to guide the coding procedures. Employing
Relational Analysis in the present study each value identified was related
to the context of different verses.
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3.6 CONTENT ANALYSIS APPLIED IN THE PRESENT STUDY
The present study is a conceptual analysis of Srimad Valmiki
Ramayana, intented to identify Value Education Concepts which may be
suitable for teachers and students.
Steps adopted in the study
The analysis of the entire Ramayana has been done adopting the
following steps:
1. Thorough reading of the original text.
2. Identifying the values in the original verses.
3. Presenting the original verse(s) by providing transliteration (with
suitable accents) of the verses.
4. Noting down the serial number (as given in the original text) of the
verses (with sargas and kandas) in which Value Education
Concepts are embedded.
5. Mentioning the context of an event/ statement/ idea in each verse.
6. Giving the meaning of each verse reflecting one or more values.
7. Ensuring the meaning of each Value Education Concept.
8. Describing the philosophical/psychological/sociological background
of each Value Education Concept.
9. Mentioning the serial number of other verses which reflect the
same value.
10. Listing the Value Education Concepts(108).
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11. Validating the meaning of the values with appropriate description
through endorsement (that the verses reflect the values identified)
by Bilingual scholars.
Method of identifying the values in the original verses
a. Mentioned the serial number (as given in the present study) of the
verse(s)
b. The verse in which the value was identified is given applying
transliteration scheme.
c. The context of the verse to facilitate understanding the meaning of
the value.
d. The meaning of the verse in which value has been identified
e. The idea behind or background of the value identified is mentioned.
f. The value identified is given
g. Those verses reflecting the same value are given.
STEPS IN DETAIL
1. Thorough reading of the original text
a. The original text used by the researcher for the present study is
given below:
SRIMAD VALMIKI RAMAYANA
Volume -I (948 pages)
Volume II (942 pages)
b. The original text (with English translation) is published by
Govinda Bhavan Karyalaya, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Uttarpradesh -
- 273005 (India).
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Year of Publication: 9th Reprint, 2008.
Phone: (0551) 2334721
Fax: (0551) 2336997
e mail : booksales@ gitapress.org
Web: www.gitapress.org
c. The text in Hindi-translation is also referred to by the researcher for
clarity.
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur.
The researcher has studied the original text thoroughly.
2. Identifying the values in the original verses
While reading through the verses, the researcher has identified the
values such as prayer, offering salutation, respect to teacher etc. In most
of the verses values are hidden/embedded in the verses, whereas in
others the actual word of the value is seen.
For example
1.
GURUSNEHENA
(5\38\9)
In the above mentioned verse, the actual word of the value is seen
in the verse itself. i.e GURUSNEHENA
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2. Value identified is GRACE (Karuna)
(5\53\26)
(5\53\26½)
Context
Sita prays to Agni Deva (the Fire God) in these words, by showing
Her mercy for Hanuman to become cool when the demons started
Meaning
Holy hearted Sita whose eyes are big, prayed (in her mind) to Agni
Deva by wishing / blessing to be graceful for the welfare of Hanuman. In
this verse the value is reflected/embedded. But the actual word of the
value is not seen in the verse.
3. Presenting the original verse(s) providing transliteration (with
suitable accents)
To transliterate the original verses of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana
into English script, the investigator has used the following suitable accents
in the present study of content (conceptual) analysis:
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Accents used in the analysis
4. Noting down the serial number (as given in the original text) of
the slokas/verses (along with Sarga/canto number and Kanda
/part number) in which the Value Education Concepts are
embedded.
Example
DE
(5\13\59)
Expansion of (5\13\59) is given below for reference:
5 indicates the 5th part (kanda) of the book.
13 indicates the 13th canto(sarga) of the 5th part (kanda) of the book.
59 indicates the 59th verse(sloka) of the 13th canto(sarga) of the 5th part
(kanda) of the book.
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5. Mentioning the context of an event/statement/idea of each Value
Education Concept
Verse
(5\25\1)
Context
The poet Valmiki utters these words about the rough behaviour and
shameful words of the female demons who surrounded Sita under a tree
at Asokavanika in Sri Lanka.
6. Giving the meaning of each verse
The investigator has given the meaning of all the verses
(scrutinized by him) reflecting one or more values each.
Example
KASCIDVIDYATE TRIDASESHVAPI
(5/11/3)
Meaning
Nor she would go near any other gents even if he is the head of all
the Gods. Even among Gods no one can be equivalent to Sri Rama, who
have only three stages in life namely, childhood, adolescence and youth.
