Reviews

Stories of Indian Saints: By Dr. Justin E. Abbott and Pandit N. R. Godbole. Motilal Banarsidas, Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi - 7. Price: Rs. 120.

            Bhaktavijaya is a classic dealing mainly with the Maharashtra saints and also of a few others belonging to North India like Jayadev and Kabir. The author (in Maharashtra) was one Mahipati who drew upon both existing recorded annals and also those passed by mouth from generation to generation in the country. Dr Abbott with Pandit Godbole gave to the world English translations of the stories which vie with one another in presenting the fervour of great singers and masters of genuine devotion to Vithoba, the deity of Pandaripur. The miracles performed by the devotees are by themselves evoking of our curiosity as well as appreciation of their permanent value in religious literature. Apart from the fact they are written in chaste language of the place, they are certainly, as poetry, vivid in description of events and carry some of the poetic fancies of illustrative analogies which surpass normal imagination. If Sanskrit poetry, especially the classics, attract us by apt similies from nature and life, these abound in similar imagery of a very enticing kind.

The translators have shown enormous industry and skill in making the English rendering preserve the atmosphere of the original by keeping to faithful literal transformation of the original. That foreigners such as Dr. Abbott and A. F. Edwards should have taken much trouble in seeking satisfaction in researching in the field of Maharashtra religious classics and bringing them out in English for the spread of knowledge of their existence to others in the world, speak volumes of their love of ancient literature and their unstinting efforts at publishing the result of their joint labours for the good and gain of posterity.

In this weighty volume two parts are contained with Appendices of words, names and index for ready reference. Libraries need such volumes for people to understand the varied cultures of our land.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Rajaji–The Lone Voice: By Prof. N. S. Venguswamy. Streamlines       Publishers P. Ltd., Post Box No. 3005, Cochin-18. Price: Rs. 20.

A number of biographical attempts at recounting the life of Rajaji have been made in recent years with partial success. Only The Rajaji Story in two volumes by Raj Mohan has reached the standard of a proper biography in the modern sense. Still, phases of Rajaji’s personality have been studied and presented by a number of writers. This one from Prof. Venguswamy is none the less effective for justifying its title and treatment of the political role played by Rajaji during the very critical period of a decade between 1937 and 1947, when the actual transfer of power from England to Bharat passed. Indeed, no small credit is due to the practical and courageous vision of Rajaji’s India, divided though into two parts, but still substantially on Indian Union emerging into reality. Severe opposition from all quarters, no doubt, started at first to Rajaji’s “Basic Settlement” by which Pakistan was conceded to Jinnah’s claim. Today we know what an amount of acute perception and courage could alone have helped Rajaji in his ultimate success. This is a valuable volume with the events detailed with full documentary extracts to support the incidents dwelt upon.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Changing Phases of Buddhist Thought: By Anil Kumar Sarkar. South Asian Publishers, 36 Netaji Subhas Marg, New Delhi-2 Price: Rs. 120.

This is the third edition of a substantial work on Buddhism by a senior teacher of Indian philosophy working in the United States of America. It examines the contribution of the four major schools of Buddhism, viz., Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Madhyamika and Yogachara, to the development of this Thought all over Asia and beyond. The influences exerted by thinkers like Asvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Dignaga and Chandrakirti are analysed. The author traces the growth of the movement from the Hinayana to the Mahayana and thence to the Zen phases. He has a separate chapter on the question whether Buddhism was expelled from India. He rightly holds that Buddhism was assimilated in the Mother-religion of the land and was never cast out.

The section on Zen and the role played in its propagation by Suzuki, Allan Watts, Thomas Merton, Christmas Humphreys is particularly informative and stimulating. A fine exercise for serious students of Buddhist psychology and meditative techniques.

–M. P. PANDIT

Ruminations of a Hindu: By Nandan Padukone. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-400 007. Price: Rs. 20.

It is difficult to follow the author in his ruminations, particular­ly with the innumerable dots (...) in the midst of sentences which are supposed to help the reader to pause and identify himself with the author. Sri Padukone wonders why human beings, who are higher than the animals from the evolutionary point of view, are prone to unhappiness and suffering which are foreign to the animal species. He discusses the compulsions of hunger, sex, sleep and fear of which the last seems to be peculiarly human. The imbalance caused by the unlocking of life energies and the uncontrolled movement of thoughts is analysed at length. Whatever the nature of the discussion, the conclusions are sound: “outside” of man, surrender to God is the way; “inside”, a steady withdrawal, non-involvement.
–M. P. PANDIT

Tolkappiyam–Phonology and Morphology (An English Translation): By D. Albert. International Institute of Tamil Studies, Taramani, Madras - 113. Price: Rs. 25.

