Book Reviews

Presuppositions of India’s Philoso­phies: By Karl H. Potter. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi-7. Price: Rs. 150.

Designed as an introductory text for courses in the philosophical sys­tems of classical Indian Thought (first published in 1963), this study applies itself to the fundamentals of Nyaya Vaisheshika, Buddhism, Jainism, Sankhya, Advaita Vedanta and draws attention to the special features of this approach. The author points out for instance, the almost unanimous acceptance of the goal of freedom, moksha, by the generality of philoso­phers in India. There may be specula­tion as to the ways and means but that is at a lower level. He examines to what extent the Indian mind is concerned with the quality of life, the emphasis it lays on particular inter­ests concerned with terrestrial goals. He describes how in the West, the general tendency has been one of separation of concerns of life from what is called pure thought and this has led to the birth of existentialist and similar movements in this cen­tury. The Indian philosopher is alive to the challenges of life, his thought has its roots in the urgencies of earthly existence.

The writer notes the acceptance by modem Indian spirituality of its responsibilities to the welfare of the common man. There is an increasing tendency to recognise the role of self-­effort against the compulsions of Fate. He warns against the habit of accommodating Indian standards in philosophy to Western requirements. He writes: “Very few practising phi­losophers in India now-a-days know the details of the classical systems, and when they do, they know them by rote and not in such a way as to make them relevant to living prob­lems. Yet this is strange, for the aims of classical Indian thought are such as to guarantee the relevance of phi­losophy to a human predicament and longing which does not change through the ages.” (P. 255).

M. P. PANDIT

(This review was written by Mr. M. P. Pandit before his passing away)

A New Education for a New Con­sciousness: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on Education. Sri Aurobindo Books Distribution Agency, Pondich­erry – 605 002. Price: Rs. 100.

The cataclysmic changes that have taken place in almost all spheres have also created new prob­lems. Technological progress and modernisation have not helped man to become happy. Man’s avaricious proclivities have become, potent enough to create a moral vacuum. The eternal values have gone into oblivion, as man is after things which are ephemeral and banal. He has chosen a capricious path which explains the current crisis in every sphere.

The present educational system is not able to cater to the needs of either the body or the soul. In spite of its quantitative growth, it has been very much enfeebled in terms of qual­ity. When there is no attempt to im­prove the quality of education, there is hardly any scope to promote spiri­tual values among the youth. Man therefore suffers from many halluci­nations.

The book under review contains views of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on education. It is divided into seven chapters: (i) The Perfection of the Body: (ii) The Conversion of the Vital; (iii) The True Role of the Mind; (iv) To Be a Teacher; (v) The Awakening of the Psychic; (vi) The Conscious Seeking of the One and (vii) The Promise of a New World.

A man’s success depends on his attitude towards life. If right atti­tudes are not cultivated, he can achieve nothing. We are busy in building up institutions, creating fa­cilities for modernisation and using technology for human welfare. But, all these fail to deliver the goods un­less there is a change of heart. The Mother has therefore rightly observed. “.......to seek to change the conditions without changing the conscious­ness is a vain chimera.”

The individual, to perfect him­self and the society, should know the desirable changes to be brought about in his character. It needs to be noted that everyone possesses two opposite tendencies of character. A courageous man may be a coward at times and the good man may sud­denly acquire wicked impulses. The Mother, therefore, pertinently pointed out, “The indispensable starting-point (for transforming the character) is a detailed and discerning observation of the character to be transformed ......... all life is an education pursued more or less consciously, more or less willingly.” (p. 57)

There is nothing wrong if man seeks happiness. But, as observed by Sri Aurobindo, “Superficial happiness and material success, however desir­able to our vital nature, are not the main object of our existence........” (p. 211) Man must, therefore, seek real happiness by discarding delu­sions.

Besides appendices, the book contains some photographs of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The print­ing and get-up are of high standard. Those who are wedded to spiritual values would be richly rewarded by going through this work.

