Books on Sri Vaisnavism

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I am going to Madras in about a week, and while I am there

i want to get hold of some good books on Sri Vaisnavism. I would like

to get hold of an English translation of th Sri Bhasya. I would really

appreciate it if you could suggest to me books that are suited for a beginner

as well as those at a more advanced level. Are there any particular

book stores in Madras that are worth going to. I am very keen on

obtaining English traslations of works, preferably written by

someone in the parampara. Also, I was wondering if there was a Sri Vaisnava

Math in Madras. I would really appreciate it, if some of you more

experienced people could give me some pointers.

 

Thanks

Arun Sridharan

 

*****************************************************************

 

Arun Sridharan

MB # 319 Brandeis University

P.O. Box 9110

Waltham, MA 02254-9110

 

Phone: 617-736-5222

Email: st930319

arun

 

Department: Physics

 

*****************************************************************

[Guest guest]

Mani wrote ......

> [....]

> I have not been to the Jayalakshmi Indological Book House,

> but Sudarshan (who is on this list) has and found some good books:

> [....]

---------------------

 

Jayalakshmi Indological Book house is in a small street opposite to

the famous Luz Anjaneyar Kovil. I forget the name of that street but this

book-store is in the phone book. (It is on the first floor of a residential

bldg.)

 

 

Other sources for some books :

 

1) The Visistadvaita Pracharini Sabha, 27,Venkatesa Agraharam,

Mylapore, Madras-4.

 

2) Sri Visistadvaita Research centre, Dr. Rangachari road, Madras-16.

 

 

Mani's list covered a good number of books. Here are a few more that I

remember :

 

1) "A Dialogue on Hinduism" by V.N. Gopala Desikan

This is a simple Question & Answer type book on Hinduism with

focus on Visistadvaita. (Available at #2 location above)

 

2) "Fundamentals of Visistadvaita Vedanta" by S.M. Srinivasa Chari.

This is a very good book on the fundamentals of our philosophy

and is based on Tatva Mukta Kalapa of Sri Vedanta Desika.

(available at Motilal Banarasidas)

 

 

A good source for many books here in the US :

 

South Asia Books,

P.O. Box 502,

Columbia, Missouri 65205

Phone: (314)474-0116

Fax : (314)474-8124

 

regards,

-sudarshan

[Guest guest]

Arun writes:

> Hello,

> I am going to Madras in about a week, and while I am there

> i want to get hold of some good books on Sri Vaisnavism. I would like

> to get hold of an English translation of th Sri Bhasya. I would really

> appreciate it if you could suggest to me books that are suited for a beginner

> as well as those at a more advanced level. Are there any particular

> book stores in Madras that are worth going to. I am very keen on

> obtaining English traslations of works, preferably written by

> someone in the parampara. Also, I was wondering if there was a Sri Vaisnava

> Math in Madras. I would really appreciate it, if some of you more

> experienced people could give me some pointers.

>

> Thanks

> Arun Sridharan

 

Arun,

 

I would suggest the following places and books. First, of all

there are many books available at Motilal Banarssidass, on

R.H. Road in Madras in the Luz area, Mylapore. If you are

heading from the Kaapaaliswara Temple away from the Ramakrishna

Ashrama Bookstore, it is only a few blocks' walk. It will

come on the corner on the right side. Please verify this by

asking someone or calling the bookstore (they're in the phone

book).

 

There you can get "The Vedanta Sutras, part III" by George Thibaut,

which is still the most lucid translation of the Sri Bhashya.

It is part of the Sacred Books of the East series, volume 48.

You may also want to buy Vedanta Sutras, part I, since it has

a very interesting introduction comparing the commentary of

Sankara and Ramanuja. This work by Thibaut has had a great

impact on subsequent Indian authors of Vedanta works in English.

 

While still at Motilal Banarssidass, try to get a copy of

"Vaishnavism", by S.M. Srinivasa Chari. It is quite well

written and thorough.

 

You can now head to the Ramakrishna Ashrama Bookstore. Here

you can get the following:

 

1) Stotraratna, by Sri Yamunacharya, translated by Swami Adidevananda

2) Yatindramatadipika, by Srinivasa, translated by Swami Adidevananda

(A beginners' introduction to the philosophy of Ramanuja)

3) Ramanuja Gita Bhashya, translated by Swami Adidevananda

4) Ramanuja on the Gita, by S.S. Raghavachar

5) Vedarthasangraha of Ramanuja, translated by S.S. Raghavachar

6) The Life of Ramanuja, by Swami Ramakrishnananda

7) The Brahma Sutras according to Sri Ramanuja (hard bound book

about 1 inch thick)

 

There may be more that I am not remembering at this time.

 

Now you can go to the Parthasarathy Swami Temple in Triplicane.

There, go to 10 South Mada Street. South Mada Street is alongside

the temple, opposite the main entrance to the temple. This is

the house of one M.N. Krishnaswami, a very nice man who is

the secretary of Sri Ramanuja Vedanta Centre. He will sell

you many books -- tell him you have come from America, etc.

In particular, you should ask him for these books:

 

1) The Gitabhashya of Ramanuja, translated by M.R. Sampatkumaran

2) Srivaisnava Manipravala, by K.K.A. Venkatachari

3) God Far God Near: an introduction to the thought of Nammalvar,

by K.K.A. Venkatachari and David Kaylor

4) Tiruvaymoli English Glossary (2 thick volumes), by

S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar

5) All India Seminar on Sri Ramanuja and his Social Philosophy.

6) Sri Ramanuja on the Upanishads, by S.S. Raghavachar.

7) Holy Lives of the Azhvars, by A. Govindacharya

 

Ask him about going to a Srivaishnava math. He is not

parochial about Vadagalai/Thengalai and should be very helpful.

 

You can also pick up a copy of the Divya Prabandham in a nicely

printed and bound edition inside the Parthasarathy Swami

Temple. It will be available in a stall off to your right

before you enter the main sannidhi.

 

I have not been to the Jayalakshmi Indological Book House,

but Sudarshan (who is on this list) has and found some good books:

 

1) Varadaraja Panchashat of Vedanta Desika (critical study)

2) Gadyatrayam (english translation and notes by BV Ramanujam)

3) The Srivaishnava Theological Dispute, by P. Mumme

(This is also available by calling up New Era Publications,

which is in the phone book. They will deliver the book to

your house, if you wish)

4) Consciousness: proceedings of a research conference at

Melkote.

 

No Sri Vaishnava math has its headquarters in Madras, but I think

there is an Ahobila Math in Triplicane. Vaidehi will know better --

you may want to ask her (vv).

 

Please call me or send email if you need more references.

 

Yours,

Mani

 

(415) 390-5456 (w)

(408) 253-1351 (h)