TAMIL
Ancient wisdom
V.N.VEDANTA DESIKAN
RUK, YAJUR, SAMA, ATHARVANA VEDANGALUM PATHU UPANISHADANGALUM: Vaduvoor Narayanan — Editor; Narmadha Pathippagam, 10, Nana Street, Pondy Bazar, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017. Rs. 650.
THE VEDAS contain all that man should know. They encompass the whole humanity and have universal appeal. Broadly there are two divisions, the Karma section, emphasising rituals (the Vedas are four) and the Jnana section (Upanishads, especially 10 are important). They are the focus of treatment in this compendium. It is written in a popular style and is eminently readable. Many mantras are given with their full meaning. Of course, one wishes that the mantras had been reproduced in full, even if they would have taken more space. To make it more readable, parallel quotations from Tamil saints are provided. The treatment often includes a long story with regard to the Mantra interpreted.
The anthropomorphic tales reproduced from the original Veda/Upanishad make for fascinating reading and there is clarity of explanation. The author comes from a family of Vedic scholars and has also depended on eminent scholars and on the published works (from speeches) of the Paramacharya of Kanchi. The author must be congratulated for this monumental service.
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