DR. I. SATYA SUNDARAM

The African Mind: A Literary Perspec­tive: By V. Sivaramakrishnan. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kulapati Marg, Bombay - 7. Price: Rs. 35.

This book contains a collection of sixteen articles written by the au­thor who was formerly of the Indian Economic Service, and on an assign­ment for the development of Small Scale Industries in some States in the African Continent as a Special Officer, had the opportunity to study not merely the subject of his assignment, but the native people, their customs, manners, history and culture, as well as folk-lore and myths, superstitions and beliefs, as reflected and affirmed in literary works – poems, plays, novels, short-stories and travelogues – written by African literateurs of the modern era in English and French. The author originally wrote these articles for the Bhavan’s Journal during his sojourn in Tanzania, 1979-82.

Mr. Sivaramakrishnan, although an economist by vocation, is a per­ceptive and perspicacious literary person by aptitude and choice, as this bunch of articles substantiates. His study and analysis of the varied writings of about forty authors in depth and in detail, and presentation of the material in lucid and appealing style are commendable. The book serves as a good introduction to the great modem literary writings of Af­rica.

The writings have for their the­matic content – Colonial oppression by the foreign rulers, the subjection to slavery and the abject misery of the natives, poor and helpless, igno­rant and innocent, pure sons and daughters of the African Mother Earth, their trials and tribulations, their hopes and aspirations, their fail­ures and frustrations, their yearning for freedom from foreign domination, their angry protest against the iniqui­ties and tortures perpetrated by the tyrannous masters and, above all, their natural human desires and striving for their fulfilment in the ambit of their ancestral customs and habits of living, cultural mores, and native purity still unsullied by exter­nal influences. Mr. Sivaramakrishnan draws parallels and apt comparisons between the African mind and the In­dian, as well as the perspectives of Afro-English and Indo-Anglian writers in projecting their respective national ethos and culture, the steadfast devo­tion and attachment of the peoples to Mother Earth, their patriotic fer­vour and love of liberty, and in es­sence their very lives symbolised by sacrifice and service, subjugation and slavery.

The author describes how some of the African writers (among them is the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka) employ a language, a queer mixture of English or French and their native idiom, hybrid in structure but effec­tive in communication, highly read­able and engrossing.

POTHUKUCHI SURYANARAYA MURTHY

Episodes from Srimad Bhagavatam: By Sri C. Sitarama Murthy, Retired Principal, Ideal College, Kakinada. Copies can be had of: Prof. C. Soma­sundara Rao. 6-21-12. “Ganesa”. East Point Colony, Visakhapatnam - 530 023. Price: Rs. 50.

Perhaps no other Telugu classic is so popular as Srimad Bhagavatam of Potana. Even the Mahabhaata of the trinity occupies a place next to it in popularity. It is not an exaggera­tion to state that hundreds of stanzas of Potana are recited in every nook and comer of Andhra by scholars and laymen alike. The fundamental differ­ence between Mahabharata and Bhagavatam is that the former ap­peals to our intellect and we are highly delighted by the poetic beau­ties of the trinity, whereas when we read the latter, we forget ourselves and go into a state of rapture as it appeals to our heart. It is not to say that Potana is in any way inferior to the trinity in imagery or poetic exu­berance. The felicity of language, the Ardha and Sabdalankaras, mainly the Antyanuprasa employed, and above all, the wonderful depiction of different aspects of Bhakti have en­deared Potana to the Telugu-speaking people.

Sri C. Sitarama Murthy, a vet­eran scholar and teacher of English, has succeeded in his attempt to pres­ent a faithful prose translation of some episodes of Potana’s Mahabhagavatam. Though he says in his preface, out of humility, that he is not competent to undertake such a task, a critical study of his book re­veals that he has accomplished his task quite successfully. The book which has five parts deals with all important episodes of Bhagavatam in a lucid style that captivates the hearts of the readers. His method of narrating the relevant parts of the story first and then discussing the salient features of characters like Prahlada, Dhruva, Ambarisha and others is really superb. The author has convincingly brought about the similarities and differences between the two child prodigies Prahlada and Dhruva. His observation that unlike Prahlada, Dhruva fails to dislodge hatred from his heart reveals the author’s analytical ability and brings to light the depth of his perception.

