Music and a mystical tradition
H. RAMAKRISHNAN
SCIENCE OF SRI CAKRA: Pappu Venugopala Rao; Pappus Academic & Cultural Trust, 36/11, Canal Bank Road, R.A. Puram, Chennai-600028.
Rs. 999.
This is a highly competent work through which the author, a well-known scholar, after long years of elaborate study, is passing to us the fruits of spirituality. It throws light on Sri Chakra, Mantra, Tantra, Yantra and Kundalini Yoga. The book is a comprehensive exposition of the religious practice of Sri Vidya with all its components, chanting of various Mantras, Bijaksharas and external worship of Sri Chakra.
The illuminating, insightful, and eminently readable book is divided into two main sections. The first delves into the intricacies of Sri Chakra worship and the latter describes in detail the Navavarana kritis of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. Symbolically representing the nine enclosures — Navavarana — there are nine chapters on Sri Chakra and Sri Vidya, each a treasure house of information.
The material is presented with sensitivity, reflecting the author’s reputation as an expert in his chosen discipline.
Two aspects
Sri Vidya consists of two aspects. One is the internal Yoga sadhana and the other, the external worship of Sri Chakra.
The author has dealt with the entire gamut of these two aspects in a highly accessible fashion.
After discussing the features of Sri Chakra, there are chapters on Tripura Sundari, the Puja sequence and the scriptures on Sri Vidya.
Since the author is well versed in the science and art of musicology and music, there is a 71-page detailed appendix, carrying the Kamalamba Navavarana Kritis of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. In addition to the Sanskrit texts, the songs have been transliterated with word-to-word meaning and summary in English. Dikshitar was a Sri Vidya Upasaka. The Navavarana is the essence of Sri Vidya worship. The author got the inspiration to add this appendix from musician R.Vedavalli.
Link
There is a strong link between Sri Chakra worship and the Navavarana Kritis. The author aptly begins with a picture of Goddess Kamalambal of Tiruvarur.
He has included several Sanskrit verses with English translation. So are the Navavaranas accompanied by their meaning in English.
It must have been a demanding task to get all this into easily understandable English.
At the end of the book, there is a surprise. There are two CDs of the Navavarana Kritis rendered beautifully by Sriram Parasuram and Anooradha Sriram, with a commentary by the author.
I recommend this cogent and superbly-researched volume particularly to those who have either an academic or spiritual inclination.
his is indeed a boon to the scholar, the learner, and of course to musicians.
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