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Title: 'The choice is yours' book
SrI:
 
Dear BhakthAs :
 
Let me share with you what  I enjoy about this First Monograph
in the series of "The Choice is Yours " . Yes , there are plans to
release over time additional essays of SrimAn SadakOpan IyengAr
by Sri Sukti PrachariNi Sabha with the support of Aasthika Community
around the world in the future . 
 
Sri Sadagopan IyengAr has penned as I remember almost 300 esaays (so far)
of high caliber and authenticity . It is all his AchArya Bhakthi and
Lord Hayagreevan's anugraham that propels him to perform this kaimkaryam
of sharing the vast amount of knowledge he has acquired over the years
on the fine points about Sri VaishNava SampradhAyam from a Ubhaya
VedAnthic perspective .
 
This first release , " The Choice is Yours " has 55 Essays that appeared over
the past few months in Sri RanganAtha PaadhukA , Internet Lists like
Oppiliappan , Malolan , Sri Ranga Sri et al .
 
At the outset , I wish to state that I am  proud of Sri Sadagopan IyengAr's 
command of style and  content in tackling this difficult task of handling classic material ;
He has facile use of the  modern idiom to help youngsters  and new comers to gain
the appreciation  of our ancient sampradhAyam . I am equally proud of the Sri Sukthi
PracharaNi Sabha  for taking this " massive " initiative , finding the fund and
the invaluable Editorial help of  Oppiliappan Koil the gifted Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan Swamy ,
a doyen of our SampradhAyam . 
 
You may have a question as to why myself or anyone would like to invite
your attention to acquire this book , which may be considered  as a packaging of
essays released earlier . I would like this opportunity to bring to your and
Your family's as well as your  friend's attention why I believe that
the book has unusual aspects of its own to warrant the  acquisition of  
this book for your archival reading on our ancient SampradhAyam
starting with Sriman Narayana  and extending to present day AchAryAs ,
who strive hard to reach out  to aasthikAs . Here are my reasons :
 
1) The author's Admirable skill in " presenting our glorious tradition in the modern idiom,
while adhering faithfully to the spirit of the original works of ancient seers ".
These original and " timeless works " that Sri Sadagopan IyengAr ihandled
by the author are the VedAs , Upanishads , VishNu PurANam , Dhivya Prabhandham
and a host  of other sacred literature . There is a central thread that runs through all
the 55 essays chosen  for the just released  volume . That is the mighty doctrine of
SaraNAgathi for Mukthi ( Prapatthi Yogam ) after thorough analysis of
the various choices .
 
2)He has clear scholarship and command over his material ;
He has amazing  proficiency both in English , Tamil and Sanskrit 
and most importantly in the SampradhAya  . His vocabulary is rich
and noteworthy  . His power in phrase making is indeed a rare gift .
 
3) Sri Sadagopan IyengAr is a Master Story  teller with a serious purpose .
In olden times , he would have been a beloved PourANikar and KaalkshEpa
AdhikAri .
 
4) His devotion to his AchAryAs is exemplary .
 
5) The proceeds from the sale of this book is going towards  Saathvic
Charities that would please the ThiruvuLLam  of AchAryAs . The Sri Sookthi
PrachariNi Sabha of Singapore has a clear road map on diverting
the funds from the sale of the books to nourish the roots of our
divine sampradhAyam . They have completed one fourth of their
planned work and adiyEn prays for their continued success in
such Kaimkaryams .   
 
6) The internet postings did not have any images to go with the Text .
The book has some of the most beautiful choice of images to go
with the 55 essays housed in this monograph . Examples are those of
AchAryAs , superb color plates of archAvathAra Moorthys ,  special
graphics . The images chosen have been beautifully integrated with
the text . This is truly  a Multimedia Book of  trend setting quality .
The border of each page contains the lovely image of Dharbham
( ThUppul ) , which appears to protect the sacred content . ChakratthAzhwAn
provides additional raksha at the beginning of each essay . The beautiful
picture of ParthasArathy  PerumAL and His family in the front inside cover and
Lord Oppiliappan and His family in the backside of the cover are very beautiful .
The picture of VeNNai Thirudum KaNNan ( The Butter Thief ) alone on Page 47
will steal any one's heart .
 
7) Each essay has an intriguing and teasing title and the essay  develops
the theme of the title into SiddhAntham . Some illustrative examples among
the 55 essays are :
 
(a)  " Insure and Be Secure " , where with adroitness , Sri Sadagopan IyengAr
compares the offerings of the mundane , modern Insurance industry
with that of the ancient fail-proof Insurance policy of SaraNAgathy .
This is a Master Piece that must be read by every Sri VaishNava ..
 
(b) " Hari Potter or Complexities of Creation " is such a profoundly
informative essay about " the nuts and bolts of Creation " as the Master
Creator goes about His work of creation . 
 
(c) " How to see the Lord " is a moving essay on how to visualize ,
absorb and enjoy the Archaa Moorthys as revealed by the AchAryAs
and the AzhwArs .
 
d)" Diamonds in the Sky " is another of the essays, where it is 
a celebration of  the 27 Nakshathrams - -"the distance deciders of our
destinies " starting from Krittikaa Nakshathram .
 
e) The essay in defense of AchArya RaamAnujaa's use of prose
instead of poetry as the medium of communication in His Sri Sookthis
is a memorable one .Using His three Gadhyams as examples , Sri Sadagopan
IyengAr convinces us that  " All his (RaamAnujA's) works are standing
and eloquent testimony to the fact that prose can portray as well as ,
if not better than poetry , the kaleidoscopic  of moods and feelings
running the entire range from exhuberance , joy , fulfilment and bliss ,
to gratitude , humility and servitude , to disappointment , intense longing --- ".   
 
f) The essay entitled with the innocuous & polite title of " Good Evening "
goes on to make a case with appropriate dhivya prabhandham passages
that " the evenings belong to the Lord " .
 
g) The essay on " Divine Dishes " brings us back to the section of BhOjyAsanam
in NithyArAdhanam in general and the 18 BhakshaNam offerings to the Lord
on Sri Jayanthi , His avathAra dinam .
 
h) For narrational excellence , "An Englishman's Prapatthi " about the happenings
at MadhurAntham easily contends for the top spot with a convincing message
about the power of SaraNAgathy as experienced by the English Collector 
at MadhurAnthakam . 
 
i) The three connected essays with the title of " The Last words " is
a treasure house of information .
 
adiyEn can go on and on but hopefully you have been persuaded
by now about the richness, relevance and tastiness of the offerings 
in the Monograph : " The Choice is Yours " and  hope you will acquire
a copy of this book for serious reading and reference to your friends(Suhrudhs)
and relatives . Please remember that the fnds raised from the distribution of
this Book series will go only to support other  Sri VaishNava Kaimkaryams
dear to the hearts of our AchAryAs .
 
NamO NaarAyaNAya ,
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
 
P.S : Those in USA can purchase this book in two to three weeks time
online from Ahobila Matam North America web pages ( http://www.ahobilamutt.org )
"or by sending e-mail to Sriman R.Rajaji at  Rrajaji@xxxxxxx
Please refer to my earlier mail for information on other distribution
centers in India , Asia and elsewhere or write to Sri Mukundan of
Sri Sookthi PracharaNi SabhA at Singapore .
 
 
 
  
 
 
 


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