BOOK REVIEWS

 

Yoga Sadhana and Samadhi: By Dr. Pranab Bandyopadhyay. Image India, 3 Middleton Row, Flat H-10, Calcutta–700 071. Price: Rs. 90.

 

In this concise presentation of the philosophy and techniques of Yoga, the author covers a wide ground. The goal of Yoga is to unite the finite with the Infinite. The link between the two, says the author, is in Praana. “Breath in meditation is a scientific process with the help of which a subtle link between the individual and the external world is established, because its rhythm is the rhythm of the universe. The rhythm of life is the waxing and waning, the accumulation and disintegration of all the phenomena of the world, both internal and external .. breathing controls the flow of vital air in human system. It is a process performed in functioning of the body to generate praana for the realisation of Atman which remains as the lord of the whole human system, and the experience of life expresses Atman through the rhythm of breath.” (P. 111)

 

The discipline of the regulation of praana, however, cannot be done as a mechanical process. It has to be practised as an important part of Yoga which is best described, in the Sutras of Patanjali. There are certain preliminaries to be worked out before the internal methods of meditation and Samadhi are successfully practised. In his study the author throws considerable light on the techniques of the Tantra, Kundalini, Buddhist and Zen meditations. He analyses the contributions of the traditional lines of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti Yoga. He refers to the integrated Sadhanas of Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Aurobindo and leaves the reader to choose the line for which he has affinity.

 

The writer touches upon several topics, viz., evolution, consciousness, intuition, sheaths (koshas) of the Vedanta, the role of the mind, etc. The entire presentation is rational, objective and instructive to an open mind.

 

M. P. PANDIT

 

Sree Narayana Guru: By Dr. K. Srinivasan. Jayasree Publishers, Parvatinagar, Kowdiar, Trivandrum-695 003, Price: Rs. 120.

 

            Sree Narayana Guru will always be remembered for his role in initiating revolutionary departures in the orthodox society of Kerala. His message was simple and direct: “One caste, one religion, one God for man”, but the way in which he worked to influence the thought and practice of his compatriots in his humanistic mission was something unique. Dr. Srinivasan gives an intimate picture of the life and times of the Guru who was at once a saint, a philosopher and social reformer.

 

            The author records the Guru’s interactions with some of the leading personalities of the age. He quotes Tagore remarking: “I have had the good fortune to come into contact with several saints and Maharshis. But I have frankly to admit that I have never come across one who is spiritually greater than Swami Sree Narayana Guru of Kerala – nay, a person who is on par with him in spiritual attainments. I am sure I shall never forget that radiant face, illumined by the self-effulgent light of divine glory and those Yogic eyes fixing their gaze on a remote point in far-away horizon.” (P.4)

 

            Narayana Guru’s meeting with Gandhiji and his refusal to accept the Varnaashrama as divinely ordained (according to Gandhiji’s belief) is graphically recorded. The Swami made use of religion and philosophy for his purpose; he made temples centres of public enlightenment and drew upon Vedanta ­philosophy for driving home the truth of Equality. Dr. Srinivasan draws attention to the Guru’s refusal to regard the world as a product of Maya (in the Shankara sense).

 

            Apart from being a detailed biography, this work analyses the approaches of the Master to several problems and shows how Man was the sole value to him. Translations of some of his profound poems and examinations of the key-concepts in his writings like atmopadesa satakam, enhance the appeal of the book, both literary and historical.

 

M. P. PANDIT

 

Sureswara’s Vartika on Madhubrahmana: Edited by K. P. Jog and Shoun Hino. Motilal Banarsidass, Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-7. Price: Rs. 60.

 

            Brihadaranyakopanishad Bhashya Vartika is a magnum opus of Sureswara, believed to be one of the direct disciples of Sri Sankara. A complete English translation of this work is not still available. Dr. Hino translated the Vartika portion contain­ing a dialogue of Maitreyi and Yajnavalkya. (Br. 2-4). It was published in 1982. That this mundane world emanates from is sustained by and merges in the Atman is the purport of that dialogue. Madhubrahmana (Br. 2-5) provides for the above statement and hence its importance. It explains how various parts of this world are mutually dependent. This book under review is a translation of the Vartika on the Madhubrahmana.

