REVIEWS
The Occult Training of
the Hindus: By Ernest Wood. (Ganesh & Co., Madras 17.
2nd Edition 1952. Price Rs. 4.)
Under
a somewhat ambitious title Prof. Ernest Wood has summarised the teaching of the
Bhagavad-Gita, and Sankara’s Advaita Vedanta, so far as their practical side is
concerned. His classification of the subject into three Raja-yogas and four
Hatha-yogas is somewhat arbitrary. There is only one Raja-yoga, propounded by
Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Mr. Wood gives a clear summary, in his second
chapter, of this system. His attempt in the third and fourth chapters to
summarise the teachings of the Gita and Sankara’s Advaita to include them in
Raja-yoga is not justified. There are various practical disciplines mentioned
in the Gita but no one has equated them with Raja-yoga or treated them as forms
of it. Similarly the Advaita has its well-worked out system of preparation for
Brahma jnana, the famous four qualifications–Viveka, Vairagya, Shatsampathi and
Mumukshatva. Mr. Wood gives a readable account of this scheme.
Mr.
Wood is implying in his book a seven-fold classification based on the
Theosophical teaching of the Seven Rays of individual development, and hence
has relegated the Bhakti-marga to the sixth place. His attempt to group Bhakti
as one of Hatha-yogas is somewhat artificial. Mantra-yoga again is a class by
itself. This part of the book is somewhat sketchy and does not do justice to
the subject.
Mr.
Wood is one of those few Englishmen who, with a life-long devotion to Sanskrit,
has gained a lucidity of exposition and familiarity with the idiom and
atmosphere of Indian Philosophy. This book will be of interest to English
readers as an elegant introduction to the teaching of some of the best-known
classics–namely the Gita and the Advaita-darsana.
The
real occult training of the Hindu sages is never imparted in books. Always the
pupil has to sit at the feet of the teacher and, by the three processes
enumerated by the author of this book, pranipata–reverent obedience,
pariprasna–repeated investigation, and Seva–devoted service, acquire the moral
fitness to reach realisation.
One passing reference on p. 29 deserves a comment. Mr. Wood says: “Stunts such as breathing up one nostril and down the other, or holding the breath for a long time, are not mentioned by Patanjali and should in general be avoided as dangerous.” Every Hindu teacher invariably warns the eager learner against practising these special exercises without the guidance of a competent guru. But it is strange that the author should speak of them as ‘stunts’. If what he has written in the chapter on Hatha-yoga is correct, these are scientific practices and are capable of definite results under proper guidance.
The
author has also incidentally introduced the reader to his other works; famous
among them is his book on ‘concentration’. A careful and
painstaking writer, with a highly practical bent of mind, Mr. Wood has done
admirable service to the cause of the higher life. Nothing but the greatest
benefit can accrue by a perusal of this work.
Hymns to the Goddess: By
Arthur and Ellen Avalon (Ganesh & Co. Madras. Pages 222. Price Rs. 6.)
“More
things are wrought by prayer
Than
this world dreams of.”
Sadhana leading to the
attainment of Brahmabhava is a ladder of many rungs, and stotra or prayer is
one of these. Samskrit literature is full of mellifluous stotras, that
are believed and found to be most efficacious, not only in removing
obstacles but also in conferring physical and spiritual prosperity on an ardent
devotee.
Here
in this volume Sir John Woodroffe presents us with a collection of hymns to
Devi (Goddess), and one hymn to Kalabhairava. All these hymns are translated
from the Samskrit, and are selected from the Tantras, Puranas, Mahabharata and
Sri Sankara’s works. The author, in addition to his scholarly
introduction which explains in a very lucid manner the philosophy of Saktism,
has written a useful commentary based on traditional interpretations.
We commend this book to ‘students of religion’ all over the world for whom in particular the author has intended this. The printing of the original hymns in Samskrit will greatly enhance the usefulness of this book.
Introduction to
Tantrasastra: By Sir John Woodroffe (Ganesh & Co. Madras.
Pages 152. Price Rs. 5)
This
is a good primer explaining the A. B. C. of Tantrasastra, which is nothing but
a practical guide to all those that desire to attain Union with the Supreme
Godhead. In his own inimitable way Sir John Woodroffe explains in brief every
item of Tantrasastra, so that even a layman can make his way through, and have
a clear grasp of the subject. The chapters on ‘Worship,’ ‘Yoga’, ‘The Human
body’, ‘Siva and Sakti’ deserve careful study and understanding. This is a
solid and substantial book worth possessing by every student of religion.
Gauthama Vyasamulu: Sri
Pingali Lakshmikantam, M.A. (M.S.R. Murty & Co., Visakhapatnam)
This
is a volume of literary criticism in Telugu, comprising essays, critical
introductions, and lectures, by a scholar and poet during his distinguished
literary career.
The
author himself remarks in his Introduction to a volume of essays of the late
Sri C. Ramalinga Reddy, (also included in this publication), that literary
criticism as a distinct branch of literature is of very recent origin in the
Telugu language. To Sri Ramalinga Reddy, the author claims, and rightly, the
credit for initiating in his Kavitvatatva Vicharam, a new point of view,
a modern outlook and aesthetic approach among Telugu critics, diverting their
attention from linguistics, grammar, philology, and ancient theory, to the
beauty and aesthetic appreciation of literary compositions. It will be obvious
to readers of this volume that in this respect, as in others, such as catholic
taste for ancient classics as well as modern lyrics, knowledge of ancient
canons of literary judgment as well as modern trends of literary appreciation,
scholarship and taste, logical argument and graceful expression, the author
follows the example of his patron and model successfully and very creditably.
The
volume contains, among other things, a brief historical account, in broad
outline, of Telugu literature, a survey of then history of Drama in Andhra (an
adaptation of his presidential address to the Andhra Nataka Kala Parishat),
critical introductions for Dwipada Bharatam, Ranganadha Ramayanam and a
critical essay on Pingali Surana’s Prabhavati Pradyumnamu. All these
reveal the influence of the author’s knowledge of English literature and
literary critisism and a desire to initiate the study of literary tendencies in
relation to the social and political conditions of the people, and the life,
culture and aspiration of the poet.
Himself
a poet of established reputation and a University teacher and research scholar,
the author is eminently qualified for this type of work. He has succeeded in
setting a very high standard of discriminating and constructive criticism, for
which there is great need in Telugu literature, but of which very
little is forthcoming nowadays.
This volume of criticism can be safely recommended as a model, worthy of imitation, to all students of Telugu literature and all aspirants for the role of a critic, revealing as it does a combination of contrary qualities so necessary and yet so rarely co-existent,–genuine literary taste and adequate, graceful and powerful expression; respect for indigenous culture and responsiveness to desirable trends in foreign literature and criticism; scholarship, originality, depth and humor, Courage and restraint; and above all a constructive attitude and endeavour to do justice, to help appreciation, and to develop taste.
Especially
valuable and attractive to the layman is the author’s exposition of the Desi
poetry–the indigenous literary forms such as Dwipada–and their
hold on the popular taste and imagination throughout the history of Telugu
literature, which they were able to maintain in the face of the rivalry of the
more scholarly and fashionable literary forms of the sophisticated classes.
M.S.K.