MYTHS , MIRACLES AND MYSTICISM IN HINDUISM BY KAIMKARYA RATHNAM SRIMAN ANBIL RAMASWAMY

[Guest guest]

SRI:

 

Dear AasthikAs :

 

adiyEn is delighted to recieve Kaimkarya Rathnam Sriman Anbil

Ramaswamy IyengAr's most recent monograph on the Myths ,

Miracles and Mysticism ( 3 Ms) in Hinduism .

 

Sri Anbil Swamy has been performing exemplary service to advance

the cause of the Sanaatana dharmam of Hinduism in general and

the SrivaishNava SampradhAyam in particular .

 

Sri Anbil Swamy's capabilities to assemble facts from many divergent sources ,

organize them and deliver coherent messages on complex topics in clear prose

is legendary .

 

His treatise on " Hinduism Discovered " is a rich resource for lay men

and women as well as for sampradhAyic scholars in so much as it contains

a vast assembly of information between the two covers .

 

If " Hinduism Discovered " is a magnum opus among his current monographs ,

the new book is like smaller version that paves the way for many others in

this series to be released .

 

Myths and Miracles go hand in hand with Mysticism . Explaining the significance

of the 3 Ms and attempting to explain the unexplained is a noble endeavour .

It is a tantalizing endeavour as well . Sri Anbil Swamy extends his outreach

to Myths / Mythologies of both the East and the West and makes the twin meet .

The workings of the human mind in relating to the Myths and Miracles across

the space and time divide are highlighted in this gem of a release from the fast

moving pen of Sri Anbil Swamy .

 

His summary of the episodes from Upanishads , PurANAs and IthihAsAs

and his comments on the morals to be drawn from these selected episodes

are testaments to his story telling and analytical skills . The highly

illuminative

section on Myths ( Part I ) takes up half of the total pages of this monograph .

 

In the second part of the book , Sri Anbil Swamy focuses on the Miracles

as " extraordinary occurences ascribed to a divine or supernatural causes "

and relates to a vast array of miracles from ancient and modern times.

Sri Anbil Swamy has some revelatory comments on miracle-peddlers ,

who mislead people for personal gains while extolling the unique and

welcome role of AchAryans through MantrOpadEsams and the power of

MantrAs in achieving miraculous efforts in one's saadhana . The citation of

selected sthOthrams with miraculous powers and crisp expalnations

about them is exemplary .

 

The third and final chapter is on Mysticism is the shortest chapter .

The definition , nature and the purpose of Mystery sets the tone for

the content of this section . Next , Sri Anbil Swamy cites some

benevolent and malevolent mysteries and explains number of

mystical experiences that one can witness even today at few sacred

places in India .

 

A huge compilation of Bibiliography on the Myths , Miracles and

Mysteries is provided to serve as help for further explorations in to

these fascinating topics of perrenial interst to the human beings ,

wherever they are . The front cover design is artistic and the set up

and fonts used are soothing to the eye .

 

In summary , this small sized mongraph deals with mighty subjects ,

which have fascinitaed and continue to intrigue human minds .

 

Our congratulations to Sri Anbil Swamy for this rich monograph .

This book has been priced modestly ( Rs.75 in India and $14.95 inUSA ) .

Proceeds from the sale of this book will be channeled to ongoing

kaimkaryams at Sri Anbi Swamy's native place .

 

Please contact him directly to acquire a copy of this book and

enjoy it .

 

Daasan , V.Sadagopan ( New York) .