 

A scholarly introduction covering 33 pages is both analytical and critical and is useful for an easy grasp of the subject. The relation of the B. U. 2.5 to B. U. 2.4, the teaching of the Madhu­brahmana, the Dristanta of Radhanabhi are explained. An English translation of the Pravargya Kanda of Satapatha Brahmana is incorporated. Aswani legend as the source for the philosophic aspect of the doctrine of Madhu is examined. Identity of Madhu Vidya and Brahma Vidya is explained. We eagerly await the translations of other parts of the Vartika also.

 

B. KUTUMBA RAO

 

Concept of the Beautiful in Sanskrit Literature: By Dr. Raghavan. The Kuppuswamy Sastry Research Institute, Madras-4. Price: Rs. 2C.

 

This is a collection of two lectures delivered by late Dr. Raghavan on the subject “Beauty”. Max Mueller’s and other westerner’s views that the concept of the Beautiful as such did not exist in Sanskrit literature is refuted, with relevant citations from Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, the epics, the Gita, the Puranas and the later philosophical literature. Ananda aspect in the Upanishads, it is pointed out, is identical with Beauty.

 

In the second lecture, a survey of all works on Alamkaras and Natya is made to show that the concept of Beauty did find a prominent place therein also. Incidentally this lecture is also a critical and historical study of the development of the theories of Kavyatma, like Rasa, Dhvani and Auchitya. Difference between beauty in Nature and life, and beauty in art and poetry, are also dealt with. Finally Dr. Raghavan concludes, “Sanskrit aesthetics, in its fundamentals, presents a wholistic view.” After reading this book some readers are sure to be reminded of the “concept of the Beautiful” as suggested by the love themes in “Kumarasambhava” and “Abhijnana Sakuntalam” in Sanskrit, and the “Kalapurnodayam” in Telugu also. Students of Indian aesthetics should make the subject presented herein their own to get themselves enlightened on the subject.

 

“SANDILYA”

 

Myth and Reality in the Poetry of Dylan Thomas: By G. Sreerama Murty. Sarada Library, Anakapalle - 531001. Price: Rs. 60.

 

Does modern poetry gain its tang and twang only from a knowledge of the poet’s personal life? It seems to be so often enough. We cannot think of interpreting Robert Lowell or Sylvia Alath without referring to the psychological ramifications of their tragic lives. Dylan Thomas was probably the first of such moderns. Dr. G. Sreerama Murty, however, has restrained himself from any destructive analysis of Dylan’s poetry in terms of the poet’s addiction to drink and attraction to sex. The volume under review takes us to the carefree childhood and scholarly background that give Dylan’s poetry its enduring strength. In the process we gain several insights into the poetic process itself.

 

Dylan Thomas had a seraphic faith in the profession of poetry. Dr. Sreerama Murty brings out the dazzling lucidity of “The Hunchback in the Park” where a poet’s vocation is seen as the life of a solitary. Always within the arc of life – the Hunchback is surrounded by teasing children – and yet floating in the beyond as the fanciful paper-boats of the same children.

 

While engaged in such markings on time, the poet is helped by all the yesterdays of mankind crystallised as myths. Occasion­ally Dylan gathered inspiration from choice myths though he felt he was “a poet of reality rather than myth.” Pagan mythology caught him quite early in life as in the poem “Osiris comes Isis” which he wrote when still in school. Biblical imagery marks poems like “How shall my Animal” with restrained pathos. Dr. Sreerama Murty’s tracking of secular myths in Dylan’s poetry is revealing: political “isms” that feed on unemployment (“Find meat on bones”), the rise of dictators (“The Hand that Signed the Paper”), the horrors of war (“Ceremony after a Fire Raid”). Dylan tries for no answers, he ascends no moralist pulpit. That is what makes him a special voice of pure poetry. Such is Dr. Sreerama Murty’s impressive conclusion:

 

“...Thomas is no doubting Thomas. He is neither a moralist nor a theologist. Being an existentialist, he offers no intellectual solution for his own conflicts or the conflicts of the age. He does not wish us to surrender to the metaphysical truth of his poetry. He asks us simply to live in faith. Faith is the invisible golden thread that holds his poems together and it is his answer to the all-pervading chaos.”

