Dear colleagues, I am currently researching the episode of Vālmīki's transformation through the *māra/rāma* chant, specifically as it is depicted in the *Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa* (2.6.64-92).
Beyond the phonetic palindrome, I am trying to trace the deeper theological and ontological significance of this inversion. I have come across secondary references suggesting a specific syllable breakdown where "ra" is associated with *puruṣa* and "ma" signifies *prakṛti*, but I have been unable to locate the primary Sanskrit sources (perhaps within the *Rāma Rahasya* or *Rāma Tāpanīya Upaniṣad*?) or the definitive modern scholarship that articulates this exact mapping. I am aware that Frank Whaling discusses the theology of the name in *The Rise of the Religious Significance of Rāma*, but I unfortunately do not have access to a digital copy at the moment. Would anyone be able to point me toward the primary texts that explicitly theorize this *ra/ma* syllable breakdown, or kindly share relevant scholarship (including Whaling, if possible)? Any guidance or textual pointers would be greatly appreciated! Best regards, Yang Qu
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