Synopsis Dr M. Veerappa Moily’s Shree Ramayana Mahanveshanam is a highly laudable work which, though rooted in the contemporary Indian context, addresses universal concerns and presents a unique vision of past, present and future all clubbed into one. The title literally signifying quest and examination, the book rightly explores the Ramatattwa or the true principles of the Rama-story, from a secularist modernist perspective. Moily has introduced several new characters and incidents in the epic, at the same time, taking great care of retaining the original essence of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Moily re-interprets many familiar incidents from the point of view of modern sensibility. He has drawn freely from Jaina and folk traditions.