 

DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

 

Tapaswi: By Dr. V. V. B. Rama Rao. Reliance Publishing House, Ranjit Nagar, New Delhi-8. Price: Rs. 100.

 

Seven Lives: By Bina Saksena. Writers Workshop, Lake Gardens, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 150.

 

Selected Works of Indira Goswami: B. R. Publishing Corporation, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-2. Price: Rs. 145.

 

At a time when Indian fiction is selling itself cheap to the gods of uncreative neurasthenia encouraged by garish weeklies, it is good to come across serious practitioners of the art. These writers have evidently developed a “sixth sense” which has been defined by V. V. B. Rama Rao thus: “The aim of a writer is not to run away from or shun reality. To understand reality, to face it and to live life in all its fulness, a sixth sense besides the readily available five is necessary.” This is “the comic sense one would do well to have”. Dr. Rama Rao’s faith in this aspect does help in making Tapaswi a little different from the usual run of the “eternal triangle” novels.

 

The problem of the heroine Sujatha is the familiar disease of boredom that afflicts well-to-do housewives, and her husband’s problem is the sheer male ego that finds fulfilment only with fatherhood. For the rest, Dr. Virinch is a good man and Sujatha is not evil either. The other woman in Dr. Virinch’s life, Annapurna, is good too. However, the inevitable happens. Sujatha remains barren, while Annapurna becomes a mother. The novelist moves with balletic grace among the three characters to unveil this story.

 

Strangely enough, the confessional style with all its rugged self-justification is no help to the hero. It is Sujatha who becomes the moral victor in this domestic tangle. She is the really cultured person and her withdrawal is sheerly graceful. To us nurtured in the ennobling tale of Ahalya as narrated by Valmiki, Sujatha turns out to be gold purified by fire, a sari in the Indian tradition. As we take leave of the novel, it is Sujatha who fills our consciousness, the bored, childless woman of yesterday who is no tapaswini deditated to educating little children. Sujatha is definitely Dr. Rama Rao’s triumph.

 

Bina Saxena believes in the upward push of evolution. Seven Lives marks the stages in man’s growth with the unassuming help preferred by the Silent Daughter. As the centuries pass man gains the Mind of Light but the forces of darkness (symbolised by Malik Kafur) are ever ready to destroy the glory and the good of humanity. The earth shudders through the Anno Bombini years but the sensitive Eric Torgier becomes the Secretary General of the United Nations in the ’Seventies. Once again Evil seeks triumph by shooting him down. But the evolu­tionary progress of humanity cannot be arrested. The philosophy of Sri Aurobindo gives a sinewy strength to the intelligently ­planned, symbolistic narration. We are also charmingly infected by the author’s incorruptible optimism in the midst of terrorist desolation:

 

“Beyond, as a magnet to his curiosity, lay a world to which harmony had returned – the long-lost harmony of the divine dream – where man lived among the trees and grasses, the rocks, the plains and the mountains as the kind, luminous spirit the Divine One had destined him to be when he had first conceived him from the womb of a struggling beast. No champion of murder and rapine now, the new man nurtured the earth with his budding godly love so that even the creatures of the forest had begun to graze fly his doors without fear.”

 

Indira Goswami is a well-known Assamese writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner. Her novel, Une Khowa Howda (Moth­-eaten Howda) is a masterly recreation of a religious choultry on the south bank of the Brahmaputra. These choultries were brought into existence by munificent chieftains in the heyday of Vaishnavism, They have now degenerated into moribund ritualistic rat holes. Ms. Goswami’s social realism relentlessly hits the target. Two chapters from the novel included in this selection act as excellent appetizers.

 

The full-length novel Ahiron brings to life a construction project and portrays with emotional understanding the sad and luckless life of construction workers. The short story, “The Offspring” has a terrible denouement while the first part of Ms. Goswami’s autobiography is sentimental, elegant, revelatory. Here is a novelist of fine perceptions and commendable literary artistry who makes our knowledge of Indian culture complete.

