Book Reviews

REVIEWS

‘SANKARA ON THE YOGA SUTRAS’

(A full translation of the newly discovered text by Trevor Leggett0. Price Rs. 350 publishers - Motilal Banarsi Das, Jawahar Nagar Delhi - 110007:-  ­

This is a most valuable work. It contains an English translation of not only Patanjali’s Yogasutras and Vyasa’s terse commentary on them, but also a full translation of a newly found Samskrit commentary named “Vivarana” on Vyasa’s Bhashya, believed to have been written by Sankara, the expounder of the Advaita philosophy. An important feature of this commentary is that there is pull towards vedanta therein. The yoga view points out of that an omnipotent intelligent consciousness, a purposeful divine mind is the source of the universe is established on logical, rational and scriptural grounds. Dilation upon this topic takes up, nearly one quarter of the whole “Vivarana” on the “Samadhipada”. That the purusha of “samkhya” is different from the Vedantic purusha is made clear. Vivarana also contradicts the yogic view that “Samyama” produces supernormal powers. Sankara asserts that they do not arise in concentration. “The doctrine that the future exists and that time is purely relative expounded herein, anticipates the Einstein- view. “We learn Sankara had an idea of “gravity pull”.

There are references to some­thing like the anthropie principle proposed recently. In fine, for a deeper and clearer understanding of Sankara, a keen study of this work is a must.

The two introductions, one to the general reader and the other to critical reader are as valuable as the newly found commentary. A summary of the text chapter wise is given briefly, sa­lient features of Vivarana Commentary are presented. Even an ordinary reader can easily grasp the subject matter of the text and commentaries. There are about twenty subtitles in the critical introduction, though all of them are enlightening, portions, entitled “San­kara and yoga and “Sutras” (iii) 35-37 form the cream, and one should not
miss them. The translator also points out how the Advaitic View is supported by Prof. Schrodinger.

Our praise goes to the publish­ers for having brought but this full In­dian edition. They will do well to pub­lish the original text or the commentary “Vivarana” in Sanskrit also which is not available now. The translator has done very well.

- B. K. RAO

VARADA SMRITI: Editor: Ms. Chayadevi, Seela Verraju, Kundurti, published by Abburi Trust, Hyderabad. Pages: 594; Price Rs. 200­

This fabulous volume is published on the eve of the first death anniversary of a multi faceted personality, Abburi Varada Rajeswara Rau an illustrious son of an illustrious father Abburi Ramakrishnarao.

Gopalachakravarty paying a homage to Varada, as he was known to all, praised him and compared him to Getrude Stein and Ezra Pound itself is a story of contemporary Telugu literture., he was closely following the various trends from time to time as he had access to most of the litterateurs of Telugu land of this century.

This volume carefully documents the various activities of Varada. It contains correspondence between himself and eminent men of letters V. R. Narla, Butchi Babu (S.V. Subba Rao) S.M.Y. Sastry, Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastry, P. Padma Raju, Gerald Kelly, Erik Stinus, K.V. Ramana Redy, M. B. Emeneau John, G. Leonard, M. N. Roy and Albert Johnson.

The book projects Varada’s versatility as a poet, play-wright, story writer, Journalist and his varied interests. The well known journalist Mr. P. Vaman Rao reacting to the news of his death, says, “To me it is all like a dream or a phantasmagoria of a sweet as well as frightful dream.”

Mr. Rau’s article on ‘Telugu Literature’ in ‘Indian Literature’ published by National Academy of Letters has received high acclaim. K. R. Kripalani, the then, Secretary of the Akademi complimented Varada for his “excellent review of one year’s progress in Telugu Literature”. The review being a master piece written in pages is reprinted in this book.

This ‘Varada Smriti’ which gives a bird’s eye view of literal (Telugu) happenings of the best part of this century should find a place on every shelf that seeks to equip itself source materials on ‘Telugu Literature.’

-B. SUBBARAYAN

‘RASAJNA SILPI’ (Telugu) (Acharya Pingali Lakshmikantam’s Centenary Souvenir) Publisher Dr. V. Srinivas, Visakhapatnam. Copies can be had from Sri P. S. Sundaram 8-3-970, Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad - 500 873. Price Rs. 48/­

It is a tastefully got-up, attractive volume of 147 pages containing scholarly articles on the various aspects of Dr. Lakshmikantam’s Life, Scholar ship and Poetic genius.

Scholarly articles on his versatility are contributed by Dr. P.S.R. Appa Rao, Sri Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao, Dr. Nanduri Ramakakrishnamacharya, Prof. (Smt) Nayani Krishna Kumari, Dr. Sumana Sri, Nagalla Guru Prasad, Prof. V. Subrahmanya Sastri, Prasadaraya Kulapati, Prof. L. Chakradhara Rao, Prof G.V. Subrahmanyam and others.

