article on U. Ve. Sri N.S. Ramanuja Tatachariar Swamy

June 12, 2005

http://www.hinduonnet.com/lf/2005/06/12/stories/2005061202500200.htm

He takes joy in delving into ancient manuscripts

" Religious intitutions and leaders are responsible for the authentic

dissemination of Hindu philosophy. "

Understanding the complex components of Vedic scriptures has been an

exercise, both dear and facile for him. He does not stop with

understanding the idea but starts interpreting it in the most

authentic and indisputable of forms. His recent mind-boggling

research into the intricacies of ancient Sanskrit texts in

Pondicherry has resulted in bringing out the first volume of a rare

edition.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Rashtriya Sanskrita Vidya Peetam in

Tirupati, N.S. Ramanuja Tatacharyar, who was in Tiruchi recently to

release his `vyakyanam' on Vishitadavitam, found time to explain his

contribution to Hindu philosophy in general and Sanskrit in

particular to M. Balaganessin.

HE HAS contributed around 60 research papers on different `sastras'

that have been published in various research journals. He has also

guided scholars from foreign countries including Japan, the United

States of America and Germany in their research. His contribution in

the form of interpreting Sanskrit manuscripts at the Government

Oriental Manuscripts Library in Chennai to bring out 14 editions and

the presentation of Sanskrit papers at national and international

conferences during the past five decades are no mean achievements.

But, Dr. Ramanuja Tatacharyar considers these feats as a drop in the

ocean. Eminent Sanskrit scholars from around the world should take an

integrated approach to the overall growth and development of not just

the linguistic significance of the ancient tongue but also to

interpret the untold mysteries in the Vedas and scriptures.

The Bhakthi Movement has donned a new dimension in the present-day

context, with hundreds of people thronging temples of deities of

their liking on important occasions. However, religious institutions

and leaders have the greater responsibility of authentic

dissemination of Hindu philosophy. This is all the more necessary in

the larger interest of the posterity.

The real content of Hindu philosophy must be popularised. According

to him, masses and devotees look on Sanskrit merely as a language for

performing `archanas' or `abhishekams' and allied rituals. " It is

high time this myth is rooted out and steps initiated to bring out

the lucidity and essence of the Sanskrit language, " he says. His

association with the Government Oriental Manuscript Library in

Chennai for six years since 1952 proved the cradle for his research

programmes in the five decades that followed. He was instrumental in

bringing out 14 books using the bundles of manuscripts collected

during the British period. " I assisted the curator of the library in

compiling the manuscripts and also to edit and publish rare forms of

books including the `Sribashyaprakasika,' `Vedantakalpataruvyakhya,'

`Ayapadesasataka,' `Mahimnastava' and `Malhanasta.' Some of these

books were released with a commentary, " he points out.

What concerns him is that the real treasure in the library was yet to

be explored. " The library accounts for a little over 60,000

manuscripts, including 40,000 in Sanskrit and the rest in Tamil. Only

a part of the manuscripts in either language have so far been

deciphered, edited and brought out as books for our successors.

Efforts must be made to publish books utilising the thousands of

unexplored manuscripts available there, " he says.

To execute this stupendous task, a finger count number of individuals

or scholars would not suffice. The support and services of erudite

scholars must be mobilised so that the manuscripts could be brought

out in the form of books.

" Many foreigners have been evincing a keen interest in taking up

research programmes in Sanskrit. I am happy to note that institutes

such as the `Samskrita Bharathi' have been doing their bit to

motivate the people of our country, irrespective of the age group

divide, in popularising the language. However, academic efforts by

schools and colleges would go a long way in encouraging future

citizens to learn the language. " He feels that Sanskrit could be

introduced as one of the optional languages in schools and colleges.

He has held several posts including that of Senior Sastri of the

Sanskrit Dictionary Department in Deccan College at the P.G. Research

Institute in Pune, and principal of K.S. Vidyapeetha at Tirupati. His

latest assignment was as honorary professor of the Department of

Indology at the French Institute in Pondicherry where he analysed

various facets of `Nyaya,' `Vyakaranam,' `Mimamsa' and `Vedanta'

sastras to bring out the first volume of `Sabdabodha Mimamsa.'

In Tiruchi, he was honoured with a purse of Rs.25,000 and a shawl in

recognition of his erudition and contribution to the growth and

development of the language and Hindu philosophy. " The purse is a

small honour; he deserves much more, " was the crisp comment of the

Srimad Andavan of Periyashramam, seconds before honouring him.