Another aspect of Sri Sitarama Murthy’s success is his faithful rendering into chaste prose the summary of Potana’s famous, stan­zas like, “Kaare raajulu”, etc. The au­thor’s rich experience in temporal and spiritual fields, coupled with the knowledge he acquired from Sri­man Sribhashyam Appalacharyulu have given him fine equipment to undertake this stupendous task, which he has accomplished commendably.

I am sure that the non-Telugu speaking people who read this book will derive as much pleasure and en­joyment as the Andhras, who read Potana in the original.

“JANAKI JANI”

The Sanskrit Drama: By A Berridale Keith, Motilal Banarsidass Pvt., Lim­ited. Delhi. Price: Rs. 175.

This book under review needs no introduction to the world of San­skrit scholars. It has become a clas­sic, since its first publication in 1924, and in spite of other later publica­tions on Sanskrit drama, it has its unique place in its field. The origin of the Sanskrit drama, and its develop­ment, Dramatic Theory and Dramatic Practice are the four main subjects dealt with. Prof. Keith opines that it was through the use of epic recitation that the latent possibilities of drama are evoked. Other theories were dis­cussed and refuted. Religious traces of drama are not ruled out. Greek influence on Indian drama is dis­cussed. While dealing with the devel­opment of drama, stress is laid on the great writers and on dramatists who wrote before the first millennium. The story, nature of characters, dialogues, languages, Prakrits, Metres and tech­nical types etc., of each drama to­gether with its date are discussed. Greek dramas are compared with· the dramas of Kalidasa and Bhavabhuti. Verses quoted are translated into English. Defects and merits of each drama are also pointed out. Sanskrit and English indexes are added. No li­brary worth the name can do without this book.

B. K. RAO

The Autobiography of a Freethinker,
The Cosmic Guidance for Man,
Studies in Transcendental Knowledge and Eternal Wisdom,
Madanapalle, the Blessed Jewel of Andhra Pradesh,
Esoteric Wisdom,
The Hand of Destiny, and Satvic
Approach for Human Survival : All By Sri S. Subramanya Iyer and pub­lished by him at 111/49, LIC Colony, III Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore – 560 011

Mr. S. Subramanya Iyer, the author of the books under review, as we notice from his autobiographic account, is concerned about the man and his endeavour on this planet, right from his early days. He moved here and there, read this and that author, heard this speaker and that, discussed matters of his heart’s content to others verbally and thro’ correspondence and never hesitated to share his views with others. The splitting of the atom and the dropping of bombs over Nagasaki and Hiro­shima in the course of the second world war moved him very greatly and set him for still higher thinking on the human activity. The Paramanu Vijnana in technology makes him move about the systems of medita­tion such as the transcendental one, etc.

The Cosmic Guidance for Man is dedi­cated to world peace and is stated to be his flashes in intuition. Couched in verse as well as prose the ideas should set people think on the right lines. The author is understandably forceful when he talks about one­-world and world-government.

His concern for the man of the globe and his total advancement make the author redefine terms like Dharma, love and Yoga. He supposes a possibility of revolution in these fields and sets paradigms for that.

Madanapalle, The Blessed Jewel of Andhra Pradesh, brings out the glo­ries of the town of the past and present and inspires men and women to visit the place and its surroundings. Mention is made of the latest work of theosophists there, not excluding J. Krishnamurti. The quotes made available in the book will certainly be useful for one and all to “enrich and enlighten” them­selves.

Esoteric Wisdom, dedicated to the en­lightenment of Man, is again a com­pendium of 20 poetic pieces, 60 apho­ristic statements on the constitution of self. The author exhorts one and all to “inquire into the meaning of life ... and consciously accelerate the spiritual journey.”

