"It's out"

[Guest guest]

"It's Out!"

 

The much-looked-forward-to event for book-lovers, especially lovers

of books that matter, took place on the 26th March at Srirangam. As

behoved the contents of the book, of which the various e lists had

carried a preview, the occasion of its release was the 83rd

tirunakshatram celebrations of the revered Acharya, Poundarikapuram

Srimad Andavan. And the place was Bhooloka Vaikunttam Srirangam. The

release of Sri Anbil Swamy's magnum opus, "Hinduism Rediscovered",

was through the lotus hands of his revered preceptor, Srimad Andavan

of Poundarikapuram Ashramam, who is acclaimed universally as a

"GnAna, sheela, vayO vriddha:", a repository of traditional wisdom,

impeccable anushttAnam even at his advanced age and ripe with long

years of Bhagavat Bhagavata kainkaryam. Hence, the place of release,

the occasion and the exalted diginitary who released it , were all

quite an honour for the book and its author, cumulatively signifying

the culmination of a labour of love undertaken by Sri Anbil Swamy,

whose indefatigable energy and enthusiasm for kainkaryam at his

advanced age would put people like me to shame. An unexpected bonus

was the presence and enlightening oration of Sri Rangapriya

MahAdesikan.

 

The event was attended by a galaxy of scholars, all of whom

expressed in no uncertain terms their reverence for the Acharya

Srimad Andavan, paying rich encomiums to his Atma guNAs. Most of the

distinguished speakers also touched on Sri Anbil Swamy's admirable

effort and its beauty. Sri Anbil Swamy too spoke on the occasion,

expressing his indebtedness to the Acharya for gnAna pradAnam and for

the continuous encouragement and inspiration he had received from His

HOliness, whether it be in the establishment of the ejournal

or in the penning down of the articles, which have taken

a beautiful form as "Hinduism Rediscovered". He also thanked

specifically the Tiruvenkatam Group and various other bhAgavatAs, who

had been of valuable assistance in bringing out the book.

 

In his anugraha bhAshaNam after releasing the book, Srimad Andavan

spoke of the need for propagating our Sampradaya overseas too, with a

large number of our people now settled abroad and avid for knowledge

about their ancient moorings and Vedic wisdom. The vriddha yati

expressed appreciation for the efforts of Sri Anbil Swamy in

tirelessly working for spreading the tenets of our Sampradaya abroad.

He spoke in particular about the importance English had acquired,

though for long regarded a "MlEccha bhAshA", in disseminating

Sampradayic knowledge to those who were more at home in it, due to

their place of residence and avocation.

 

The publishers, the Tiruvenkatam Group of Kuwait, whose contribution

to the endeavour is immense, were represented on the occasion by Shri

IVK Chary and Shri KC Narasimhan. Many bhagavatas from Bangalore like

Sri Ananta Nrisimhan and Sri Diwakar Kannan too were present, who had

been of valuable assistance in planning and superivising the printing

work, etc.

 

The feast for the eyes and ears was followed by another for the

palate, with a sumptuous tadeeyArAdhanam sponsored by the author, in

which around 350 to 400 bhAgavatAs participated. Initial sales of the

book, both at the venue of release and afterwards, has been quite

encouraging.

 

dasan, sadagopan