Book Reviews

SRI KRISHNA LEELA TARANGINI: By Narayana Tirtha (Vol. I. Tarangams I to VI) Translated and Edited by B. Natarajan. Mudgala Trust, 12, IV Cross Street, Ramakrishna Nagar, Madras - 600 028. Price Rs. 300.

Our saint-singers, like Chaitanya and Kabir, Meerabai, Tulsi Das and Surdas, who are often taken for granted, are the true integrators of India. The themes they deal with happen to be familiar to the masses in all parts of country – be literate or illiterate. The sentiments that pervade the stories and anecdotes from the epics and the puranas, the myths and the legends, are equally widespread, as they had been imbibed by most people, since their infancy in their mothers’ arms and childhood on the laps of their grandmothers. There is hardly any one who has not thus heard of the adventures and achievements of Rama and the exploits and escapades of Krishna.

The literary and musical heritage of South India seems to surpass the boundaries of local languages. Hence the wide-spread popularity of the compositions of Tyagaraja and Purandaradasa, Kshetrajna and Jayadeva, Sadasiva Brahmendra and Narayana Tirtha. The last three composed in Sanskrit, which in spite of its being simple, lucid and mellifluous, is becoming a closed book to a generation that is gradually going away from it.

Like Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda, which is dominated by the rasa of Sringara Bhakti or Bhakti Sringara, Narayana Tirtha’s Krishna Leela Tarangini is characterized by Advaita Bhakti.

Mr. B. Natarajan’s book, a sumptuous volume, is beautifully produced, illustrated with quite a few art plates in colour as well as in black and white. It is the first available translation in English, with transliteration in the Roman script, along with the Sanskrit text in Devanagari. This being the first volume covering the first six Taranginis(or waves), out of a total of a total of the musical composition, whose title is translated in English as “The River of the Lord Krishna”.  

Explaining his own motivation for undertaking this major work, which he did as a labour of love, as a sacrament in fact, the author says in his Preface:

“Many musicologists have expressed the view that a transla­tion of the Taranginiinto English, is long overdue. The work itself is known only in the Southern states – mostly in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and to a certain extent, in Karnataka and Kerala. It should be known in other states in India, like Orissa, West Bengal, D.P., Gujarat and Rajasthan, where the Krishna cult has a considerable following and is a living tradition.”

It was quite thoughtful of Mr. Natarajan to have done so and he would thereby have earned the gratitude of not only lovers of Sanskrit poetry and Indian music in this country, but of others as well in the world outside. He had rightly anticipated the tastes and requirements of everyone concerned when he refers to the increasing interest shown in recent years by foreign scholars in Indology generally and in the Krishna theme in particular.

The Tarangini(literally ‘River’ or one with waves) has been composed around the 17th century by Narayana Tirtha in chaste Sanskrit and set to music, in the form of a Yakshagana(dance­drama) on Sri Krishna – the divine stealer of butter, hearts and clothes of the cowherdesses – based on the exciting story from his birth to his marriage with Rukmini, as related in the Dasama Skandha (Book Ten) of Srimad Bhagavatdm.

The composition comprises 155 gitams(songs) in 39 Ragas, short daruvus, 348 slokas, gadyams and Vachanas(link-passages in prose) and is divided into 12 trangams(or waves), making up into Indian philosophy, his mastery classical carnatic music and his gift of verbal magic, this work is able to transform what is familiar into the fascinating, and make the ancedotes flow like a living river. With its delightful and distinctive flavour, it has earned a lasting place in the Sankirtanatradition.

The book is divided into two parts. Part I presents the his­torical perspective, the biographical details of the composer, with a discussion of the literary, cultural and musical traditions of Puri, Kuchipudi and Bhagavata Mela, Addanki and Ongole. This section running to over 250 pages is sure to be of immense value to students of Indian literature, history and culture.

Part II, which is of equal size, is made up of the Sanskrit text, with transliteration, translation and explanatory notes in English. As also a select but detailed bibliography, glossary, index of songs (in Sanskrit and English) and of names, all of which are essential to a scholarly work of this kind. A number of maps relating to the areas of relevance to the composer and the theme are also provided.

The fusion of cultures in South India – Telugu and Tamil, Pallava, Chola, Chalukya, Maharashtra in Tanjore – described in the first chapter is a valuable contribution to South Indian history and indirectly to the social-intellectual milieu for mutual under­standing, if not the process of national integration.

