The Adhyatma Ramayana is the spiritual version of the Rama saga and is important in several aspects. Here we can get in the much shorter compass of 3643 verses the whole of Rama’s story placed in a spiritual setting. Rama is depicted as not only a great personage, an exemplar of the highest ideals of Dharma, but the very God, the Divine Incarnate, revealing and fully remembering his spiritual glory and bestowing salvation on all who come into intimate contact with him.
Thrilling and evocative hymns, discourses on high spiritual themes, philosophical dissertations and directions for spiritual practice appear in every part of it. Besides the instructions they convey, these sections contribute immensely towards the devotional edification of those who adore Rama as their favourite Deity. What the Bhagavata is to Krishna, that the Adhyatma Ramayana is to Rama in revealing his spiritual excellence.
Swami Tapasyananda, who was a scholarly monk of great eminence and one of the Vice-Presidents of the Ramakrishna Order, has translated the text into English.