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