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Book Review
Dictionary of Visishtadvaita
VISISHTADVAITA KOSA: Compiled by D. T. Tatacharya Swamy, Edited and published by Dr. Chakravarthy Raghavan; D. T. Swamy Publications, Tirupati. Copies can be had from C. Kalyani, 113, G. S. Mada Street, Tirupati-517501. Rs. 375.
ANCIENT INDIAN wisdom has provided, apart from the classical Sanskrit texts, a technical literature that deals with many technical subjects like fine arts, architecture, philosophy etc. The term "darsana'' is generally applied to the six philosophical systems only, though they are included under the technical subjects. The six darsanas are Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Purvamimamsa and Uttaramimamsa. Among these the last mentioned is well known as Vedanta Darsana and was preached and propagated by great saints like Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa. The tradition that was propagated by Ramanuja came to be known as Visishtadvaita.
Everyone of the above systems use a technical language or phrase in their texts which may have a different sense or meaning in the other. This is a common practice among the ancient Indian writers. Further, as rightly pointed out by K. C. Varadachari in the foreword, every term or phrase undergoes changes in meaning, even in the successive generations of teachers of the same school.
Thus it becomes difficult for one who is desirous of mastering a particular "darsana'' to comprehend and determine the true sense of the word or words used in different contexts. A reference work that can provide an explanation and meaning of the technical terms would be a welcome factor for a true seeker of knowledge in a particular branch.
The present book is the earliest attempt that provides meanings to important technical terms used in the Visishtadvaita Vedanta. A noteworthy aspect of this book is that it offers meaning and explanation to Tamil technical terms also, as Tamil is an important medium of instruction in this tradition. This is the second edition of the book and the Ahobila Math published the first one in 1951. Reference to the names of the works is provided under each term. The compiler of this dictionary was a scholar par-excellence in Visishtadvaita philosophy. The author quoting rules of grammar and etymology wherever necessary provides detailed explanation of important expressions. He has also provided an elaborate introduction and it briefly covers the history, tradition and lineage of teachers of this tradition.
The present edition has some useful hints by the learned editor, Chakravarthy Raghavan. Though the book is in Sanskrit, one who has a fundamental knowledge of that language could easily understand it. A good reference book for the lover of philosophy.
S. PADMANABHAN
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