 

DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

 

Contemporary Indian English Poetry (An Anthology): Edited by Dr. I. H. Rizvi. Prakash Book Depot, Bara Bazaar. Bareilly – 243 003. Price: Rs. 40

 

As the number of Indian poets writing in English keeps grow­ing day after day collections from individual poets and selections from several poets who practise “sentence-butchering” as an art flood the market. While “Vanity Publishers” play a very major role in making every Rama, Govinda and Sita “poets”, there are certain publishers who bring out the works of genuine poets and seek the advice of established poets who are also experienced editors in this regard. The anthology under review is in every sense better than all the other anthologies published in India. (Readers need not take this statement of the reviewer as a sweeping one for he has read all the anthologies of Indo-Anglian poetry published so far and has everyone of them safely stacked in his personal library.) Dr. I. H. Rizvi, the editor of this anthology himself a poet of international repute with four collections to his credit and his crowning achievement being the winning of second place in International Poetry Contest, Brazil, 1987 in which 1512 poets participated.

 

Dr. I. H. Rizvi has chosen 47 poets to his anthology and each one is represented by a minimum of two and a maximum of three poems. As this reviewer is an avid reader of all available literary journals that are devoted to Indian writing in English, no poet included in this anthology is unfamiliar to him, for they are quite often published.

 

This anthology is more than proof enough to the remark, “Literature is the mirror of the age.” The reader may find life in all its mockery satire against customs, rituals, politics and riches, contemporary problems, love and sex, and human relationship. But not a single poem tells us that we still have some sense of humour left in us. It is needless to say that to find a man with a smiling face is as difficult as finding unicorn in flesh and blood.

 

Though Dr. Rizvi begins his preface by saying, “Indian English poetry is not the weeds to be pulled out of the garden of the muse” the prospective buyer or reader may feel quite glad that the editor has shown him only the greener fields with the fragrant blooms fresh and fair. It is time for the universities in India to remove from their syllabus the age-withered antholo­gies of poetry and prescribe Rizvi’s, for this reviewer is quite confident that it will stand the test of time.

 

P. RAJA

 

Indian Heritage and Culture: By Dr. P. R. Rao, Sterling Publishers (P) Ltd., Green Park Extension, New Delhi-16. Price: Rs. 75.

 

Dr. P. R. Rao has done a commendable job in providing the readers a bird’s-eye-view of the vast panorama of Indian heritage, leaving not a single aspect of the contributing factors of the ancient religio-philosophical phenomenon. He has dealt at length with the subject ranging from Harappan civilization and Vedic culture to the impact of modern Western civilization which we are exposed to. Dr. Rao has taken in his gamut Vedas, Jainism, Buddhism, Ramayana, the influence under the rulers–the Satavahanas, the Pallavas, the Cholas, Sher Sha and Akbar. Under special chapters the influence of Islam, the Bhakti and Vaishnavaite movements and the cultural achievements of Vijayanagara Rulers have been dealt with by the writer with consummate skill in focusing on the significant details.

 

The salient features of Jainism, Buddhism, the evolution of caste system, the Aryan and Dravidian controversy, the Satavahanas, the Pallavas, the Cholas and their municipalities “Tar Kurrams”, influence of Acharyas like Ramanuja, Rama­nanda, Vallabhacharya, Chaitanya, Basava, under Bhakti movement, the Hindu philosophy as divided under Nyaya, Samkhya, Vaiseshika, of a Purvamimamsa and Uttaramimamsa under Dvaita philosophy, Advaita, Visishtadvaita, and Dvaita schools of philosophy and heterodox, Charvaka Darshana are some of the highlights of the book, which every Indian should be conversant with. Expelling hazy notions about philosophy and culture, an objective study of the cultural facets of India have been successfully made in this book, and handed over to the public.

K. P. NAIDU

 

Nirvana and other poems: By Vijaya Raghav Rao. A. O. Agencies, Bombay. Price: Rs. 55.

 

In Vijay Raghav Rao’s own words the modest attempt of his muse is “Measuring infinity with heartbeats in the trivial span of a lifetime.” Rao is already well-known to the literati and the connoisseurs of music. Though he belongs undoubtedly to the realm of music, in the hall of the muse he has carved a niche for himself. Music and poetry are natural companions, in­separable as Juno’s swans. Isn’t poetry basically an art and didn’t Walter Pater asseverate for all time: “All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music?” Musical cadences come more naturally in the poetic rhythms of Rao. To think like a poet comes more easily to the creative musician than to anyone else. Some of the pieces among the forty-two in the collection linger long in our memories for their delicate sensibility that communicates itself with a caress:

 

Yes, music

is in the air,

Mother!

