Advaita-oriented commentary on Narayaneeyam

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

I just finished reading a ten-page commentary on the first

shloka of Narayaneeyam with a commentary called

Bhaktaranjani. This is from a Malayalam commentary of the

whole of Narayaneeyam done in the 30's now translated in

English by four devotees who are well-versed in English. I

enjoyed reading it so much that I want to recommend the

whole book (which must be, I suppose, in the same style --

if I go by the Foreword given by Swami Shri Dayananda

Saraswathi. It has got word by word meanings, elaborate

commentary on almost every word and expression with profuse

quotations from Upanishads and other scriptures. On the

whole it is a treasure for all students of Vedanta. Members

of the advaitin list and of advaita-L may remember how we

enjoyed reading just 36 selected shlokas, put together and

entitled 'Advaita Bhakti through Contemplative Practice of

Narayaneeyam'.

 

Have a taste of Bhaktaranjani by sampling from the

following:

http://www.narayaneeyam.com/dasakam1.pdf

 

PraNAms to all students of Narayaneeyam

profvk

 

 

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

 

Latest on my website: A conversation on the Concept of God in Hinduism.

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/VK2/ConceptofGOD.html

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

Smt. Meenakshi Lakshmanan writes:

"Can you please tell me where I can get this commentary on

the Narayaneeyam, Sir? I would be happy to get the original

Malayalam commentary as well. So if you have any

information on that, could you please pass it on to me?"

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

 

I am reproducing below the personal information I received

from the authors:

 

The book Review in "The Hindu" by Shri. C.L. Ramakrishnan,

a very erudite scholar said, "English version of

"Bhaktaranjini", Malayalam commentary by K.G. Vancheswara

Sastry and R. Viswanatha Sastry in three volumes: T. P.

Sivasubramani, G. Sankaran, K.V . Gopalakrishna and Parvati

Sankaran - Tr. in English; S. N. Sastri - Editor, pub. by

Bhaktaranjini Trust, 22 A, II Cross, Judicial Officers' Lay

Out, RMV II Stage, Sanjay Nagar,

Bangalore-560094.

 

The volumes under review present the Sanskrit text of the

Narayaneeyam of Melputhur Narayana Bhattatiri, followed by

transliteration, meaning by splitting the words and

detailed comments. Wherever necessary,

cross-references are provided. Rare and interesting usages

by the poet are explained, highlighting his literary skill.

The philosophical import in the verses has been explained,

supported by quotations from the source book, the Bhagavata

Purana. While the Narayaneeyam is a condensation (1036

verses) of the Bhagavata (18,000 verses), the commentary

gives the incidents and precepts in detail with continuity.

 

The prose order of the verses helps one to understand the

poetic diction of Bhattatiri, whose style is, at times,

difficult. In addition, there is a glossary of keywords

occurring in the text and an alphabetical index to the

verses. A rare feature is the linkage given to verses in

the Bhagavata. Interesting explanations are given to the

meaning of words like "Krishna" nd "Kumaraka"; why

Hiranyakasipu, Ravana and others did not attain Moksha

hough they met their end at the hands of the Lord; why the

Lord opened His outh when questioned by Yashoda whether He

had eaten mud; whether Kuchela ntered the house of Rukmini

or any other consort of the Lord and so on.

 

These explanations are value-additions to the text and

clarify lurking doubts. A lot of hard labour and study have

gone into these volumes. A reading of it reveals its

fidelity to the original commentary"

 

The price is Rs. 800/- per set of 3 hard-bound volumes,

which run to more than 1500 pages. packing and forwarding

extra, local, Rs. 40/-, all four southern states, Rs.120/-

and for other places, Rs. 200/-

 

PraNAms to all lovers of Narayaneeyam.

profvk

 

 

 

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

 

Latest on my website: A conversation on the Concept of God in Hinduism.

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/VK2/ConceptofGOD.html