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Ramesh Sarangapani • June 21, 1998 


Friends -

Here is a list of books available through Sri Ahobila Muth.
Please contact Sri Jaganath Bharadwaj for your copy. Also
stay tuned to Sri Ahobila Muth home page for a updated
version from time to time.

adiyEn
Ramesh Sarangapani

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1) Parasara Bhatta: His Contribution to Visistadvaita
   Author : Dr. S. Padmanabhan
   Publisher : Sri Vishishtadvaita Research Center, 1995
   Version : English (pp. 252)

Parasara Bhattar is one of the key figures in the evolution of the
Visistadvaita schools of thought and one of the most distinguished
preceptor in the guruparampara of this school. He was a distinguished
writer and preceptor of the post-Ramanuja and pre-Vedanta Desika
period of Visistadvaita Philosophy. He was the son of the celebrated
Sri Kurattalvan, a close associate of Sri Ramanuja. In this book,
Dr. S. Padmanabhan, has made a through study of Bhattar's available
works - both original and expository.

2) Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Bhasyam
   Authors : Sri (Dr.) V. N. Vedantha Desikan
   Publisher : Sri Visishtadvita Research Center, 1997
   Version : English/Tamil (pp.375)

Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram, that is found in Sri Mahabharatam,
was composed by Sri Bhismacharya in reply to a query by Dharmaputran.
It contains 1008 sacred names of the Lord that are pregnant with
deep inner meaning and are a delight to recite. Sri Parasara
Bhattar has explained the meaning of each one of these divine names
in his Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Bhasyam called "Bhagavat Guna Darpanam".
Mahamahopadhyaya Sri M. V. Ramanujacharya in his 1928 publication
explained Bhattar's interpretation of the thousand names succinctly 
in Tamil. In this book Sri (Dr.) V. N. Vedantha Desikan has done an 
excellent job of providing a free English translation of the same.

3) A Dialogue on Hinduism
   Author : Sri V. N. Gopala Desikan
   Publisher : Sri Visishtadvaita Research Center, 1990
   Version : English (pp. 208)

This book covers only the basic essentials of Sri Vaishnava
Siddhantam and is intended for the beginners. This books
informs the uninitiated as to what Hinduism is, and in particular,
what Ramanuja's school of philosophy is. It covers topics such
as Vedas & Sastras, Jivatma & Paramatma, Mattar & Creation, 
the doctrine of Visihtadvaita, Karma-Jnana-Bhakti Yogas,
Prapatti, Alwars & Acharyas etc. This book is by Sri V. N.
Gopala Desikan, the illustrious son of Navanitam Srirama
Desikacharya Swami.

4) Srivaishnavism
   Author : Sri Thillasthanam Swamy Kainkarya Sabha
   Publisher : Sri Visistadvaita Research Centre
   Version : English (pp. 60)

This booklet brings out in a simple language the elements
of Sri Vaishnavism for a layman. Srivaishnavism aims at God-
realization within the framework of our normal worldly
activities. This booklet highlights the minimum daily
routine all Srivaishnavas need to perform. This will enable a
beginner to make a beginning in right earnest and gradually
improve. Material covered in this booklet are vedic tenets,
Srivaishnava Acharyas, vedic concept of man and universe,
principles of Srivaishnavism, procedure for meditation 
through Rahasya thraya mantras, and procedure for Bagavat
Aradhanam.

5) Sandyavandanam
   Author : Prof. A. Ananta Narasimhachar
   Publisher : Sri Visistadviata Research Center
   Version : Englsih/Tamil/Kanada (pp. 100)

Sandyavandanam is performed by an individual after Upanayanam.
Upanayanam is a vedic ritual prescribed for Brahmanas, Khastrias,
and Vaishyas. Sandyavandanam is an all-important form of
worshipping the all-pervading and in-dwelling Lord. He who
does not perform this, is deemed unfit for performing any
major religious duty or rite. This book gives the significance,
the Mantras, and the procedure to do Sandyavandanam (with 
explanatory notes and pictures). Mantras of all major vedic
branches (Rig, Yajur, and Sama shakas) are covered and in multiple
scripts (Sanskrit, Tamil, and Kanada). This is thus a 
indispensable handbook for youngsters and elders alike.

6) Azhvar Tiruvullam (2 Vols.)
   Author : Sri. V. N. Vedanta Desikan
   Publisher : Sri Vishishtadvaita Research Center, 1994
   Version : Tamil/English (pp. 1144)

Alvars realized the existence of Para-Brahman by directly
experiencing Him. They poured out their anubhavam in necterean
Tamil pasurams called the Divya Prabandam. Nammalvar is the
chief among these mystics and his principal work is
Tiruvaimozhi, rightly acknowledged as the Tamil Veda.
Tiruvaimozhi is extolled by Swami Vedanta Desikan as the
Dramidopanisad and is unsurpassed in mystic literature for its
spiritual depth and fervor. Azhvar Tiruvullam, which may
be considered as a commentary, gives the meaning of each
verse in simple Tamil and also English. The book also has
numerous beautiful and clear photos of the Divya-Dampathi's
in the various Divya-Desams. A must buy for those who
want to learn about "Bhagavat-Visayam".