... (Ellipsis mine)

Tansens

Tagores

Gandhis

Nehrus

They are the

Malhars

Hindols

And Bahars

That orchestrate

The symphony

of life

Under your

Magic baton

Mother!

 

The poems are a culling of experiences and attitudes, stances and sentiments all inspired by the music in the air breathed by Mother Nature, Mother India.

 

DR. V. V. B. RAMA RAO

 

Veda and Vedanta: By M. Sundar Raj. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilizations, 31 Poes Garden, Madras-600086.

 

A study of this slender volume is sure to disillusion those that harbour the view that “it is a far cry from the Atharvaveda to the Upanishads.” Sri Sundar Raj maintains that the Atharvaveda has been the major influence in the evolution of the Upanishadic thought. He points out the links that bring together the principal Uapanishads and the Rik and Atharvaveda Mantras. Upanishadic passages and the corresponding Atharva Vedic or Rigvedic passages are given side by side. “Atharva Veda is the king-pin of the Vedas. It has also much to do with Tantra, Yoga and Agamas as well of a later date. Book 18 deals with Brahmavidya. There is heavy symbolism that obstructs a proper understanding of the hidden meaning of the hymns,” the author says. Hymns of creation and Hiranyagarbha with translation in English are given in the appendix. The author by his in-depth study and painstaking research, has reinstated the Atharvaveda in its pristine glory.

 

B. KUTUMBA RAO

 

(1) The Saivagamas, (2) The Saiva Saints: Both by M. Arunachalam. Gandhi Vidyalayam, Tiruchitrambalam-609201 Tamilnadu. Price: Rs.22 and Rs. 32, respectively.

 

The word Agama denotes a text that is believed to have its origin from Divinities. Saivas, Vaishnavaites and Saktas have all their Agamas. All these deal not with the construction of temples and rituals alone, but with Jnana also. As such they are treated almost on a par with the Upanishads.

 

The first chapter of this book deals with Agamas in general. Second chapter provides information as to the number of Saiva Agamas, and their availability. A table showing twenty-eight Agamas with their Upaagas is highly useful. Vidyapada of Matanga Agama is also discussed herein. Third chapter gives information about the different schools of Saivism, and the Agamas of Vaishnava, Sakta and Virasaiva schools. Agamas of Advaitic outlook are also noted. This book is highly useful to all research students.

 

The Saiva Saints: A complete volume in English depicting the lives and teachings of Periya Purana Saints is a long felt desideratum. This splendid volume fills up that vacuum. The main teaching of all these saints is conveyed by the Puranamuru poet in the words “Any place is my place, and all people are my kin.” Their creed is “Mankind is one and God is one.

 

The work under review gives a summary, in simple English, of the original poem Peria Puranam in Tamil by Sekkilar. We have herein life sketches of 69 male saints, three women saints and also of wives of some saints. Among women saints, Tilakavati is given a special treatment. Being in English, this work will certainly quench the thirst of many devotees that are longing for a glimpse of the pathway to God tread by Tamil saints up to the 7th century A. C.

 

B. KUTUMBA RAO

 

The Die-Hard and other stories: By Sudha Palil. Writers Workshop, Lake Gardens, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 40.

 

It is a collection of fifteen short-stories by Ms. Sudha Palit, who is a writer, an artist and social-worker. All her stories are indeed short, not exceeding six or eight pages in length except the title-story: The Die-Hard which runs to fourteen pages. All the stories portray urban life and elite characters. Only in the title-­story the metamorphosis of a rural character on his migration to the city is portrayed with humour and irony. Indeed irony is the mainstay of many stories in this volume. The reversal of fortune in the case of a film-star (Yesterday); the thief turned beggar-­cripple nostalgically recalling his past glory The Beggar; the girl’s elopement for no other reason but to save wedding-expenses for her parents (When Deepa Eloped); the railway-men collecting donations from passengers pretending to be their saviours (In the Line of Duty); the fugitive from the mental hospital recounting his own case forgetting his name (Escape) illustrate the author’s penchant for irony. The most delightful one is the story of impersonation, in which the biter is bitten. It is called The Home­coming with superb irony, for the home turns out to be prison, which indeed is the home of a criminal!