With his academic training in Mathematics, it is not surprising that Mr. Natarajan is a stickler for precision, following the accepted international standards of spelling in transliteration. In the difficult art of translation, which is a dangerous walk on the razor’s edge of fidelity and beauty, he has obviously given more importance to fidelity, of course, violating the familiar canons of English idiom and usage.

As a research scholar schooled under the guidance of his father (S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, a renowned scholar in ancient history, art and archaeology), the author cautiously proceeds from the known to the unknown, having learnt of the treating of research as “exercise of intelligent surmise”.

He also has kept in mind Lord Morley’s useful dictum:

“Do not put in what should have been put out;
and do not put out what should have been put in.”

He has certainly put in all that he could, with discretion, judgment and circumspection. A truly rewarding volume for the serious reader interested in the subject, who would eagerly look forward to the second volume.
DR. D. ANJANEYULU

PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS: By G.C. Nayak. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi 7. Price: Rs. 60.

Avowedly analytical and critical in their approach, eighteen essays of themes of philosophical interest are stimulating. The author presents his views with no claim for finality though he does not accept traditional standards of spiritual knowledge. Writing on the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo, for instance, he finds it difficult to agree that spiritual or mystic experience – and the knowledge derived from it – cannot be called upon to stand the tests of intellectual verification. He respects the authenticity of the glorious Vision of the Seer but wonders how far it can be verified. Sri Aurobindo himself says that these experienced truths are verifiable by those who are competent therefor and who are ready to adopt the means that correspond to the quality of the consciousness underlying the experience.

Studies in the Madhyamika and Vedanta thought, the Zen system, Values of Dharma and Moksha are come of the interesting topics discussed in these pages. The writer appeals for cultivation of what he calls “Common-ism” in Religion – adoption of univer­sally applicable values. Speaking of a synthesis of Eastern and Western Thought, he rightly points out that it is wrong to proceed upon superficial resemblances. He argues that a working synthesis is possible from the point of view of the trends in both.

Dr. Nayak has interesting things to say about the origin and methods of the Zen system. “The technique consists in making the disciple stumble on the realisation of truth by a flash of insight only after he has become tired and exhausted by dealing with paradoxes and apparently meaningless questions by means of speculative understanding.”

M. P. PANDIT

OFFERINGS: By Dr. P.P. Sharma. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. (Price not mentioned)

The advent of Sri Satya Sai Baba has certainly brought a sovereign enrichment to the life of many people. Turning the wheel of Dharma to the rhythm of Truth. Righteousness, Peace and Love, Infinite and the devotees have enthusiastically chosen the paths closest to their heart to reach the goal. For some it has been action: for some, meditation: and there are Sadhaks who prefer the way of adoration through poetry and music.

For Dr. P.P. Sharma, writing poetry in praise of the Baba’s ministry is Sadhana. Except for the Psalms in the Bible, the only considerable devotional poetry written in English has been by Indians. Dr. Sharma follows this tradition nurtured by great names like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Dilip Kumar Roy. Sincerity is here a-plenty, a conscious desire to chisel the verses in terms of rhyme now and then. Offerings is a collection of monlogues with the Ishta Devata, capturing several moods and mainly “the healing that emanates from His sheer Presence”, a Presence that brings to experiential reality the entire past:

Behind my closed eyes
blossoms out a world
rich with the fragrance
of lotus-feet
the twang of the arrow
the enchanting flute-melody
the effulgence of the swan-borne
goddess, her fingers playing at vina,
the drum, the trident
the snake-roll, the crescent
of Shiva, the androgynous.
DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

A RUDRAKSHA ROSARY AND OTHER POEMS: By Maha­nand Sharma. Ashutosh Prakashan, Shiva Kutir, D-29, Shastri Nagar, Meerut, D.P. Price. Rs. 100.

English literature has hardly any “devotional” poetry except the Psalms in the Holy Bible. Indians have given every branch of their poetry a devotional turn ever since the Vedic times. When English language came to India, Indians began to record their religio-spiritual experiences in terms of philosophical poetry. Among the earliest who achieved a wide measure of success in this genre were Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. They were followed by practitioners of English verse like Dilip Kumar Roy and Sarojini Naidu who moved the reader’s heart by building a rainbow bridge from earth to eternity. Mahanand Sharma is the latest entrant to this polyvalent world of devotional lyricism. And he is most welcome.