The well-written and critical essays show the greatness of the professor who distinguished himself as a teacher, poet, stage actor and literary critic, with many ‘Firsts’ to his credit. Notwithstanding his varied contri­butions to Telugu literature, the reader gets the impression that the man is greater than his works. His magnum opus ‘Soundaranadam’, an all time classic written in partnership with Katuri Venkateswara Rao is enough to establish his claims to literary innovation and artistry, and to perpetuate his memory.

The printed pages contain photo­graphs, illuminating quotations which reinforce and supplement the contents. The professor’s photograph on the laminated cover page looks life-like.

I hope, this book will find its place on the shelves of all libraries.

-I. V. CHALAPATI RAO

TELUGU SAHITYMULO RADHA TATVAMU by Dr. Anantha Lakshmi; Paper Edition Rs. 90/-, For copies: Author, 1-9-327/1, Ramnagar Gundu, Hyderabad-500044.

            Telugu Sahitya­mulo Radha Tatvamu (Concept of Radha in Telugu Literature) is the doctoral dissertation of Dr. Anantha Lakshmi, a well documented work that can be a source book to any research on Radha.

Radha’s name is synonymous with love for Krishna-sensual or spiritual. Radha- Krishna symbolise the advaita doctorine. Gamhita, Padma purana and Brahma Samhita emphasise their non-duality. Radha Krishna concept is a symbiosis of saguna and nirguna modes of worship.

At the outset the author traces the etymological significance of Radha. She amply demonstrates her commenda­ble authority on the subject through the exposition of the characters of Radha and Krishna in relation to yogasastra, numerology and astronomy. Radha symbolically represents the seeker’s spiritual odyssey from Gneya (known) to agneya (unknown) culminating in the realisation of Him - through sublime love.

Radha’s unsurpassable devotion to Krishna as perceived and portrayed by Jayadeva, Chaitanya, Nimbarka, Surdas and others provides an intere­sting drop for the study undertaken by the author.

Radhika Svantanamu of Muddupalani tops the list of Telugu Kavyas which distort the love of Radha as sensual with Panduranga Mahatmyamu and Ashtamahishi kalyanamu being the exceptions.

Radha’s emergence on the firmament of Telugu drama is relatively recent one. Telugu Bhagavatam seems to have influenced a majority of the plays as evidenced by the presence of many memorable scenes from the classic. Panuganti’s play Radha Krishna redeems Radha from a profusion of distortions in the portrayal of her character by many dramatists. While depicting the sensual love of Radha as portrayed by such writers, Dr. Anantha Lakshmi displays remarkable restraint.

In contrast, Telugu lyrics and ballads eulogise the spiritual love of Radha and glorify her in no uncertain terms. There seems to be a near unanimity among the writers in eloquently singing in praise of Radha’s love for Krishna.

The author of the book under review pays glowing tributes to the modern Telugu poets who have successfully presented the multi-faceted personality of Radha. The last chapter summarises the admirable endeavour of Dr. Anantha Lakshmi in providing a new perspective to the concept of Radha. As Dr. I. Panduranga Rao, Executive Director, Bharatiya Jnanpith, rightly points out in his thought provoking ‘Foreword’ such critical assessments as this enable ordinary reader to acquire a more refined out look.

-T.S. CHANDRA MOULI

SCHOOLIKI POTHUNNA NENU OOTLA KONDAYYA Pages: 32, Price: Rs. 9, Publishers, Katuri Kavita Peetham, Kutbiguda, Hyderabad-500 027.

This slim book of 32 pages and 27 elegant poems is a welcome addition to our rather limited literature in Telugu for children. Sri Ootla Kondayya Garu is a veteran in this field, having over a dozen books to his credit, most of them, unfortunately, not available now. However, ‘Schooliki Pothunna Nenu’ is unique in its own way.

Books for children are mostly didactic in content and message, adults prescribing several ‘dos and donts’, for the kids. But now the roles are reversed; it is the child that speaks. As a grand­father, Kondayya Garu is aware that children are often critical observers of adults’ behaviour around them, reacting in all their innocence. But when the child speaks out, it is snubbed and it is puzzled;

Why? asks the child. The father is not happy with mother’s cooking. The child wonders why? The answer comes from the mother and the kid is happy;

Again the child is not able to figure out why human infants are bottle­fed while even dogs breast-feed their off-springs.

The poems move on from one such situation to another. The diction is simple and appealing with a touch of humour. Now and then one finds the child speaking much beyond its age;

These poems have as much for the adult as for the child to learn.
- Dr. B. Dayananda Rao