 

The author’s psychological insight lends depth to her portrayal of certain women characters. The unconscious motivation of a loving woman, cheated by her lover, achieves a perfect murder, which she could not have otherwise deliberately planned and executed. In The Hands of Fate this is neatly presented, and the Lady Macbetblike remorse she is reported to suffer afterwards, completes the portrait of a woman of sensibility in a male-domi­nated world. The writer, however, is not a feminist. That is borne out by the husband’s character in the story: Sabita. The male character here is given full credit for making Sabita, his wife, “blossom from a shy introverted personality into an engag­ing conversationalist and a lovable social figure.” The stories Adrift and Atonement indicate the writer’s conviction about parental responsibility for properly guiding and caring for the children. In the first story the boy Prahlad is denied firm guidance in his choice of studies and career because the parents think that he should be left free and allowed to do what he pleases. It results in the boy’s listlessness and finally death. “The parents killed him. They killed him with too much love and no guidance.” That is the verdict of the author herself! Similarly in the story Atonement we have the strange case of a woman full of motherly affection for others’ children, but who denies herself motherhood as a punishment, because her first child died accidentally owing to her one act of negligence! It appears to be the writer’s conviction that no negligent mother deserves a child!

R. S. SUDARSHANAM

 

The Miracle: By Shashi Deshpande. Writers Workshop, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 50.

 

Seven stories in this volume bear us a distinct flavour of their own. The author has contrived most of the stories to appear as passing episodes in life with no more ado than the fact life has its own problems to offer to each individual or family. Still, how carefully the literary art has been able to make the episodes as points worth thinking about by the readers! The story “I want, I want” illustrates the skill to use an ordinary circumstance of a meeting and conversation between a proposed bridegroom with his future bride trying to make her understand the many requirements of his in case of her getting espoused to him. “I want, I want” the list goes on to exhaustion while the expected partner in life has to be nowhere given time or chance to express her preferences in the same breath as this. The suppressed humour of the situation reveals the vast disparity between the man and the woman when discussing their inclinations and views to each other before agreeing to live together as husband and wife. It also proves how in this country the ascendency of the man gets affirmed at every stage in life. Nothing could be more obvious to prove the difference in treatment between man and woman than in a settlement of marriage by parents of girls.

 

In “Madhu”, another interesting story, the way a child born of the mother’s moment of weakness with another has to suffer fur the sins of the parent. The pathetic condition of the child when treated unlike her sister and brother by the father and his relentless disposition to treat the other child ever with contempt and harshness make the event more painful to read. The leading one “The Miracle” is also winning our approval for the squeamishness of people in appearing to be unaffected by superstitious considerations, though themselves running the risk of getting engulfed in them in ludicrous situations unforeseen.

 

The Writers Workshop may well go in for good proof ­readers in order to save its publications from the bad errors in print which certainly mar an otherwise fine presentation in print.

 

K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

 

TAMIL

 

A History of Tamil Literature: By Mu. Varadarajan. Sahitya Akademi, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-1. Price: Rs. 60.

 

This is an English rendering of the book in Tamil, first published in 1971. Briefing the reader for a sumptuous feast later. Mu. Varadarajan, in the first two chapters. Tamil Language and Literature, gives the wherewithal to peep into Tamil with a continuity of literature of over two millennia. “Only the Tolkappiyum and the Sangam classics are useful to know about the ancient Tamil language and literature”, writes the author, Rightly so, lives lived by the ancient Tamils are mirrored in the Eight Anthologies and the Ten Idylls. The versatile author provides us with an in-depth study of the Sangam classics. Ancient Tamils lived a down-to-earth life and were votaries of Nature. Love and war attracted them most. Varadarajan, in his inimitable way, not only guides the reader to get to know the intrinsic merit of the Sangam classics, but also provides in a nutshell the entire gamut of the Sangam poetry, a scholarly presentation, worthy of emulation.