A succinct preface tells us why he has chosen to retell the myths of Lord Shiva. These myths are direct descendants of the forces of nature worshipped as deities by the Vedic seers. However, despite their importance, Hindi poets have largely preferred to deal with Krishna in Brindavan to Shiva residing in the cremation ground. While this has helped the myths to save themselves from the corrupting influence of roily imagination, it has also kept the general public away from the nuances of the spiritual significances associated with the stories of Shiva, Parvati, Kartikeya and Ganesa. It was a happy thought on the part of Sri Sharma to attempt a cogent retelling of the Shiva cycle.

The form and style of A Rudraksha Rosary are Miltonic.

The myths dealt with in the narrative are: the failure of Brahma and Vishnu to find the beginning and end of Shiva standing as a column passing through the earth; the destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice; Shiva’s wanderings carrying the lifeless form of Sati; the burning of Kama; the wedding of Shiva and Parvati; the birth of Ganesa and Kartikeya; the story of Markandeya; Kartikeya’s killing of the demon Tarak; the wedding of Kartikeya and Sena; Shiva’s destruction of the demon Andhak; the end of Bhasmasura; and the trial of Arjuna.

Dr. Sharma’s handling of the ten-syllabled blank verse is pleasing to the ear. He keeps to the story with commendable ease and avoids tedium by expertly wielding meaningful dialogues at the appropriate places. His descriptions are realistic and poetic as when he refers to “a dry, extensive sheet of autumn leaves” and draws a map of even the Americas when following the enraged Shiva all over the globe. His wakeful moralising achieves immediate impact:

“Like vultures fattening on the corpses’ flesh,
The wealth, the power, the swelling ego feed
Upon the sweat of the living dead – the poor”.

The stray lyrics at the end of the volume stand witness to his philosophical bent of mind and adherence to the golden adage of simple living and truthful thoughts.

DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA AND THE WORLD OF YOUTH: By Nabaniharan Mukhopadyay, Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamadal, Bhuban-Bhavan, P.O. Balararn Dharma Sopan. Khardah - 743121 W.B. Price Rs. 20.

ELEVEN GREAT INDIANS IN THEIR YOUTH (A com­memorative volume to the International youth year celebrations). Ramakrishna Mission Ashram. Patna - 800004. Price Rs. 10.

SRI RAMAKRISHNA AND HIS ADMIRERS (Eastern and Western): Edited by Debkumar Mukharjee. Charn Publishing Co., C-8 College Street Market. Calcutta - 700007.

Swami Vivekananda and the World of youth by Naba Niharan Mukhopadhyay is a book worth its weight in gold. We heartily recommend it to all right-minded people of India, who care to think of the country and the role of youth in nation-building. It’s a pity that many of us don’t know of the excellent work that is being done by Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal since its inception in 1967. It publishes, among many other activities, a monthly English journal Vivek jivan. The volume under review is a collection of 51 editorials carefully selected and presented under four chapters captioned as (i) Youth today (ii) The Melody and Remedy (iii) Character (iv) Education: The panacea. The message of Vivekananda emerges out of these thoughtful pages and exhorts our youngmen to learn to serve the nation in absolute spirit of dedication sans selfishness. Sri Vivekananda presents a vision of India “in which”, says swami Ranganathananda in his foreword, “every citizen will be enthroned on the pedestal of freedom, equality, dignity and all-round human welfare”.

We congratulate Sri Mukhopadhay for calling a spade a spade when everyone, as a rule,praises youth for wrong reasons and proposes wrong ideals. Our politicians and educationists have been misleading the youth and Sri Mukhopadhyay has the courage of conviction to say it out in his first editorial and place his critical finger exactly on the weak spot in our current educational system. In the “Concern for youth”, he avers that a 150 page report on youth published by the United Nations reveals nothing new and out of the way. “On the other hand, the only thing it reveals is an absence of understanding about youth”. The youth today is in need of moral education of which our policy makers are greatly afraid because of our commitments to pseudo-secularism.

Eleven Great Indians in their youth is a collection of eleven essays illustrating the youthful adventures and achievements of some Indians whose life can inspire our youth to work for the right type of growth of their individuality as well as the society. The inclusion of such men of God as Acharya Sankara and Ramana Maharshi is not in accordance with the manifesto issued by the D.N. in 1985, but Swami Vedantananda defends it in his fore-word thus: “The objectives of the youth year, that is, participation, development and peace were reflected in the lives and activities of these great sons of Mother India, though not in accordance with the meaning of the words in the manifesto”. There is no doubt that the lives of these great Indians Acharya Sankara, Shri Chaitanya, Guru Gobind Singh, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Mathatma Gandhi, Rajendra Prasad, Shivaji, Swami Vivekananda, Rana Pratap, Sri Ramakrishna and Subhaschandra Bose will set an ideal for the youth.

