Brahmasutra commentary
M. Narasimhachary
VEDANTA DEEPA VOL. I: Commentary on the Vedanta Sutras by Bhagavad Ramanujacharya comprising chapters I & II with Text in Devanagari: English translation by N.S. Anantha Rangachar; 780, 5th Main Road, Vijayanagar, Bangalore-560040. Rs. 250.
The Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and the Brahmasutras composed by Sage Badarayana are the triple texts (Prasthanatraya), which form the foundation of the orthodox Hindu philosophy. Ramanuja's commentary on the Brahmasutra is known as the Sribhashya.
It has earned him the title, Bhashyakara of the Visishtadvaita School. This book, Vedanta Deepa, is a shorter version of the Sribhashya, presented here with a lucid English translation.
In fact, Ramanuja wrote a still shorter version called the Vedanta Sara. It may be asked why he wrote three commentaries on the same text. The answer is that they are meant for people with different aspirations and eligibility.
While the Vedanta Deepa discusses the main purport of each aphorism, the Vedanta Sara sets forth the essential meaning of each aphorism and section (adhikarana).
Incidentally, it has to be noted that according to Ramanuja, the total number of aphorisms in the Brahmasutra is 545 and the total number of sections is 156.
The Sribhashya is meant for the scholar. The examination and refutation of different schools of thought like Advaita, Bhedabheda, Bauddha, Jaina, Sankhya, Yoga and Purva Mimamsa are meant for the more serious students in Vedanta.
Ramanuja composed the Vedanta Deepa, to make the teaching more easily understood. The Vedanta Sara is the outcome of a further concern to make the teaching easily grasped by aspirants of average intellect.
We congratulate the translator, Anantha Rangachar, a very pre-eminent scholar, for his efforts in making the Vedanta Deepa within the reach of English knowing aspirants.
The translation is true to the original, simple and reliable. The introduction is comprehensive and informative. The present volume covers only the first two chapters.
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