This is a translation into English of the first two books of“Tolkappiyam”, a grammar which is the oldest surviving Tamil work. The date of the original work is in dispute among scholars, but it is certainly very old. Since it treats of the principles not of Tamil alone, but of the science of languages, it is clear that a long tradition of excellence in the use of language must have preceded it.

The translator provides the Tamil text and his English rendering on opposite pages. His translation, he says in prefatory notes, is based on current principles of rendering and current notions of the higher linguistics. The original is in verse, his translation is in prose. He justifies this partly on the ground that the original is a grammar, not a poem, and that it versifies rather than writes poetry itself. He also argues that prose translation is justifiable since English is a “beat” language. His translation, on the whole, justifies his view. It would be disconcerting to read grammar rules even in verse, much more poetry. It would look strange to be told, for example, “This rule holds good even when a vowel follows” (SutramNo, 395) in any attempt at flowing verse.

The real test by which this translation might stand or fall is different. Does it follow the rules and principles of modern linguistics so that the modern student, knowledgeable in those principles, could understand it aright? The translator seems to have the foreign student too in mind. In fact, it appears that Dr. Kamil Zvelebil casts his shadow over this translation. But this is altogether to the good. The translation is clear in itself and faithful to the spirit of the original.

The translator adds a number of introductory papers designed not only toexplain the principles he has followed but also to make the student understand the ancient text. Altogether, this is a work of scholarship. A translation of the third book, Porul, will complete a real work of learning.

–N. S. RAMASWAMI

The Metaphysics of Experience in Advaita Vedanta (A Phenomenal Approach): By Deba brata Sinha. Motilal Banarsi Das, Delhi-7. Price: Rs. 70.

Principle of “cit”, one of the triad “sat-cit-Ananda” that is Brahman in the Advaita system of philosophy, indicates con­sciousness as transcendental substantive. It stands behind ail conscious states in individual minds. It is “Being”, “Sat”, and pure transcendental subjectivity, which again metaphysically is attuned to “Being”, that is consciousness, and is independent of extrinsic factors, objective or psychological. Hence it is autono­mous. “So far as a system of critique of experience goes, Advaita holds alliance with phenomenology in suggesting pure consciousness as the ground for all meanings of objectivity. As a full-fledged ontology of Being on the other hand, there seems to be in a sense some kinship with existentialist thought, so far as the prime existential-reality of ‘cit’ as the highest precondition of knowledge and experience is at the same time stressed.” This in short is the main thesis of this work.

The above conclusion is arrived at after a deep study and critical examination of concepts like Knowledge, Vritti, Ego, Svaprakaasatva, Saakshitva, Ajnaana, Anuvyavasaaya, Adhyasa and four states of experience, as expounded in Sankara’s Bhashyas, and Commentaries Vivarana in main and Bhamati and Citsukhi, etc. Views of Kant, Alexander, Ryle, Hartmann and other occidental philosophers are also referred to.

The uniqueness of this work lies in its assertion and sub­stantiation of an idea that Advaita is cit-centred and that an analysis of transcendental experience yields this decision. Phenomenological approach, without giving up the metaphysical, epistomological and psychological analyses, to Advaitic thought compared to existentialism also, is the main contribution of the author to the assessment of Advaita in the light of modern philosophy. On the whole, this work adds to the critical knowledge of students of philosophy, oriental and occidental, old and modern, and serves as a stepping-stone for further researches. We wish the learned author will take up for consideration and exposition the “Ananda” aspect also and bring out a similar work.

–B. KUTUMBA RAO

Samdveda: By S. V. Ganapati. 143, Kalakshetra Colony, Madras-90. Price: Rs. 75.