Sri Ramakrishna and his admirers (Easten and Western) is an excellent compilation of essays in which stalwarts form all walks of life from east and west pay their homage to Sri Ramakrishna, whose syncretic, universal, eternal religion holds a key to religious harmony and peace in the strife torn world of today. In the first part great Indians like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore P.C. Sivanatha Sastry pay their tribute to the sage of Dakshineswar, while in the later part great men of the west like Ch. Tawney, F. Max Muller, Romain Rolland, Nicholas Roerich, Joseph Campbell Albert Schweitzer and Arnold Toynbee pay their homage. The editor’s introduction is both thoughtful and beautiful.

DR. G. SRIVAMA MURTY

GHAI, D.P. UNITY IN DIVERSITY: By G.P. Ghai. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi. Price: Rs. 50.

Notwithstanding its somewhat pompous subtitle, “A guide to the understanding the fundamental unity underlying the great living religions of the world,” this selection of sayings from nine different religions is a worthy attempt to show the common basis of human spirituality. The book is divided into twenty-nine sections such as “Anger, Brotherhood, Courage, Deeds, Duty, Evil, Faith, Family, Forgiveness,” etc., under which the various quotations are organized. The nine great religions included are, in this order, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhisim, Christianity, Confucianism, Jainism, Mohammedanism, Shinto, and Sikhism.

So far so good. But now the problems start. First, the quota­tions are not identified. There is a general listing at the beginning of the “major sacred writings from which selections have been made. After this, there is no means of identifying individual quotations. No mention is made about which translations are being used, nor from which chapter or verse, let alone which text, the selection is being made. So now we have no means not only of verifying the authenticity of the various quotations, but also of examining their contexts in the original text. The result is all religions end up sounding pretty much the same making one wonder why they’re listed separately in the first place. In a word, this book reduces and simplifies the whole concept of religion so as to make it almost meaningless.

The attempt to make the book visually appealing, along with its basically “good intention,” may be appreciated. But as to whether it is really persuasive enough to achieve its objective, the answer must, regretfully, be in the negative.

DR. MAKARAND R. PARANJAPE

GLIMPSES OF TELUGU LITERATURE: By Dr. D. Anjaneyulu. Writers Workshop. Calcutta - 45. Price: Rs. 120.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan observed that Indian literature is one though written in many languages. Viewed in this context, we are greatly indebted to Dr. D. Anjaneyulu for assembling this book of essays on Telugu Literature. In fact, Dr. Anjaneyulu’s book entitled Glimpses of Telugu Literature has a two-fold significance. For it will be required reading for students of com­parative literature in our universities. Again I suspect that Dr. Anjaneyulu has deliberately addressed this volume – I am using the word “deliberately” advisedly – to the largest general readership.

There is a lot to appreciate here, not least the elegant way Dr. Anjaneyulu begins with A Bird’s EyeView of Telugu Literature and proceeds to enlarge the frontiers of the subject, taking off from literal fact to empathy; with the addition of perceptive essays on C.P. Brown and C.R. Reddy. A characteristic example of his objectivity presents itself in his essay on C.P. Brown: “Literary criticism is still more often than not (with a few honourable exceptions) a matter of personal equation or communal affiliation.” His range was encyclopaedic, but his instinct was artistic”. Equally objective is his assessment of C.R. Reddy: “Unfortunately, as in life, so in literature. Reddy’s initial promise was hardly fulfilled by later achievements...... He worked by fits and starts – but the fits were original and starts brilliant. His contribution. rather slender, was significant in quality.”

The importance of Dr. Anjaneyulu’s work lies in the fact that despite the long span over which the individual essays had been written, a coherent view of the leaders and landmarks of Telugu literature is focussed on the readers’ mind. Furthermore, Dr. Anjaneyulu’s literary portraits of Potana, Vemana, Kshetrajna, D.Y. Krishna Sastry, Viswanatha, Dasarathi, C. Narayana Reddi, Bairagi, P.Y. Rajamannar, Sri Sri, Bhamidipati Kameswara Rao, P. Padmaraju, Butchi Babu, Nanduri Subba Rao, Illindala Saraswati Devi, D. Visalakshmi, G.Y. Sitapati, Tapi Dharma Rao, Sriva­atsava, Mutnuri Krishna Rao and V.R. Narla are not merely interpretative but also informative.