           

Closely follow the author’s considered views on Ethical Literature in Tamil. Pride of place goes to Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar, the Bard of Universal Man. It is a code of conduct for mankind. Varadarajan passes on then to the study of the Epic of the Anklet, Silappadhikaram and Manimekalai. Ilangoadigal, the author of the former, respected the artistic merit of the folk arts. Kannagi, the paragon of chastity, is the heroine of the epic, wherein Ilangoadigal sowed the seeds of Pattini worship. Next only perhaps to Sangam poetry, devotional poems in Tamil are quite a chunk, both in quality and quantity. The emotive devotional songs of the Nayanmars and Alwars were used as an instrument to restrict the undue influence of Buddhism and Jainism in the Tamil country.

 

Rooted in tradition Varadarajan makes a grand survey of Tamil literature in all its ramifications down the corridors of centuries. The Ramayana of Kambar, religious and other literary works right upto the modern period are all covered by the author in a number of chapters. Creative writers get their due place and importance. Ramalinga Swamigal, Bharati, Bharatidasan and Desikavinayakam Pillai, poets of renaissance are not forgotten by the author. It is a marvel to note that while covering the spans of literary periods from 500 B. C. upto 20th century A. D. hundreds of authors and works get due recognition from the pen of the author.

 

Varadarajan’s characteristically Tamil style in the original Tamil work is a pleasure to read, chaste and elegant. In this context, it may be said that the English rendering of “A History of Tamil Literature” is quite a commendable one and the translations of many Tamil poems compare favourably with those of Tamil poetry by G. W. Pope and others.

 

Varadarajan’s History is a compendium of a wide variety of Tamil literary works galloping from a distant past to the present, a student of Tamil can well afford to possess. The Tamil muse is here for all to salute, thanks to Varadarajan’s monumental work.

 

K. C. KAMALIAH

 

TAMIL - TELUGU

 

Tattva Trayamu: Tamil text by Pille Lokacharya with Telugu translation and commentary. Goda Grandhamala, Musunuru-521 207. Price: Rs. 10.

 

A lean man of ordinary means the founder of Goda Grandshamala, doing signal service to the Hindu religion, richly deserves the praise of all Vaishnavas in particular, for bringing out this slender volume that can be said to be the crest-jewel of Goda Grandhamala. Originally written in Tamil in Sutra form by Pille Lokacharya, one of the authoritative exponents of Visishtadvaita philosophy, was translated into, Telugu by an eminent scholar, Sri K. T. Jagannadhacharyulu and is now brought to light with a very lucid commentary by the founder of this institution.

 

This book gives a fair and brief exposition of the three main concepts of Visishadvaita philosophy, viz , Chit, Achit, and Isvara. All the technical words like Dhairya, Sesha, Vyuha, Archa etc., are explained. Nature of Jnana and the relationship that submits between Jiva and Isvara is also dealt with. The commentary Amritasaara, true to its name, brings out the essence of the teachings in a lucid way with suitable questions also. Commentary on the chapter “Isvara” is exceptionally brilliant. In short, this is almost a Prakarana Grandha for Visishtadvaita philosophy, useful to all Andhras.

 

B. KUTUMBA RAO

 

TELUGU

 

Srimad Ramayanamu – Baalakandamu with Baalaanandini com­mentary: By Dr. P. Ramachandrudu. Arsha Vijnana Trust, Sri Rama Sadanam, Jubilee Hills Co-op. Society, Hyderabad-500034. Price: Rs. 45.

 

The fact that Valmlki’s Ramayana is an eternal source of inspiration to all climes and times, and also a good guide to human conduct cannot be gainsaid. Vavilla’s publication of this epic containing the text, word to word Telugu meaning, Taatparya and notes has gone out of print since a long time. Thanks to the Trust, by whom this lacuna is made up. This edition has all the features of the Vavilla’s edition, and something more. The commentary, true to its name, is very lucid. Special commentaries on Slokas such as “Iyam Sita mama sutaa,” “Konvasim Saampratam loke” bring out the significance of all words in the verses. An erroneous old commentary is corrected (P. 325). Encomiums showered on this epic by many great persons are recorded at the beginning. An appendix sums up the different views regarding the distribution of Payasam and gives the commentator’s opinion also All the requisites of a critical edition are there. This work will be of great use to learners of Samskrit also. Every home should own this book.

 

“KASYAP”

 

Vasantha Vijnaanam: By Vasantharao Venkata Rao: 453-B, MSM Colony, Visakhapatnam-4. Price: Rs. 10.

