Review of Devi Bhagavatam

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Title: The Splendour of the Supreme Mother - Devi Bhagavatham

Sub-title: A Compact condensed prose narrative

Author: Dr. V.V.B.Rama Rao

Publisher: Richa Prakashan (www.richaprakashan.com)

ISBN: 81-87062-46-0

Genre: Devotional/Hindu Mythology

 

Sai Ram. Sri Matre Namah. This book came to Shri K V R Rao of

www.telugubhakti.com for review and at his request, I accepted this

and took it as a command of Devi, The Supreme Mother. I also took it

as a blessing from Sri Mata since earlier too I got a chance to read

Her Glory in Telugu, and that too at the behest of His Holiness Sri

Sri Sri Sankaracharya of Sri Hampi Virupaksha Vidyaranya Peetham,

Sri Sri Sri Abhinavoddnanda Nrisimha Bharathi Swamiji around 1999 or

2000. At Swamiji's command, I read a fairly elaborate form of Sri

Devi Bhagavatham written by Vidwan Saripella Viswanatha Sastry,

published by Sri Rama Publishers. I also used to regularly recite

Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama Stotram, Sri Suktam, Sri Maha Lakshmi

Ashtakam etc. for many years and thus took this as an opportunity to

again read about Sri Devi, Sri Mata the Originator of us all. Sai

Ram.

 

One thing which struck me is that the book is as described compact,

rather too compact. Much of the detailed glory of The Mother had to

be left behind in this attempt to condense and make the book

compact. But many of the important features of Sri Devi Bhagavatam

originally written in Sanskrit by Sage Veda Vyasa and which came

through in the detailed Telugu transation that I had the good

fortune of reading, did come through. So, if you, the reader are new

to Devi and Her Divine Glory, this book under review is a good

primer. And being in english, this book is more accessible to

Indians and others who cannot read Sanskrit or for that matter the

vernacular languages too. Thus it fulfills a good need.

 

In short, this book is a good introduction to Sri Devi Bhagavatam

and it is Her grace that this review is being written on Sri Rama

Navami, the end of Vasanta Nava Ratras, which are also dear to Devi

(in addition to Sarannavaratras ending with Vijaya Dasami, which are

traditionally considered very important for Devi Puja). As a Sai

devotee, I again consider it auspicious that this review is being

written on a day very dear to Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi (this day is

celebrated as Baba's birthday by Sai Devotees), and as mentioned in

this book, Sri Rama also worshipped Devi during this Vasantha

Navaratras. Sai Ram.

 

Sai Ram. Now I come to some shortcomings with a view to offer a

constructive criticism for improvement in future editions. The 6th

skanda (Chapter) on The Order of Creation could have been prefaced

by a suitable explanation from the author that what was described

thousands of years earlier is a little different from the world as

it is observed by scientific means now. A few statements that it

takes thousands of years for light to reach from Sun to Earth could

have been avoided (it takes 9 minutes for light to reach our earth

from Sun).

 

The book also suffers from many simple editorial slips that could

have been easily avoided with a little more care. If the author or

the publisher is interested, I can share the editorial corrections

that I made as I was reading the book. Sai Ram.

 

In the end, I once again offer my pranams to Sri Devi for this

opportunity and thank the author, the publisher and Sri KVR Rao of

www.telugubhakti.com for being instrumental in my humble effort. Sai

Ram. Sri Matre Namah

Swarna Venkateswara Swamy <truthseeker123x