June 13, 2005

May i offer a small correction here please - Dr NSR was the Vice Chancellor

of the Kendriya Sanskrit Samsthan - it is a Central University (not quite

the Principal!!). Shreyas has got everything else

right!Regards.RR--R RajagopalNew 76 Old 82

Dr.Ranga RoadMylapore, Chennai 600004IndiaPh 91 44 2499 6561 -

(H)Ph 91 44 5210 7529 - (H)Ph 91 44 2249 1971 - (Factory)Mobile

91 94440 57848

--------

andavan To: "andavan "

<andavan > article on U. Ve. Sri

N.S. Ramanuja Tatachariar Swamy12/06/05 07:36http://www.hinduonnet.com/lf/2005/06/12/stories/2005061202500200.htmHe

takes joy in delving into ancient manuscripts "Religious intitutions

and leaders are responsible for the authentic dissemination of Hindu

philosophy." Understanding the complex components of Vedic

scriptures has been an exercise, both dear and facile for him. He does

not stop with understanding the idea but starts interpreting it in the

most authentic and indisputable of forms. His recent mind-boggling

research into the intricacies of ancient Sanskrit texts in

Pondicherry has resulted in bringing out the first volume of a rare

edition. The former Vice-Chancellor of the Rashtriya Sanskrita

Vidya Peetam in Tirupati, N.S. Ramanuja Tatacharyar, who was in Tiruchi

recently to release his `vyakyanam' on Vishitadavitam, found time to

explain his contribution to Hindu philosophy in general and Sanskrit in

particular to M. Balaganessin. HE HAS contributed around 60

research papers on different `sastras' that have been published in

various research journals. He has also guided scholars from foreign

countries including Japan, the United States of America and Germany in

their research. His contribution in the form of interpreting Sanskrit

manuscripts at the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library in Chennai to

bring out 14 editions and the presentation of Sanskrit papers at

national and international conferences during the past five decades are

no mean achievements. But, Dr. Ramanuja Tatacharyar considers these

feats as a drop in the ocean. Eminent Sanskrit scholars from around the

world should take an integrated approach to the overall growth and

development of not just the linguistic significance of the ancient

tongue but also to interpret the untold mysteries in the Vedas and

scriptures. The Bhakthi Movement has donned a new dimension in the

present-day context, with hundreds of people thronging temples of

deities of their liking on important occasions. However, religious

institutions and leaders have the greater responsibility of authentic

dissemination of Hindu philosophy. This is all the more necessary in

the larger interest of the posterity. The real content of Hindu

philosophy must be popularised. According to him, masses and devotees

look on Sanskrit merely as a language for performing `archanas' or

`abhishekams' and allied rituals. "It is high time this myth is rooted

out and steps initiated to bring out the lucidity and essence of the

Sanskrit language," he says. His association with the Government

Oriental Manuscript Library in Chennai for six years since 1952 proved

the cradle for his research programmes in the five decades that

followed. He was instrumental in bringing out 14 books using the bundles

of manuscripts collected during the British period. "I assisted the

curator of the library in compiling the manuscripts and also to edit and

publish rare forms of books including the `Sribashyaprakasika,'

`Vedantakalpataruvyakhya,' `Ayapadesasataka,' `Mahimnastava' and

`Malhanasta.' Some of these books were released with a commentary," he

points out. What concerns him is that the real treasure in the

library was yet to be explored. "The library accounts for a little over

60,000 manuscripts, including 40,000 in Sanskrit and the rest in Tamil.

Only a part of the manuscripts in either language have so far been

deciphered, edited and brought out as books for our successors.

Efforts must be made to publish books utilising the thousands of

unexplored manuscripts available there," he says. To execute

this stupendous task, a finger count number of individuals or scholars

would not suffice. The support and services of erudite scholars must be

mobilised so that the manuscripts could be brought out in the form of

books. "Many foreigners have been evincing a keen interest in taking

up research programmes in Sanskrit. I am happy to note that institutes

such as the `Samskrita Bharathi' have been doing their bit to

motivate the people of our country, irrespective of the age group

divide, in popularising the language. However, academic efforts by

schools and colleges would go a long way in encouraging future

citizens to learn the language." He feels that Sanskrit could be