book on Divya Prabandham

[Guest guest]

This is a follow-up on the note posted by Sri Sampath Rengarajan regarding

'translation of Nalayira Divya Prabandham'. Yes, such a book does exists.

i have reproduced the Introdution to this book below for those who may be

interested.

 

regards

ramesh

 

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Introduction :

 

It is with immense pleasure that i exercise my proud privilege of introducing

yet another publication brought out by Sri Visishtadvaita Research Centre.

Indeed it may be reckoned as the first in the series of five volumes covering

the whole of Nalayira Divya Prabandham. This book may be treated as Volume III

(Part I), containing the first half of Thiruvoymozhi of Nammazhvar.

 

The Series bears the title "AZHVAR THIRUVULLAM", which may be considered the

name of the commentary, which, appropriately, gives the content of each verse

in simple Tamil prose (and a brief gist in English) in Azhvar's own words

relagating all allusions and quotations to the separate space meant for

footnotes. Thus we are in a direct contact with Azhvar; he talks in the first

person, narrates his experience, tenders advice to us, all in simple, forceful,

understandable, Tamil.

 

Since references with location and also Tamil meaning are given extensively,

the volume is bound to be useful for students of religion and even research

workers. We hope to follow up with the publication of the remaining volumes

also before long.

 

Our purpose is obvious. We wish to carry the message to the uninitiated

modern reader who can read Tamil/English and who has basic faith in religion.

The noble, catholic, unifying, old yet resilient, religious system built by

Sri Azhvar, Sri Ramanuja, and Sri Desikan ought to be propagated more

intensively and purposefully, if our youth are not to be weaned away by

catching concepts of newer and newer godpersons who are everyday making heavy

dents on tradition. Time now lost may not be regained later, one may be certain.

 

We should congratulate Sri V.N.Vedanta Desikan on an excellent achievement

and a signal service thus rendered to the great cause. Though a chemist by

profession, he is a pratising Vaishnavite, characterized by intense piety and

deep selfless commitment. Born as the grandson of the great 'Navanitam Swami',

Sri Ubha Ve Vidwan Krishnamacharya of Oppiliappan Sannidhi, he has imbibed

the best from his Acharya and also, what is more, always attached greatest

importance to learning hoary literature on traditional lines from authentic

preceptors. This naturally endows his style with an authority, an authenticity

and a sense of identification. We thank him for the co-operation he has

offered in our efforts.

 

I would, in conclusion, only plead for the support of the discerning public

in all our efforts.

 

S.V.S.Raghavan

president

Sri Vishistadvaita Research Centre