 

Men are regarded great sometimes by what they are and sometimes by what they do. Sri Vasantharao Venkata Rao remains great both in what he is and has been and in what he has done and is doing. A prolific writer and a distinguished scientist and compiler, he has pioneered a new genre in popular science poetry. His services to the muse have been as rich as they have been varied.

 

The purport of this present book of poems is unambiguous and succinct. The idea is to instill and propagate a humane scientific attitude of mind which alone would affect an apocalypse of the ultimate metaphysical reality behind the merely physical and materialistic. Of the twenty spring flowers in this bouquet of wisdom each with its function of spreading light and sweetness, the last is a plangent threnody for peace through victory over desire and its sequels, anger and loss of wisdom resulting in destruction. The atom bomb is not the fault of science, while atomic energy is the power of both knowledge and wisdom. The poems are little flowers of the spring inhering ideas and sentiments worthy of the humanists and scientists like Haldane, Hronowski, Russell, Einstein and Sir James Jeans. The melody of the Poems lingers long in the reader’s mind, if only one has an ear for music and an eye for beauty. Here is science at its simplest manifestation affected by a feeling poet.

 

DR. V. V. B. RAMA RAO

 

Vaastu Shastra Vaastavaalu: By Gauri Tirupathi Reddy. Vemana Sahiti Samiti, Proddutur-516361. Price: Rs. 28.

 

Between February 1987 and April 1988 this book was reprinted thrice and six thousand copies were sold. Experience based and practicable prescriptions, lucid presentation of the subject matter with graphic illustrations and tables form the key to the popularity of this book. Vaastusastra is a reliable and proved science, the author asserts, and adduces the cases of Tirupati, Srisailam, Puttaparti and Kalahasti, etc., as proofs some topics like the smell of the earth, position of Vaastupurusha, are, according to the author, of no significance. Important topics like the facing and shapes of houses, levels of ground and flow of water, location of kitchen, staircase, business room, well, latrine, doors and windows are dealt with in detail. Special hints for housewives are a novel and useful feature in this book. Many questions are answered and doubts cleared. Ordinary mistakes we commit are pointed out. A very useful and handy manual.

 

“SANDILYA”

 

Journalism: Charitra, Vyavasta: By Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar. Udyama Publications, 1-7-630/29/A Ramnagar, Hyderabad-48. Price: Rs. 22.

 

It is said that the press is one of the indispensable institutions of democracy. Even in this age of Radio and Television the newspaper remains perhaps the most important medium of mass communication. It has in fact become so integral a feature of our daily life that we take it for granted. Few of us perhaps have an idea of the numerous complex processes and operations that go into its making or of how the newspaper evolved into the present form. The book under review begins with the chapter “Why this power?” The author profusely quotes the opinion on the press, of great men, from Napoleon to Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji lent prestige and importance to the newspapers and media of his message, as the vehicle of his inspiration and the recorders of his operations in the field, as well as of his counsels in conference, cabinet and committee.

 

The author gives us the history of Telugu journalism. The beginnings of Telugu journalism go back to 1842 when the first Telugu weekly was launched at Madras. Since then journalism in Telugu progressed very well. It can now boast of at least 8 important Telugu dailies bringing out in all about 15 editions from different places, besides many local dailies catering mainly to the headquarters of the districts. There are also weeklies, fortnightlies, monthlies with a large total circulation.

 

Mr. Ananda Bhaskar, the author of the book under review, is an experienced journalist and had already some books to his credit. This book is divided into two parts. The first part covers the history of journalism in Telugu. It also contains valuable information on the fourth estate in English and about renowned Andhra journalists.

 

The second part deals with the organisational methods like administration, advertisements, production, circulation, etc. He  has devoted a separate chapter for journalism in which he defines the duties and responsibilities of reporters, sub-editors and editors. He has given all details pertaining to news-gathering, news-editing, composing and all the technical aspects that go into the production of newspapers in the modern era of photo offset and facsimile.

 

Mr. Anand Bhaskar has taken care in using all popular works in English (like journalism, editor, machine, advertisements, etc., by transliterating them in Telugu script. The language throughout is lucid and very readable.

 

The author deserves all praise for the rich information he has given in the book covering all aspects of journalism. The book serves very well the needs of students of journalism in our universities as a good text-book.

 

B. KUTUMBA RAO

 

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