REVIEW of "MYTHS, MIRACLES AND MYSTICISM" book bY "THE HINDU"
Dated 29th November 2005
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Please read also the Author's Comments at the end of this posting.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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Hindu mythology
V. N. Vedanta Desikan
http://www.hindu.com/br/2005/11/29/stories/2005112900291800.htm
EXPLAINING THE UNEXPLAINED ? Myths, Miracles and Mysticism in Hinduism:
Author: Anbil Ramaswamy
Published. by: Sri Ramanuja Mission, U.S.,
Copies can be had from 25, Second East Park Street,
Pritivipakkam, Ambattur, Chennai-600053.
Rs.75.
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This is a small-sized book purported to explain Hindu mythological
episodes, arranged systematically under different titles. Readers may
recall, in this connection, that debates used to be held, till very
recently, on platforms of literary societies, AIR and TV, on specific
characters, such as Sri Rama (as portrayed in the Kamba Ramayanam),
wherein one team would level charges against the hero, say, that he
killed Vali from a concealed location and another team would ably
defend Rama.
The present author takes up many such episodes, traces the course and
defends the trend. This is what he implies by giving the title,
`Explaining the Unexplained'.
While on this job, he has occasion to explain to the modern reader,
the chronology of the so-called four Yugas, the 10 incarnations of
Vishnu, the Azhvars, the Acharyas and other great spiritual leaders,
with a fair degree of accuracy in historicity. His account of
mantras, miracles and methods of propitiating God by hymn-recitations
would be of help to the young men and women of the Hindu diaspora
spread out in the West, though smacking of populism to a critic.
The latter pages, however, take up issues which border on faith,
parapsychology, and preternatural phenomena, such as `Brink of death
vision', which are, in an honest critic's view, irrelevant, for such
a book, they being neither scientifically possible of proving nor
ever reproducible as well. Many of them are purely personal and
cannot form part of a discussion.
In this sense, his remark about Ramanuja's icon in Srirangam shrine,
which is a hearsay note, would sound heretic to any pious devotee.
The author's zeal and impressive style would prove great assets for
him in his mission of propagation of Hindu concepts.
He also possesses sound formal training. But errors and misspelt
words take away from the merit. And trivial notices mar the worth of
a classic book on Hinduism. Altogether, a good primary guide to young
readers from the West.
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AUTHOR'S COMMENTS:
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It is understood that the general policy for Book Reviews in ?The Hindu? is to
project along with appreciations, at least some discrepancies, however
insignificant they may be, with a view to make the Review appear to be
impartial!
It is not denied that some minor errors and typos naturally creep into any
publication in spite of the best efforts.
But, the Reviewer in this case, seems to be obviously oblivious to this obvious
fact and overstepped his mandate by indulging in "nitpicking"
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For example,
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1. The Reviewer opines:
?The latter pages, however, take up issues which border on faith,
parapsychology, and preternatural phenomena, such as `Brink of death
vision', which are, in an honest critic's view, irrelevant, for such
a book, they being neither scientifically possible of proving nor ever
reproducible as well. Many of them are purely personal and cannot form part of
a discussion?
My Reply:
That is precisely why they are called ?mystery?. Many of the experiences are
"neither scientifically possible of proving nor ever reproducible as well and
are indeed personal" as the Reviewer has rightly pointed out but they sum up to
bring out the ?mystery? part in bold relief and cannot be considered
?Irrelevant? as the title of the Part itself is ?Mysticism?
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2. The Reviewer observes:
?In this sense, his remark about Ramanuja's icon in Srirangam shrine, which is
a hearsay note, would sound heretic to any pious devotee?
My Reply:
This is NOT, I repeat, NOT ?hearsay?
There are three "TirumEnis" of Bhagavad Ramanuja, recognized in our
Sampradayam, namely,
1. "Taan uganta TirumEni" at Melukote
2. "Tamar Uganta TirumEni" at Srivilliputtur and
3. "Taan aana TirumEni" at Srirangam.
The last one is called "Taan aana TirumEni" beacuse the physical frame of
Bhagavad Ramanuja is enshrined there in its pristine state.
In order to find out the veracity of this, I went to Srirangam. The temple
authorities were kind enough to direct the Archakar to show me the vigraham as
a special case.
Lo and behold!
I personally saw with my own eyes and subsequently even took some devout
Bhaagavatas to witness this unique phenomenon, with proper permission from the
temple authorities. I learned that the Temple Administration have strictly
forbidden the Archakas from publicly showing off Bhagavad Ramanuja?s physical
frame indiscriminately -
all in the best interest of preservation of the phenomenon.
As stated already, this is NOT, I repeat, NOT ?hearsay? and cannot be charged
as "heretic".
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3. The Reviewer observed:
"But errors and misspelt words take away from the merit. And trivial
notices mar the worth of a classic book on Hinduism?
My Reply:
While thanking the reviewer for his tribute to the book as ?a classic book?, I
feel that he should not have embarked in sweeping statements without providing
specific examples of ?misspelt words? and ?trivial notices? etc.
Perhaps, the word ?misspelled? would be an appropriate substitute for the word
?misspelt?!
Such instances and "printer's devil" do occur in all books, not excluding those
written by Reviewers themselves! This is to remind that "those living in glass
houses should not throw stones on others"!
It would have been better if the Reviewers were instructed to consult with the
Authors before attempting to point out any flaws.
As it is, the Reviews unilaterally leave the authors defenseless to refute the
points projected in the Reviewer?s Reports and point out the flaws in the
reporting of the Reviewers themselves!
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