Of Padmaraju, Dr. Anjaneyulu writes: “Modern in outlook, and authentic in idiom, Shri Padmaraju was one of the most thoughtful and sensitive writers in Telugu. And one cannot read these comments and literary portraits without reflecting on his thoughtful essays such as Trends in Telugu Literary Criticism. Impact of Socialist Ideology on Telugu Literature, Great Lexicographers of Telugu. Social Consciousness in the Telugu Novel, Literature of Protest in Telugu and State of Modern Writing: A Cursory Glance. Summing up Dr. Anjaneyulu’s landmarks in Telugu Literature could be regarded as a volume of essays which is at once elegantly written and critically deft.

A. RANGANATHAN

SHORT-STORIES: By P.M. Nityanand. Writers’ Workshop, Lake Gardens, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 60.

Here we have a real interesting story-teller with an eye to serving his readers good hour or two of unflagging enjoyment due to his craftsmanship: A group of stories, each with its own pointed objective of vivifying episodes of diversified experience and observation of life. Nothing like a justifiable suspense in the art of short-story takes the reader to his summation of satisfaction after finishing the reading. The author is a keen student of life in its bewilderingly changing aspects and daily occurrence. These stories amply prove that merit.

Though following the modern trend of short-story writing in its conclusion not allowing of a conclusion but leaving the reader to form his own, still some of them in this volume wholesomely make the reading quite rewarding by the narration in a language of vivid colour and content. Two of the stories may remain for long in the memory of readers such as The Interlude and Caesar for their extraordinary attraction of narration and imaginative presentation. The volume deserves its name in the fullest measure of appreciation.

K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

FREE INDIA’S FIRST SPEAKER: Edited by Purushottam Ganesh Mavalankar. Price: Rs. 25.
THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER: By Ganesh Vasudev Mava­lankar. Price: Rs. 15. Both the booklets are published by Harold Laski Institute of Political Science, Ellis Bridge, Ahmedabad – 380006,
POINTS OF ADVICE TO MY SONS: By Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar. Sannishtha Prakashan, Ahmedabad.

These three booklets, brought out on the occasion of the birth centenary of Ganesh Vasudeo Mavalankar, popularly known as Dadasaheb Mavalankar (27-11-1888 to 27-2-1956), provide in­teresting insights into the political philosophy, nay philosophy of life itself, of Dadasaheb – free India’s first Speaker.

Dadasaheb made All-India Speakers’ Conference an annual feature with a view to organising the functioning of Parliamentary democracy in the whole of India on a common basis with uniform procedures, practices and conventions. He observed that though the Speaker must be above party, must be a protector of the privileges of the House and member of Parliament, he should not divorce himself absolutely from all politics.

The qualities that make a successful Speaker according to Dadasaheb are: a quick grasp of the question at issue, presence of mind, infinite patience and a sense of humour. Dadasaheb’s seminal services as Speaker of Indian Parliament in moulding the institu­tions to the requirements of an Independent India are significant. His mastery over parliamentary procedure made him: a successful Speaker. He strongly condemned the mushroom growth of political parties which only contributes to the instability and frequent changes of Government.

His advice to his sons is: one should not expect to live merely on returns from ancestral investments. Intellectual pursuits should not be divorced from physical labour. These booklets throw useful light on the work, philosophy and aspirations of Dadasaheb.

DR. I. SATYA SUNDARAM

DATE OF ADISANKARA: By V.G. Ramachandran. Interna­tional Society for the investigation of Ancient Civilizations, 31 Poos Garden, Madras - 600086. Price: Rs. 25.

Though the main theme of this work is the data of Adisankara, it discusses in detail about the criteria for fixing up the chronological dates in the ancient Indian history. The following are some of the conclusions arrived at. Astronomy in preference to others like the archeological and inscriptional evidences, is the best aid to history. On the evidence of the astronomical data found in the Vedas and the Puranas, the dates of Mahabharata war and Asho­ka are to be fixed as 3067 B.C. and 1472 B.C. respectively. These two dates are the corner-stones of Indian chronology.

Our history started from 8576 B.C. the date of Vaivasvata Manu who propounded the first calendar of the world of the Saptarshis. Kali era begins in 3101 BC. Civilisation of India extends even farther than 9000 B.C. On this strong foundation with undemolishable arguments, the author raises a magnificent edifice wherein we are introduced to many uncounterable evidences, inscriptional, horosopical, literary, including a Jaina work, records of different Sankara Mutts, and crowning all these, an internal reference in the Sankara Bhashya to an Andhra King Purnavarma whose date is confirmed by other sources. All these prove that Sankara dates to 569 BC. as against the date given by the biased western scholars.

Findings of the author’s predecessors, like late Kota Venka­tachalam and others, are also recorded here. Then he gives a list of pontiffs of different Sankar Mutts in successive order with their dates, based on the records of those Mutts. Finally, he musters twenty-nine evidences to establish the historcity of Kamakoti Math of which Adisankara was the first Peethadhipa, who went into Samadhi in Kanchi itself. This outstanding and fully-docu­mented research work pleads for a reconstruction of Indian History which is a dire need of the day. It is incumbent on every student by Indian History to read this for a clear and true picture of Indian history.
B. KUTUMBA RAO

TEMPLES OF SOUTH INDIA: By S. Padmanabhan. Kumaran Pathiappagam, 20 State Bank Colony, Nagercoil- 629001. Price: Rs.5.

Visiting temples and offering prayers to the gods in the form of images therein is a source of mental solace. A knowledge of the origin and legends of the temple instills devotion and prompts a devotee to visit the temples even at distant place which in its turn is conducive to the idea of national integration. It is in this context that book has its unique value.

It gives “a short account of 22 famous and ancient temples of South India from Tirupati to Kanyakumari, based on legend tradition, history, literature, inscriptions, festivals, art and architecture etc. Brief information about other temples in and around the 22 temples also is given. Photos of temples and icons also adorn the work. Glossary of important Sanskrit words and South Indian Map showing the locations of temples are highly useful to the pilgrims and tourists. Any reader of this informative book cannot but appreciate the author for the efforts he has put in for collecting the material.
“BHAGAVATULA”

SANSKRIT

SRI SARADRATRI. Vol.: By Sri Bellamkonda Ramaraya Vidvat­kavi. Published by Bodapati Ramanujasarma, editor, Swadharma Prakasini. New Nallakunta, Hyderabad - 500014. Price: Rs. 32.

We must first express our gratefulness to the publisher and Sri Patibandla Sundara Rao, but for whose endeavours and efforts, this precious work, an invaluable commentary on the grammatical work “Sidhanta Kaumudi” would not have been brought into light. Sri Ramaraya Kavi, an indomitable champion of Sankaradvaita, a prodigy and a polymath, in his short span of life of about thirty years, authored many works in poetry and on Sastras.

The commentary under review extends up to the end of Karaka. Selected Sutras and Vartikas are chosen for commentary. Everywhere, he has something fresh to say. New doubts and problems are raised and answers and solutions are offered. We see an original thinker in this commentator, scholars are sure to appreciate this commentary. This must be treasured in all libraries and must be owned by Sanskrit Grammarism. This ought to have been printed in Devanagari script to give it a wide circulation. An index of Sutras or Vartikas also is wanting. We eagerly await the release of the second volume.

B.K. SASTRY

SANSKRIT AND TELUGU

SRI VIVEKA CHOODAMANI: Vol: II by SRI SANKARA­BHAGAVATPAADA: With Sanskrit commentary by H.H. Jagadguru Chandrasekhara Bharati Swami, Sringeri Saradapeetham. Sri Sitarama Adisankara Trust, Malkajigiri, Hyderabad-500 047. Price Rs. 30.

This work under review is an analytical exposition of Advaita Philosophy in verse form, and is easily the crest jewel not only of discrimination but of all Prakaranas also (or primers) written by Srisankara. H.H. Sri Chandrasekharendra Bharati, a great scholar and a modern saint of spiritual realisation, wrote an erudite com­mentary on it and this surpasses all others in the field. The commentary gives the Dandanvaya or prose order of the verse, word to word meaning and a clear elucidation of the text. Grammatical derivations of some words also are shown.

