A book Review of Great Saints of South India

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Sai Ram. " Great Saints of South India " is a very good collection of

short biographies of many great saints of South India (Andhra

Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu). It was originally written

in telugu by Sri Ravinuthala Srreramulu and has received a lot of

acclaim. It has been translated into good english by Smt. Sonthi

Anasuyamma garu, who has to her credit many other religious and

spiritual translations including " Arunachala Mahatyam " written by

Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi, of whom both the original author and the

translator of the present book are disicples. Bhagawan's grace

enabled them to do a good job of bringing out the biographies of

great saints including Sri Tyagaraja, Sri Ramadasu, Sri Kanakadasa,

Sri Purandaradasa, Sri Eknath, Sant Jnanadev, Namadev, Samartha

Ramadas etc. Many Saivite and Vaishnava Saints are also covered.

Thus it gives a good heritage of the southern india over many

centuries. It is worth noting that God is beyond caste and creed,

and you can read about the great saints of all castes in this slim

volume. Biograhies of a few women are also given, indicating that

devotion and jnana are not the exclusive preserve of men.

 

The book is generally well produced but could have been better

edited. A few stories are somewhat disjointed. One example is that

of Karaikal Amma where the beginning of her life story is apparently

in Kailasa but later it is portrayed again as if she went to Kailas

in that birth and thus it is not clear who related this story to

whom.

 

 

Except for such editorial slips, the book is well written and will

be a good addition to the spiritual library of every sadhaka. Sai

Ram.

 

India has produced many more saints and the book may hopefully be

expanded in future editions to include some more great saints.

Title: Great Saints of South India

Author: R.Sreeramulu (Original telugu)

Translated by: Smt. Sonthi Anasuyamma garu

Publisher: Richa Prakashan (www.richaprakashan.com)

ISBN: 81-87062-75-4

Genre: Biography/Religion and Spirituality