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7. Ensuring the meaning of each Value Education Concept
To avoid ambiguity, the researcher has ensured the meaning of
each Value Education Concept, referring to the following dictionaries:
1. SANSKRIT ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Motilal Banarsidas Publications (P) Ltd, Delhi (Vama Shivaram
Apte, 2012)
2. SANSKRIT TAMIL - ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Sanskrit Education Society, Chennai -4 (Radhakrishnan Sastri
S.V., 2003)
3. HINDI - ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Oxford University Press, (Mc Gregor R.S., 1993)
4. HINDI HINDI-TAMIL-ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Agastyar Prakasam (Sowmyanarayanan Dr.,1995)
8. Describing the philosophical / psychological / sociological
background of each Value Education Concept
a. Philosophical background
Value -- Ability to differentiate good and bad (Vivekah)
We shoul
and what is bad? Viveka is a discriminating power between
Self and not-self
Real and unreal
Eternal and non-eternal
Subject and object
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It is a result of purity of heart through Nishkamya karma (Doing
duty without expecting any return).
b. Psychological background
Value Bravery
Man should be brave enough to face anything (in life) to solve all
the problems. A brave person achieves his objectives successfully even
though there are hindrances on the way, light /heavy or mild / severe or
general/ fearful.
A person who is not courgeous can not achieve anything great in
his life even through he is highly educated and very rich in wealth.
c. Sociological background
Value--General Obedience
To obey is not easy at all times under all circumstances but when
there are rules we ought to obey / follow / abide by them. Because
obedience alone gives the right to command. Obedience promotes
national integration. If we see from the base we should obey our elders
first.
9. Mentioning the serial number of other verses which reflect the
same value
There are so many values in Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, which are
not embedded in particular one verse or two. In such cases the
researcher has mentioned the serial number (along with Kanada number
and Sarga number) of those other verses also which reflect the same
value.
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Example
Value - Obedience to Father
Psychologically speaking father seems to be the first enemy of any
adolescent boy (as he himself looks at his own father as enemy). Now-a-
days no boy obeys his father. But Sri Rama just to obey his father spent
14 years in the forest.
(2\21\49)
Context
While departing, Kausalya, mother of Sri Rama, stopped him from
going to exile. Sri Rama replied that obedience to father was my first and
foremost duty at that moment and he putforth these words as suggestion
to Kausalya.
Meaning
Yourself, Sita, Lakshmana, Sumitra, and myself should abide by
the injunctions of my father: Such is the eternal law of morality.
2\19\21; 2\21\31-33,43; 2\24\16; 2\111\11; 2\112\18;
2\118\51;
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10. Listing the Value Education Concepts(108)
The researcher has listed all the Value Education Concepts
identified by him along with Samskrit translation. Following are a few
value education concepts:
1. Prayer (
2. Offering Salutation
3. Hospitality
4. Rewarding ( )
5. Nature Worship( )
6. Motivating(Uttejanam)
7. Forbearance(
8. Righteousness (
9. Jest (Vinodah)
10. Obedience to Father (
11. Validating the meaning of the values with appropriate
description and endorsing that the verses reflect the value
identified
The following are the experts (Bilingual Scholars) to whom the
Value Education Concepts identified are shown along with the original text
(with English Translation). They validated the meaning of the values and
endorsed that the verses (scrutinized by the researcher) reflect the values
identified.
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1. H.H. Sri.R.Ravindra Swamigal
Tarka Vedanta Vidwan
Mathadhipati, Upadesa Gurupitham
Head Master, Samskrita Veda Pathasala
Padarakudi, Sivaganga District.
2. Sri Vital Das Maharaj (Sri Jayakrishna Dikshitar)
Vaidika SamskritaVidwan
Govindapuram/ Dakshina Pandaripuram.
3. Sri Harihara Sharmaji
Writer in Samskritam (F/o H.Raja ExMLA)
Subrahmanyapuram, Karaikudi.
4. Dr.S. Natarajan
Professor, Alagappa University
Alagappapuram, Karaikudi.
5. Dr.K.Pitchai Gurukkal
Chief Priest, Kalpaka Vinayaka Temple
HeadMaster, Samskrit Vedagama Pathasala
Secretary, Kalpaka Vinayaka School
Founder, Siveneri Kazhagam
Pillaiyarpatti, Sivaganga District.
6. Prof.(Miss) S.Subha
Reader in Samskritam,
Sita Lakshmi Achi College,
Pallathur, Sivaganga District.
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7. Sri.B. Nagarajan Ayyar
PG Teacher in Samskritam
Sri Pushpalata Vidya Mandir
Thiyagaraja Nagar, Thirunelveli.
8. Sri Krishnamurti Ayyar
Lecturer,Sarada College
Amaravatipudur, Sivaganga District.
9. Sri Rangarajan Ayyangar
Vaidika Samskrita Vidwan
Kandanur, Sivaganga District.
Table showing the number of verses analysed in each Kanda of Srimad
Valimki Ramayana
Table 3.8 KANDAWISE VERSES ANALYSED
S.No Kanda Verses Analysed
1. Bala 145
2. Ayodhya 264
3. Aranya 143
4. Kishkindha 171
5. Sundara 226
6. Yuddha 203
7. Uttara 45
1197
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