Book Reviews

Book Reviews

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The Vedan a Kesari, publishers need to send us two copies o their latest publication. Swami Vivekananda’s Relevance in Meeting the Challenges of the 21 st Century Published by Swami Suparnananda, Secretary, RMIC., Gol Park, Kolkata - 700 029. With Financial assistance from Ministry of Culture, Govt of India. 2014, paperback, pp. 155+x Price not given.

This is a companion volume to the book Swami Vivekananda’s Vision of Future Society. The writers of the essays, who were the speakers, may have looked at Swamiji through various lenses, but the common thread running through all of the writings is Swamiji’s clairvoyant abilities to recognise and diagnose the ills of his age and prescribe remedies that transcend time and space to remain relevant more than a century and half later. The topics chosen cover a wide gamut of concerns that Swamiji felt India must tackle if she is to take her place in the world. For example, in thefirst essay which examines the theme of The Eternal and Time bound Elements ofthe Ideas of Swamiji, the reader gets the transcendency of Swamiji’s disquiet from the immediate circumstances of his times (India under a foreign yoke) to his assertions about the future (having faith in oneself as proof of being a theist). The second essay views the same topic from a different perspective: of seeing the universal in the particular as, for example, in discerning the eternal quality of religion against considering a religion in particular. Other essays include the global dialogue that Swamiji set off through his writing and speeches, a real interfaith meeting ground. The writers have emphasised the futility of expecting lasting peace if this dialogue is not an on-going process. Today, more than any other time in history with the possible exception of the Crusades, religion is tearing apart human societies in various parts of the world which are without recourse to Swamiji’s prophetic words on religious amity. The theme of the essays – discussing the past while looking forward, with the journey being the goal, by realising the divinity inherent in our own natures – that link between all human beings, was one of Swamiji’s matchless contributions to spiritual thought and it is a timely reminder of the fragility of world peace. Working together does not mean thinking the same thoughts and the writers have brought out Swamiji’s widely declared views on the harmony of religions. This is a reflective look at a theme that will never be out of date, for the future is an imaginary concept, moving farther and farther away from our grasp, even as it becomes the present and the past. Swamiji’s entire world-view is futuristic and these essays are a useful examination of that. ____________________________ PREMA RAGHUNATH, CHENNAI Sri Padukasahasram of Sri Vedanta Desika-Vol-1 & 2. Transcomposition in Tamil by Sri R Kesava Ayyengar and English Translation by Sri D. Ramaswamy Iyangar

Published by The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, No.84,

Thiru Vi.Ka. Road, Mylapore, Chennai –600 004. 2017, hardbound, pp.1181, Rs. 800.

Sri Vedanta Desikan’s 75o th anniversary was observed last year and it is appropriate that this poet among philosophers and philosopher among poets should be honoured with this excellent edition of his great poem Sri Paduka Sahasram which is a glorification of Lord Ranganatha’s Padukas. It is said that the 1008 verses divided into 32 Paddhatis or parts was composed in feverish heat of imagination and devotion. It would take us considerably more time to internalize the text and absorb with devotion the nuances, beauties, devotional fervour and above all its message of surrender. The Editors have printed the poem in Sanskrit and given both a Tamil transcomposition and an English commentary to widen the readership. This edition has a learned English Introduction by Sri Kesava Ayyengar, followed by the text in Sanskrit, Tamil and English commentary. Sri D Ramaswamy Iyangar is responsible for the very detailed English translation and commentary. The volume contains much information pertaining to Vaisnavism, some as simple as a point about a metre or a simile, others as profound as the inner meaning of a sloka. Altogether the Volume is a compendium of Vaisnava Sampradaya. Space prevents an elaborate discussion which these volumes deserve but one or two striking points may be noted. The Prastava Paddhati which opens the poem is appropriate for many reasons, but the one which is most suggestive of Swami Desikan’s allusive style is the subtle salutation he makes to Nammazhvar, who is considered to be the Avatara of the Paduka, by gesturing towards the Andadi form Nammazhvar used in his Tiruvayamozhy. In this prosodic form the last word of a Sloka becomes the first word of the next. Paduka Sahasram begins with’ Santah’ in Sloka-1 and the last word of the 1008 th sloka is also ‘santah’. Thus the Andadi becomes the framework of the poem and highlights Swami Desikan’s reverence for Nammazhwar. Indeed the poem has many other references to the twelve Azhvars and to Swami Ramanuja, through numerous allusions, use of words, concepts and even forms of thought the Azhvars had used. In the middle of the composition Swami Desikan can change the metre as he does in one place when he uses the Vasanta tilaka, which is appropriate for the obeisance he is making to Azhavandar’s Stotraratna which is in that metre. This is imaginative and also highly intellectual and sophisticated. The poem is replete with references to the Nalayiram and Swami Desikan loses himself in ecstasy at the very thought of the Padukas. There is simple word play as in the use of ‘Gati’ in Sloka 9 where it means Him who is the ultimate goal of the devotee and also His beautiful and smooth gait or path. There are poetic conceits as in sloka 63 where Swami Desikan says that the Padukas are the protector of the feet of Ranganatha and devotees who wear the Paduka even once in their heart are rid of their contact with Kuchela (meaning poverty) where the great Krishna devotee’s story is alluded to. The Sringara Paddhati pays obeisance to the Paduka who is seen as Ranganatha’s love, whom the Lord enjoys even before he enters the harem. Needless to say Swami Desikan allows his imagination free flight in this Chapter where Paduka Devi is with the Lord before, during and after He enters and departs from the harem. One final example is the Nada Paddhati which speaks of the sounds associated with the Paduka and Ratna Samanya Paddhati which describes the various coloured ornaments of the Paduka. Swami Desikan’s poem is one of the great Vaisnava compositions noted for its poetic beauties and linguistic brilliance, not to speak of its spiritual and philosophical depth. The editors have done a splendid job, something accomplished because of their devotion to Swami Desikan. ____________________PROF. MOHAN RAMANAN, HYDERABAD

Erratum: The book Classical Yoga Philosophy and the Legacy of Sāṃkhya was reviewed in March 2019 by Pravrajika Vrajaprana, Santa Barbara, & Wade Dazey, Prof. Emeritus, University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, U.S.A. We regret that Prof. Dazey's name was inadvertently left out.