The Hand of Destiny describes the future of man and indicates the pos­sible advent of a Superman. Recon­struction of the nation and re-estab­lishment of the glory of Bharat are very dear to the author.

The effort reaches its culmina­tion when the author presents his treatise for world-peace and world-­social order, in the book last men­tioned in the series. The evolution of a non-party state rooted in Dharma and the inculcating of social and moral virtues in the system of educa­tion are advocated here.

The author, no doubt, has strong convictions in what he writes or propagates; and is equally enthusiastic in presenting his thoughts. One only wishes he makes his books more flawless in style and printing so that an equally receptive reader is not put off. We wish the author greater oppor­tunities for furthering his ideas into actualities.

N. C. RAMANUJACHARY

TELUGU

Arsheya Vaastu Vidyaa Rahasyam: By Sriramakavacham Venkateswara Sarma, Vijayalaxmipuram, Bapatla - ­522 101. Price: Rs. 45.

Sri Sarma, a renowned Pandit in Vaastu and astrology, authored many books on those subjects which won him laurels. He already wrote a book “Samiksha Vaastu Mayurya”. This book under review is comple­mentary to that. The value of these books lies in his close adherence to the instructions of the ancient sages expressed in their works. Wherever there are differences of opinions, he either, reconciles them or gives his preference to a view on a rational basis.

This book he starts with point­ing out the importance of time, name and the builder and his Nakshatra. Then he takes up Sankusthapana. He discusses all the varying theories as to where the Sankam is to be in­stalled, and arrives at a decision. He corrects many modem Vaastu writers with authority. He draws distinction between Sankusthapana and Silaa­sthapana, and describes three kinds of installations (Pratishtaa).

Information regarding levels of earth in a house and site, temples and idols is also given. Importance of North-West is pointed out. How to avoid some evil effects is answered. Many helpful guiding principles and instructions make the book highly useful. This book together with its predecessor, serves as a good guide to Vaastu students and Pan­dits. It dispels many doubts and points out the defects in our present customs also and puts us on the right track.

B. K. SASTRY

Maharshi Vedavyaasudu - Vyasa Darshana: By Dr. Chalasaani Subba Rao, Bhavani Sadan, Amba Agra­haram, Machilipatnam – 521 001. Price: Rs. 30.

The book under review is an analytical work on the life and writ­ings of the great sage, Vedavyaasa, who is accepted by all as having been the person who had codified or di­vided the Veda into four divisions ­Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Adharvanaveda. This book is divided into sixty-two small chapters, each chapter discussing one specific as­pect. An attempt was made to be the historical time of the birth of Ve­davyaasa, the times of the various characters who appear in the epic, Mahabharata, and also to fix the date of Bharata Yuddha. Relying on the writings of other historians, the writer fixes 2107 BC as the year of birth and 1917 BC as the year of Nirvaana of Vedavyaasa. Accordingly he also fixes the dates for the other Ma­habharata characters.

The writer has made a number of categorical statements in the first 64 pages. It is difficult to agree with a good number of them, because of the absence of the sources of the state­ments.

From page 65 onwards, in 30 chapters, the writer discusses a vari­ety of topics germane to the writings of Vedavyaasa, by and large, the statements made in this part are positive, universal and non-controver­sial. It makes pleasant and easy read­ing.

The writer contends that Vedas are not “Apaurusheyas” and that they are “written” by a number of ancient Rishis at different times. He made sincere efforts to sustain this conten­tion. However this is contrary to the popular belief, and he is sincere in mentioning this fact. He is honest to state that one should study the “Veda Vaangmayam” with a belief in their morals and one should not indulge in hairsplitting analytical exercise in the guise of historicity.

In spite of these minor short­comings, the book is highly readable and instructive. The last 78 pages are fit to be included in the high school text-books for improving the moral content of the curriculum, and incul­cate secular morality in the future generations at least.

DR. B.P. RAO