"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 SriRangaSri 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
Yahoo! Groups Links
|
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
oppiliappan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |