Book Reviews

Glimpses of The Upanishads

by Maj Gen Purushotam Vig AVSM, VSM (Retd). Published by Unistar Book Books Pvt.Ltd., 301, Industrial Area, Reviews Phase-9, SAS Nagar Mohali-Chandigarh. For review in The VedanTa Email:unistarbooks@gmail. Kesari, publishers need to send com. 2017, pp.xxvii+246, us two copies oF their latest Hardbound, Rs.495. publication.

It was Swami Vivekananda’s mission to unlock the Vedantic treasures of the Upanishads and make them available to the common people in English and vernacular soul in Kaushitaki, policy doctrine on education languages. Here is a book penned by one who in Taittriya and so on. had access only to the English commentaries on This book gives a simple and good Upanishads and who courageously dived deep introduction to the treasures of the Upanishads. into them to collect pearls of wisdom to share ____________________ SWAMI TATPURUSHANANDA, VARANASI with his readers. A casual visit to legendary Nachiketa lake Bhagavad Geeta near Uttarakashi during his service in the army ultimately led Major General Purushotam Vig to by Chilukuru Venkateswarlu. engage in an intensive study of the Upanishads. Published by Sri Ramakrishna The result is “Glimpses of the Upanishads”. The Tapovanam, 20, Race Course book has three sections. Road, Guindy, Chennai -

First Section briefly introduces the content, 600 032 Mob: 9884708559. time, and the myths surrounding the Upanishads. Email:chvekateswarlu30@gmail. The Second Section is a simple study of all the ten com, paperback, pp.135, Rs.110. principal Upanishads as well as Maittrayanya, Svetasvatara and Kaushitiki Upanishads. The Third Section gives an account of six minor This book has Maxims from Swami Vivekananda, Yogi Vemana, Bhartruhari’s Neeti Satakam, Upanishads Kaivalya, Atma, Amrita Bindu, Jabala, Bhaskara Satakam, Sumati Satakam, Kumari Tejobindu and Paramahamsa upanishads. Satakam and Sri Ramakrishna. Except for the Though Major Vig admits to his inability maxims of Sumati Satakam and Kumari Satakam, to make an in-depth study of original the others are good. Through these two, we get commentaries in Sanskrit language, his deep a glimpse of the society two centuries back. study of the available English translations finds However, they are very outdated to be of any a sincere presentation in a poetic language. Each moral value today. These two could have been Upanishad is dealt briefly covering only the core skipped without any loss of value to the book. The points under suitable sub-titles. His reflections at others are good and are applicable even today. the end of each Upanishad presents its essence as In these times, when people do not have well as its relevance to the contemporary society. the patience to read big books, this small book In this section, the author underlines the origin of gives short snippets of wisdom from great saints universe in Brihadaranyka, the glory of Aum and and thinkers. As each snippet is independent, a power of truth in Chandogya, transmigration of person can even randomly read and benefit. It will

encourage the reader to read more about these thinkers and saints.

_____________________________ GOKULMUTHU N, BENGALURU

Thus Spake The Divine (Vol-I) Published by Giri Trading Agency Pvt. Ltd, 372/1, Mangadu Patturkoot Road, Mangadu, Chenna i- 600122. Ph.+914466939393. Email:sales@giri.in. 2018, paperback, pp.776, Rs.450.

The title of this book under review is really fascinating since the contents contain the revelations of the divine soul, the Mahaswamigal—the religio-spiritual exemplar of the recent past who adorned the spiritual throne of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. The concept of dharma with its multifarious denominations and connotations is the central subject matter of this work. The Mahaswamigal has given nectar-like teachings on the entire gamut of human existence covering the physical, mental, spiritual, social, religious and cultural realms with specific reference to regional, national and international levels. These teachings are presented under 177 themes like The Auspicious Beginning, Advaita, Vedic Religion, Universal Codes of Dharma, Social matters, Culture, Karma Marga: The Path of Duties, Bhakthi, Avatara and Mangal Aarati. This great yogi exemplar of Hindu faith and philosophy has offered solace to the highly traumatized modern man by suggesting appropriate remedies for all human maladies. The special characteristic features of these holy utterances are: Apt and accurate citations from the sacred as well as secular scriptures of Hinduism; philosophical interpretations to most of the view-points especially from the Advaitic perspective; usage of simple, but elegant expressions to elucidate the chosen theme; interpretative account of puranic episodes, poems etc; explaining through illustrative anecdotes and enchanting stories with logical substantiation; and analogical argumentation that makes the most complicated theses simple and understandable. The significant role played by the Hindu pantheon in ending the evils on this earth and establishing dharma are very well elucidated. The work is a handbook for every spiritual aspirant who seeks to progress in the path shown by Sanatana Dharma.

_____________________ PROF.R. GOPALAKRISHNAN, CHENNAI

What Then?

by JP Vaswani Publised by Gita Publishing House, Sadhu Vaswani Mission, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411 001. Email:gph@ sadhuvaswani.org. 2017, paperback, pp.200, Rs.150

The eternal question asked by Acharya Sankara in the Guru Ashtakam “Tatah Kim?” is the title of this small book by the renowned author J. P. Vaswani. This question posed by his mentor Sadhu Vaswani is applied to find out “What after one acquires education, wealth, fame, and power” and “what after death?” In 27 chapters the author presents in a lucid manner the essence of the message given by the scriptures like Upanishads and Bhagavatam. Anecdotes from Sri Shankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and from Buddhism and Bahai faiths support the roadmap to life’s journey that the author presents before us. Each chapter ends with a simple, powerful suggestions for self-introspection. And the last six chapters present six practical suggestions to the shadow chasers of the modern world: ‘Take charge of your life’, ‘Never forget that you are a traveller here on earth’ ‘Pain and pleasure are two sides of the same coin’, ‘Develop the spirit of detachment’, ‘Self-effort is the best effort’ and ‘Remember: This too shall pass away’. This is a good book for those who seek the wisdom of the scriptures to lead life “meaningfully, consciously, purposefully.”

Mahasamadhi of Srimat Swami Vagishanandaji

one of the Vice-Presidents of Ramakrishna Order

Swami Vagishanandaji, one of the Vice-presidents of the Ramakrishna Order attained mahasamadhi on 12 March 2021. He was 91.

Born in Chittagong district (now in Bangladesh) on 12 January 1930, he received his mantra-diksha from Swami

Shankaranandaji Maharaj. He joined the Ramakrishna

Order at the Saradapitha centre in 1954, and received sannyasa-diksha from Swami Vishuddhanandaji Maharaj in 1962. In the course of over six decades in the Order, he served in various capacities including as Assistant

Secretary of the Institute of Culture, Gol Park, and head of Morabadi, Malda, Kamarpukur, Mumbai and

Cossipore centres. He also participated in migrant (East Pakistan) relief work at Taki for six months in 1970. In March 1990, he was appointed a Trustee of

Ramakrishna Math, Belur, and a Member of the

Governing Body of Ramakrishna Mission. From July 2011 he began to give mantra diksha to devotees in India. In June 2014 he was elected as Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Order in which capacity he served till the end. During his spiritual ministry, he initiated many devotees all over India and also in Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius and Japan. His understanding, affection, and sympathy touched the hearts of countless devotees.