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Varaha Narasimham
"Out of the 300-odd Upanishads, commentaries on the Vedas in Sanskrit, only 108 stand popularly recognised. Of these again, only 10 - Eesa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandooka, Dwaitreeya, Chandhogya, Itreya, Brihadaaranyaka - and the later Adwaitapara interpretations, titled 'Swethaswatharopanishat' and scripted by Adi Sankara, stand universally hailed as non pareil and the most authoritative commentary on the Vedas. They are recognised as the base of the Aarsha Samskrithi."
This was the sum and substance of Appalla Someswara Sarma who released the Telugu version of the Upanishad, and Vedula Subrahmanya Sastry, who reviewed the contents, at a function specially organised by Visakha Sahithi on Saturday last.
The former Banaras Hindu University Telugu HoD, Bayya V. Suryanarayana, chaired the session. The editor-publisher of the book, Eswara Surya Prakasa Rao (son of the author of the book, the late Varaha Narasimham), spoke.
Prof. Someswara Sarma said that Narasimham (1898-1974), who was born at Upmaka in Visakhapatnam district, was a medical man by profession (LMP) and spent most of the time in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Being an ardent lover of the family tradition, coupled with soulful interest in literature, the scriptures in particular, and being also interested in creative writing like his father Suryanarayana Sarma and grandfather Bhimasankara Sastry, Narasimham mastered not only Telugu but also Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi and Oriya on one hand and astrology on the other.
Sasi Latha
Deeply disturbed over the fact of lack of authentic versions of the scriptures in Telugu, he ventured to fill the gap and successfully brought out Telugu versions of the Swethaswataropanishat, Chandogya and Bruhadaaranyaka, along with Niruktam, Manudharma Sastra, Vedanta Darsana, Adwaitavaadam, Patanjali Yogasastra, Saankya Sastra and Samskrutha Paathamaala. The above works adorned with his own critical commentary seem to be based to a large extent on the Hindi versions by Tulasiramaswami, Sivasankaraswami and Gangaprasad Upaadhyaya, Prof. Subrahmanya Sarma elaborated.
The book in question (Swethaswataropanishat) is all the more a valuable contribution to Telugu literature as it gives the transliterated version of every sloka in Telugu, paraphrastic meaning with his own critical analysis, all compiled with elan.
Mr. Suryaprakasa Rao spoke at length as to how his father who was shy of publicity, name and fame, did not ever think of bringing his works into limelight. "With the help of my wife, son, daughter, dauther-in-law along with my brothers and sisters, by chance I found out the works which were in very bad shape and started the venture of rewriting and publishing one after the other with our own resources,", he revealed and felicitated Prof. Someswara Sarma, Prof. Subrahmanya Sastry, Dr. Meegada Ramalinga Swami, who wrote prelude expressing their valuable opinions, and the Visakha Sahithi president, Kolavennu Malayavaasini. The secretary, Jampana Kumara Varmam welcomed the gathering.
As a few copies of the book, 'Samskrutha Paathamaala', was ready, it was also formally released on the occasion.
* * * * *
The 12th annual awards function of the noted trusts founded by the Kurella family - Sahitya Seva Samithi and Sitha Music and Dance Academy - was held at Kalabharathi on Saturday last. The general manager of Coromandel Fertilisers Limited, A.A. Rama Murthy, the Station Director of the local Aakaasavaani Kendra, K.V. Hanumatha Rao, and the eminent educationist, Pilla Rama Rao, who were the guests of honour, were all praise for the selfless and stupendous service rendered by Mr. Someswara Rao to all sections of society by way of recognising merit in the fields of education, fine arts, culture, etc., utilising his own resourses on a large scale every year.
The programme got off to a grand start with a variety show of talent in music, dance and magic by some of the awardees of this year. The dance presented by P. Sasilatha Krishna, padyapathanam by the doyen of the poetic theatre, Meegada Ramalingaswami, and super magic show by vetern Mohana Rao were the highlights.
Cover page of the book
Top ranking pupils of Std. VII from 25 schools were given Vidyavikas awards. Valuable books were presented to the local Ba-Bapu Bhavan, Visakhapatnam Public Library, Nrityakala Bharathi and Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Nritya Niketan of Vizianagaram. Then about a score of younglings known for their prodigious talent in painting, sports, games, general knowledge, music and dance received `Super Kid' (Baalamedhaavi) awards. Then followed the presentation of talent awards to youngsters of merit in classical vocal, light vocal, mridangam, veena, flute, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Andhranatayam, mimicry and magic.
The best male and female teachers, along with eminent personalities in literature, music, dance, journalism, photography, cartooning and sculpture were also honoured on the occasion.
A. RAMALINGA SASTRY
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