This work contains the whole text of samavedain Devanagari script–without notation of accent–with English translation and commentaries here and there, according to a new line of interpreta­tion. Yaska in his Nirukta proclaimed that Vedas were susceptible mainly of three interpretations.  According to this translator “Samaveda presents a cogent and consistent system of ideas bearing on two subjects principally, viz., (1) Evolution (2) How the operations of the brain and sense organs and the body take place and what Devas are responsible for carrying them out.” Names of Devas and other expressions are considered to be symbolic. Activity is referred to as Vaisvanara, Seven Rishis, and celestial rivers. Soma is the universal mind. Prana represents Indra. Mitra is the brain. Visvedeva stands for brain cells. Vritra and other Asuras represent matter. Head again is referred to as heaven, rock, hell, assembly and ocean. Nerves stands are referred to as grass, hair, thread, snakes, reeds and cobweb’s–and so on. Based on these symotic interpretations the translation goes on.

In an introduction of 34 pages, the Theory of Evolution in general, as expounded in this Veda, is briefly presented. This novel interpretation of this Veda is the main contribution of the translator and he deserves our praise for it. He makes out a case to show that Sarna and Yajurvedas which originated in the Arctic belt are easier than Rigveda which arose on Indian soil. Here he differs from late B. G. Tilak. Thirdly, he does not believe in the divinity and “apaurusheyatva” of Vedas. fie has his own concept of Revelation. There are nine appendixes covering over 34 pages.

A more elucidative commentary and a glossary of words are necessary if the text is to be understood as intended by the translator.   
–B. KUTUMBA RAO

The Rhododendron Valley: By R. Y. Deshpande. Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry. Price: Rs. 35.

The phenomenon of Sri Aurobindo has given rise to a new school of poetry which takes within its arc metrical discipline, rich imagery, Indian myths and legends, a spiritual bent of mind and a welcome nod to the scientific spirit. The earliest crafts­men of Aurobindonian Verse were tended by Sri Aurobindo himself. To this elect group belong Nirodbaran, Anilbaran, Nolini Kanta Gupta, Arjava, Dilip Kumar Roy and Amalkiran. The youngest generation of Aurobindonian poets includes Prithwindra, Romen, Themis and Shyam Sunder. The academics, V. K. Gokak and K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar have also been deeply influenced by the Aurobindonian world-vision, philosophy, phraseology and imagery

            The Rhododendron Valley is the latest addition to this distin­guished body of Aurobindonian school. The author, Prof. R. Y. Deshpande, is a Professor of Physics and has published several original papers pertaining to his research in atomic energy. But if his intellectual field-work deals with quantum mechanics and relativity physics, the inner countries of Prof. Deshpande’s mind are all flowers and birds, colours and precious stones, myths and legends. Indeed, the one complements the other, and the outer and the inner fuse to make life meaningful and beautiful, a charged vessel of aspiration for the showers of an answering Grace. Eminently readable, but meant for the slow and steady gathering of one’s reactions by significant pauses and meditative silences.

Section A taxies around with thirty lyrics that give a feel of the spiritual spaces that can be traversed only through myths and symbols. The varied Nature around us is the easiest bridge to cross into the Unknown.

The next section is more ambitious and takes us right into the mid-regions of Sadhana. “Not on Stilted Legs” sets the tone by referring to the poet’s “upward burning will.” The finest poem in the section is “Eternal in Transient” which takes up the revelation of modern physics about the continuous energy dance of every sub-atomic particle. But no mass of scientific data can give us an idea of the movement within as the image of the cosmic dancer, Shiva.

The title poem, ‘The Rhododendron Valley’ brings to life the all-pervading beauty of God’s creation. What seems ugly or terrible or even Death is but a passing phase: “A sweetness blows over the dust-born soul.” This is madhu-vidya. The Rhodo­dendron Valley is witness to the fact that the art of poetry has grown new wings in the age of soulless computers, has adopted itself to the new atmosphere and will soon regain its pre­eminent position in man’s life, comforting him, inspiring him and leading him to achieve the life divine upon earth.
–DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

The Sanskrit File: By Michael Kelly. Price Rs. 30.
Bhartrihari: An old tree living by the river: By John Cort. Price: Rs. 30. Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta - 45.

The volumes under consideration are some latest attempts to introduce the wisdom and beauty of Sanskrit poetry to the English-reading public. Michael Kelly is an Englishman living in Hull. John Cort is an American who spent two years in Bombay drinking deep at the invigorating springs of Sanskrit literature. Theirs is a labour of love which ought to be admired and apprecia­ted. Both of them are unconventional in their approach and style. Kelly does not translate from the original Sanskrit texts. These are distant echoes of Sanskrit originals.

