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Book Review
TAMIL
A novel presentation
V. N. VEDANTA DESIKAN
CHITRA SAARAM: Nelvoy Sowmyanarayanacharyar; Pub. by Sri Vedanta Desika Sampradaya Sabha, 543, Adenwala Road, Matunga, Mumbai-400010. Also available at 32, Chitrakulam North Street, Mylapore, Chennai-600004. Rs. 250.
‘RAHASYATRAYA SAARA’ is a magnum opus, in Vedantic literature, authored by Vedanta Desika towards the end of his career. Written in manipravala style, a mix of Tamil and Sanskrit, it consists of 32 chapters. The first 22 chapters present the elements of Vaishnavism. The next four seek to establish the goal of life and the means to attain that goal. The human goal is to live nobly to reach the Lord’s feet. The Azhvars and Ramanuja have shown that ‘total surrender’, Prapatti, is the sure means of realising the Divine Bliss. For his part, Vedanta Desika has clarified the various doubts and provided answers to objections that may arise vis-À-vis the established codes.
Then come the three chapters on the mantras, called ‘rahasyas’. The elaborate exposition leads one to the conclusion that all the three mantras are pivotal to the path of Prapatti. The next two chapters are on the role and duty of the preceptor and on the discipline to be adhered to by the disciple. The concluding chapter is a glorious summary that ends with a reference to the Divine Bliss.This book gives the essence of Desika’s work in ‘Chitra’ form, studded with designs, diagrams and tables. The presentation is innovative, refreshing and lucid, and the publication, which has all the merits of a modern school guide, is bound to appeal to the modern youth.
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