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In 1942, the Andhra University brought out a critical edition of Ranganatha Ramayanamu, edited by the well known Telugu scholar Sri V. Prabhakara Sastri. In that edition two appendices are given besides the text:--
(1) additional passages in the printed text and found in manuscripts.
(2) additional passages found in manuscripts only.
Incidentally, on examining the above excerpts, I found that many of the additional passages are from Varadaraja's Ramayanamu especially in the Ayodhya Kānda. There are also slight differences in the readings of those portions and the present printed text. I presume that if a thorough examination of all the available manuscripts of Ranganadha Ramāyanamu is undertaken, it will not only help in the comparison of the readings of Varadaraja's work, but also help to determine the advisability of retaining the present eliminated portions of Ranganādha Rāmāyanamu as for example, the story of Sulochana.
The author Varadarāju though not mentioned in the usual "lives of Poets", is already known to the literary world through the efforts of research scholars[1]
- ↑ (i) M. Ramakrishna Kavi M.A., Andhraraja Kavulu (Telugu Royal poets) First Andkra Patrika Annual 1910,.
(ii) N. Venkata Rao M.A. "Forgotten Telugu poets. Katta Vardaraja Kavi” Bharathi 1930.
(iii) Do. Katta Varadaraja Kavi and Dwipada Ramayana 1940 Andhri (Pithapuram)