This commentary is translated into verbatim Telugu by H.H. Jagadguru Sri Vimalananda Bharati Swami 2 of Courtallam Peetha, who is also a scholar, Sri M. Subbarao who, a disciple of Sri Vimalananda Bharati I, endowed with critical acumen edited this work. All these contribute to the value and usefulness of this work. This second part named Atmavidya deals with Atman, Anatman, Pancha Koses (five sheaths) and “Tattvamasi” the most important Upanishadic statement, in verses 74-267. This is an indispensable book to all students of Advaita Philosophy. We await the publication of the other parts of this book.

“KASYAPA”

TELUGU

(1) BHARATA NIRUKTI-NANNAYA RUCHIRARDHA SUKTI (2) BHARATA NIRUKTI - TIKKANA SARASOKTl: By DR. T. RAMAKRISHNA MURTHY AND SURAM SRINIVASULU For Copies - TV.S. GANGADHARA KUMAR, A-22, VIYAYAPURI SOUTH. 522439. Price: Rs. 8 and Rs. 10.

These twin volumes purport to popularise the gems of thought contained in Andhra Mahabharata of Nannaya and Tikkana. The story content of the relevant portions of the epic is narrated in simple and readable prose. The verses highlighting the ethical, moral and spiritual precepts of Vyasa as translated by the great Masters are given and commented upon. The original Slokas are also given where necessary. Thus the authors have done a great service in compiling some fine precepts from Mahabharata for lay readers. One wishes that the authors would compile precepts from Yerrapraggada also and complete this useful project.
DR. DHARA RAMANADHA SASTRI.

TEERPULU-KAITALU: By P. MOHAN, SAINIK SCHOOL, KORUKONDA, 531214.

It is said in Mahabhagavata that a Yogi has to learn lessons and get trained in spiritualism from many objects and creatures around us. This compilation of mini-poems has for its motto the axiom from Sri Sri ‘Kaadedi Kavita Kanarham’ (Nothing is unfit for poetry). From a chalk-piece to mighty tree a galaxy of objects, sometimes men and animals too inspire the poet to observe, eulogise and philosophise their existence. A good excercise in organised rumination and poeticisation.

DR. DHARA RAMANADHA SASTRY.

(1) TIRUNNAMAMULU (2) TIRUNAMAMULU SAMAGRA PARISEELANAMU: Edited and written respectively by Dr. K. Narasimhacharya. For copies, Author, Lecturer, Government College, Armoor - 503 224. Price: Rs. 40 and Rs. 20.

Tirunaamams are devotional lyrics in Telugu set to music and sung in praise of goddess Sri Sriramanujacharya, Vishnu and his devotees, Alwars and Acharyas, Saranaagati or self- surrender etc,. according to Ramanuja’s Srivaishnavism. These are considered to be on a par with the songs of Alwars which are deemed as Dravidaveda. These are sung in Telengana even now in Vaishnavite congregations, and are intended to convey the tenets of Ramanuja’s philosophy to those that cannot reach the classics on this subject either in Tamil or Sanskrit. They are mellifluous and heart-gripping and full of melody of music as well. Such valuable songs as these are lying dormant in the mouths of a few only. Only a few of them are brought into print.

The credit of having unearthed these songs and resurrected them from oblivion goes to Dr. K. Narasimhacharya, who for the first time gave us in print a fine collection of about 530 Tirunaamams arranged according to the nature of their contents. Lion’s share of about 218 songs is taken by songs in praise of Ramanujacharya, admonition of mind in about 69 Naamams comes next. In the Naamam caste system is condemned. We come across poetic beauties also and figures of speech in sense and sound also are not wanting. ‘Sogatalata, a song is metaphoric in its expression.

In short, this volume is a valuable repository of Ramanuja’s Vaishnava faith, and principles in Telugu song form, brought to the door of each Vaishnavite family, literate or illiterate, for appreciation and practical use in their devotional efforts and daily prayers.

The second book, a doctoral thesis, is sequel to and continuation of the first book. It analyses the contents of the songs, and shows ably how Vaishnava doctrines are faithfully illustrated in these songs. Distinguishing characterisation of the Naamams, nature and history of Kirtanas, origin and development of Vaishnavism, Bhakti with its varieties, and literary and poetic beauties with an estimate and assessment of these songs are all dealt with here. Influence of Tyagaraja and Annamacharya on the writers of these Namaas also is pointed out with illustrations. These two books together make an appeal to the hearts of devotees in general and leave a fair impression on all readers and students of Telugu songs and folklore in particular.
B. KUTUMBA RAO