7) Sri Vishnu Puranam (2 Vols)
   Author : Srimad Azhagiya Singer (45th Jeer of Sri Ahobila Mutt)
   Publisher : Sri Nrisimha Priya Trust, 1996
   Version : Tamil (pp. 1000)

Vedas hide a number of truths within them and are often
difficult to comprehend. These hidden meanings can be
easily understood by analyzing the Itihasas and Puranas,
under the able guidence of ones Acharya. Puranas are
classified as Satvic, Rajasic, and Thamasic. Satvic
puranas guide us toward Perumal. Sri Vishnu Puranam,
by Parasara Maharishi, is foremost among satvic puranas
and elaborates succinctly on tatva-trayam (Chit-Achit-
Iswara). Sri Alavandar has called Sri Vishnu Puranam as
"Purana-Ratnam" (the jewel among the Puranas). Srimad
Azhagiyasinger (the 45th pontiff of Sri Ahobila Mutt)
while providing a lucid account of the various stories
narrated by Parasara Maharishi in Vishnu Puranam brings
out the essence of Sri Vaishnava Siddhantam.

8) Acharya Vaibhavam - Vol. 1
   Acharya Vaibhavam (Anubandhan) - Vol. 2
   Author : Sri Krishnamachariar Swami
   Publisher : Sri Vishistadvaitha Research Center, 1992
   Version : Tamil (pp. 376 + 254)

It is important for all of us to know our history, our roots.
More importantly, we need to know the life-history of our
Acharyas. In this samsara-sagaram, our Acharyas stand out as
beacon lights, guiding us toward the Lord. If we ever hope
to cross this ocean of samsara, it is imperative that we
get to know our Acharya-Parampara. The first and foremost
among our Acharyas is Perumal Himself. He taught the 
tenets of Vishistadvaiths Siddhantam to PerAti (Sri), who
in turn taught this to Visvaksenar (Senaimudaliar) and then
to Nammalvar. Sriman Nathamuni, after arduous penance, got
this Upadesam from Nammalvar in Alvartirunagari and taught
this to his disciples, who in turn taught Alavandar, and
subsequently Bagavat Bhasyakarar. From then on these
Parama-Rahasyas have been safeguarded, nurtured and propagated
to us by our respective Acharyas. These two books by
Sri Krishnamacharias Swami (Asthana Vidvan of Sri Ahobila Mutt)
covers the life-history of our Acharyas starting from 
Sri Nathamuni all the way to the current Jeer of Sri Ahobila
Mutt. This book is an elaborate version of serialized
articles that appeared in Sri Nrisimha Priya.

9) Sri Sannidhi Nityanusandhana Kramam
   Author : Sri Ahobila Mutt
   Publisher : Sri Ahobila Mutt, 1998
   Version : Sanskrit / Tamil (pp. 431)

Sri Ahobila Mutt was founded 600 years ago by Sri Adivan
Satagopa Yatindra Mahadesikan, by the direct command of
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha - the presiding Lord of Ahobila
divya-desam (now in AP). Since then His nitya-aradhanam
has been going on both morning and evening in the mutt
uninterrupted. During the aradhanam Sri Sannidhi sisyas
recite portions of the Vedas, Divya-Prabandam and a number
of srisukthi of our pOrvacharyas. This book gives a
comprehensive list of all the slokas recited in the mutt.
This book can be used by all mutt sisyas as a ready 
reference-book while performing Perumal aradhanam at home.

10) Srimad Bhagavat Gita (2 Vols)
    Author : V. N. Gopala Desikan
    Publisher : Sri Visishtadvaita Research Centre
    Version : English (pp. 950)

Bhagavad Gita is one of the most sacred books available to us
and forms part of the holy triad, called Prasthana Traya (the
other two being Upanishads and Brahma Sutra).  The Gita has 
been translated in most of the languages in the world and
commentaries have been written by 100s of scholars in India and
abroad. There has been an earnest and sincere demand from the 
old and the young alike, that there should be a translation of
the Gita in simple English, along with a summary of Ramanuja's
and Desika's commentaries, which can be easily understood by the
average reader. Sri Gopala Desikan of Oppiliyappan Sannidhi, has
Sannidhi has fulfilled this need by providing a simple commentary
in English Sri Ramanuja's interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita.