The File consists of three parts: (i) Court Anthology–­describing courtly love of critic type, (ii) First extract (invocations to gods, etc.), (iii) Sanskrit Folder. (Miscellaneous) descriptions of nature, seasons, etc., in simple modern style. Kelly catches the genius of Indian poetry, with its unmistakable hedonism interfused with religious and gorgeous descriptions of nature. Cort’s Bhartrihari is American and looks strange. Cort does away with metrical melody and conventional diction. He feels the earlier translations somehow failed to touch the hearts of western public, though they are competent and scholarly. He feels that translators should be poets first and foremost, not scholars. Though a scholar, he selects some thirty-three verses from Subhashitatrisatiwith the eye of a poet.

The preface is adequate and scholarly. However, he should have mentioned the name of the famous Andhra commentator Avancha Ramachandra, a twelfth century scholar, whose collection and commentary formed the basis for Southern recension of Bhartrihari. He it was who divided the Satakas into now famous sections (Paddhatis). The bibliography at the end is useful
–DR. G. SRIRAMA MURTY

The Icons and Images in Indian Temples: By Prof S. K. Rama­chandra Rao. I. B. H. Prakasana, Gandhiilagar, Bangalore-9. Price: Rs. 20.

Herein is a splendid and authentic information–historical, sculptural, iconographical and ritual regarding icons and temples that house them in India. The antiquity of icons find temples, iconometry in brief, craftsmanship involved in carving out the icons from different materials, icons of different nature, posture and purpose, are all dealt with in unambiguous language. The origin and development of “Linga” and its symbolism are described. Images of Nataraja and Vishnu are given special treatment. Line drawings by the author and photos of icons, all numbering more than fifty, embellish the book, and add to its value.

–BHAGAVATULA

Reflections (Poems by Dr. Triloki Nath Vrajbal): Translated by Ravi S. Varma. Parijat Prakashan, Jaipur. Price: Rs. 15.
Dissections (Poems of Bharat Bhushan Agarwal): Translated by Vishnu Khare. Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta. Price: Rs. 20.

In a country like India whose culture is a composite one, translation is the only means by which one part of India knows what happens in the cultural field of another part. Whatever be the quality of translation, it is welcome as a literary bridge­-builder. Here are two volumes of English translations of two great poets of Hindi. Both read well, communicate well and are thoroughly enjoyable. Though we cannot compare them with the original Hindi versions from the foreword to these volumes, we gather that they had the approval of the authors themselves and hence they are really competent. Both of them were translated into many languages. Both of them belong to Mathura.

The first volume is a translation of Dr Vrajbal’s reputed book in Hindi called Indu Ek: Vindu do. It consists of fifty little poems mostly in romantic tradition. They breathe in the spirit of traditional Hindi Vedantic philosophy. The style is often epigrammatic. Here is a typical example “With a few deft strokes /on water, easter and sky /who has pointed this beautiful /picture? How can we comprehend the /shapes that transform every /moment? I am stunned and amazed at this creation.” Though these poems lack lyricism, there is a lyricism which informs the whole. It is the lyricism of thought.

Dr. Bharat Bhushan Agarwal (1919-1975) was a prolific writer, who won many awards. Among his writings are poems, short stories, novels, essays, humorous skits, parodies, satires and non­sense verse. The present volume is a selection of his poems from five volumes of his poetry with a beautiful perceptive introduc­tion by Mr. Irene Zhara. What distinguishes Dr. Agarwal from other noted writers of Hindi is his fine sense of humour. Indian literature in general is deficient in humour and Hindi literature is no exception to the rule. As such, the contribution of Dr. Agarwal is something unique and inestimable. Wit, humour and gentle irony inform the pieces and lend a peculiar quality to his poetry which makes it highly delightful. Consider how delightful the following lines are in which the tone conveys the sense much more than mere literal meaning:

I could not bring about revolution
But abandoned my near and dear ones in process.
The pursuit of poetry was formidable
Therefore I took recourse to limericks:
I could not find love, so read pornography:
I, a Kaliyug weakling,
Couldn’t obtain the elixir of life
So smoked myself away.         
–DR. G. SRIRAMA MURTY

The South West Monsoon has Withdrawn and Other Sonnets: By Thomas Gay Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta – 700045. Price: Rs. 35.

Thomas Gay, the author of the book under review, is an oldtimer in India, whose life as a writer is interestingly unique. Thomas Gay was born in August 1905 in England. In 1928 he was selected for I. C. S. and served in various official capacities in several places in India. After retirement he has been as active as in service. He worked as farmer, social worker, school teacher, film director, journalist, university tutor, advertising executive and magazine editor. His love of India is so great that he has become an Indian citizen since 1950. He has been contributing various writings to outstanding journals of his times. He has translated books and poems from Marathi into English. He wrote ghost-written “autobiographies”, a few short plays for the stage and the radio. He is one of the several Englishmen of whom Indians are proud.

This book is a collection of twenty-four sonnets classified as: (1) Description (2) Satire and Indignation (3) Love and Regret (4) Religion and Divinity and (5) Life and Death.

In a sonnet called “Credo”, Thomas Gay speaks of the Force of Goodness as follows:

There is a Force of Goodness, as I hold,
Nourished by all the good deeds men have done,
Strength drawing from all good men in our world,
From the souls of those who’ve led good lives, and gone;
This is the silent, strong, invisible Power
That guides us, keeps us safe from hour to hour.

Mr. Gay’s language is simple, direct and outspoken. In the sonnet, “To Grow Old”, he questions’: “Know you what means it to grow old?” and answers in a simple way, in the same line, saying, “I know.”

Thomas Gay has made use of all rhyme schemes of sonnets and proved that the fourteen-line space in poetry is no new realm for his Muse, which moves about with creative ease. He is a modern poet who has found for himself a niche in the Temple of Poesy.

–V. V. TONPE

TELUGU

Pithapura Samsthanam–Kavi Panditha Poshana: By Dr. C. Kamala Anarkali, Telugu Lecturer, P. V. R. Trust Degree College, Kakinada. Price: Rs. 60.

This is a Doctoral Thesis of Osmania University purporting to study the literary scene in and around Pithapuram, one of the important centres of cultural activity that flourished under the patronage of the rulers.

Dr. Kamala Anarkali traces the history of Pithapuram Samsthanam with a special reference to the patrons and men of letters. Thus famous patrons like Rao Peda Madhava Rao, Gangadhara Rama Rao, Venkata Kumara Maheepathi among others and poets like Vakkalanka Veerabhadra Kavi, Kuchimanchi Thimma Kavi, Devulapalli Brothers and Allamraju Subrahmamanya Kavi figure in the study. Dr. Anarkali achieves a fine blend of the macro and the micro study on account of her balanced evaluation of the poets and their patrons. We have herein a glimpse of hectic cultural activity that flourished at Pithapuram of yester years. This authentic and readable treatise endears itself to the enlightened and lay readers alike.
–DR. DHARA RAMANADHA SASTRY

Iham-Param(A poetic Telugu translation of Kathopanishad): By Dr. I. Panduranga Rao. International Telugu Institute, O. U. Campus, Hyderabad-500 007. Price: Rs. 4.

            Kathopanishat has an important place in the upanishadic literature in Sanskrit. It is a dialogue between an young, ardent and unyielding student Nachiketa, a seeker after Truth, on the one hand and Yama, the God of Death, and Brahmavidyaacharya on the other. Essential teachings of Yoga, Saamkhya, Bhagavadgita and even the Mandukya Upanishad are found herein. This Upani­shad is rendered into mellifluous Telugu in poetic-lyrical form, by Dr.Rao, a polyglot and a prolific writer, gifted with a critical acumen, and poetic and artistic talents. The translation can be set to music and sung.

A complete and explanatory summary of the Upanishat text proper, in easy, idiomatic and spoken Telugu in poetic prose is a treat by itself. Free from technical terminology both the summary in prose and the translation in verse can easily be understood even by an average student. Any reader can enjoy both the poetic and spirited bliss.           
–“SANDILYA”

Sri Kaamakshi Sahasram: By Yamijala Padmanaabhaswami, Swadharma Swarajya Sangham, 29 Broadway, Madras-600 108. Price: Rs. 15.

This is a devotional lyric in Telugu in praise of the Goddess Kamakshi, and contains one thousand verses in one hundred metres of six letters in the commencement and twenty letters in the end in a graded manner. The author’s deftness in handling a variety of metres, some of which we rarely come across is the main feature of the poem. Alliteration with jingling sounds and smooth diction run throughout. Motherly affection and forgiveness are invoked very often. Stories related to lizard and others that gained the Goddess’s blessings are alluded to here and there. Denouncement of attachment and egoism are there. Importance ofBhakti is pointed out.  
–“KASHYAPA”