11) The Life of Ramanujacharya
    Author : Alkondaville Govindacharya
    Publisher : Sri Visishtadvaita Research Center
    Version : English (pp. 220)

The glorious tradition of India in the religious and philosophical
realms is resplendent with saints and philosophers. Ramanuja, the
most revered Vaishnava saint has been verily the crest-jewel among
them. For close to a millineam he has been the spiritual guide for
millions of Vaishnavas, who have looked upon him as their path 
finder, here and hereafter. Even today the worship of dieties at
home and temples, the festivities, religious rites and daily conduct
of worship are carried out according to his writ. India rediscovered
her vedic spiritual self after the advent of Ramanuja whose poigonant
expositions had quitened other schools of Vedanta. Most importantly,
he showed us the easier path of complete and absolute surrender to the 
Lord that will guarantee salvation. This biography of Sri Ramanuja
was originally published by Alkondaville Govindacharya in 1906 and
still remains a highly authantic version of the biography of the
great saint Sri Ramanuja.


12) The Life and Works of Sri Nigamanta Maha Desikan
    Author : Prof. A. Srinivasaraghavan
    Publisher : Visishtadvaita Pracharani Sabha
    Version : English (pp. 98)

Among the renowned Acharyas who have been born in this Bharatha
Varsha, the unquestioned and unquiestionable pre-eminent place belongs
to Swami Nigamantha Maha Desikan. He was a poet, philosopher, ardent
devotee, and an efficient practitioner of religion. His encyclopaedic
knowledge earned for him the coveted titles 'Kavitarkika Simham',
'Sarva Tantra Svatantra' and 'Vedanthacharya'. The last mentioned
title has alos become changed to Vedanta Desika by which he is better
known than by his name Venkatanatha. This book by Prof. A. Srinivasa
Raghavan is an introduction to the life and works of this great
Acharya and to show that there was a colossus who lived in our midst
seven centuries ago, who lived for more than a century, and who in
his life time authored more than 100 books.

13) Peeps into Mysticism
    Author : D. Ramaswamy Ayyangar
    Publisher : Visishtadvaita Pracharini Sabha
    Version : English (pp. 126)

Alwars were Sri Vaishnava saints who were great devotees of 
the Lord Vishnu. They practised and preached devotion to
Him and surrender to His will, as the sole means of attaining
salvation. They condensed the philosophy of the Upanishads in
mellifluous and flowing verses. They all sang in Tamil and the
anthology of these songs, totaling four thousand, is known as 
Divya-Prabandam. Their knowledge of God was not a mere 
intellectual perception. To them God was a living presence.
They worshipped Him as their master, friend, fahter, and
beloved. As the title suggest, this book gives us peeps into
the blissful experience of these mystics.

14) Gleanings from the Sribhasya
    Author : Dr. P. Narasimhan
    Publisher : Sri Visistadvaita Research Centre, 1996
    Version : English (pp. 267)

Sri Ramanuja laid down six great commandments. Of them, the first
commandment is that every Sri Vaishnava shall read and propagate
the "Sribhasya". On the face of it, it may look rather odd for
someone to direct his disciples to read the works of his 
predecessors and preceptors. But it is not for nothing that
Sri Ramanuja issued such a commandment. First, it is not of his
volition that Ramanuja composed the Sribhasya. He wrote it only to
fulfil the wish of Yamunacharya, who desired that the Brahmasutra
of Veda-Vyasa be commented upon and projected in their proper
light so that people could know the true inner spirit of the
Upanisads and adopt the proper means for mukti. Hence Sri Ramanuja
recommended the study of Sribhasya, not because it is his work,
but because it is the true guiding light to the aspirant, for
liberation. This book, Gleanings from the Sribhasya, is a cogent,
consise, and consummate presentation of the philosophy of
Sri Ramanuja, based on a study of Sribhasya.

15) Sarvartha Siddhi of Sri Vedanthadesika
    Author : Dr. V. N. Seshadri Acharya
    Publisher : Sri Visishtadvaita Research Center, 1993
    Version : English (pp. 349)

The philosophy of the Vedanta has been variously interpreted, and
of the divergent modes of interpretation, Advaita, Visistadvaita,
and Dvaita are the important systems. Every one of these schools
calims to provide a faithful representation of the Upanisadic
thought, and mighty intellects like Vacaspati Misra, Venkatanatha,
Jayatirtha and others have sought to justify these claims of their
respective schools. The polymath, poet-logician, Venkatanatha,
otherwise known as Vedanta Desikan (1268-1369 AD) on his part
wrote numerous works to establish the Visistadvaitha system. 
His work, Tattva Muktakalapa and its commentory Sarvartha Siddhi,
serve as an armour to defend this darshna against other schools
of thought. This book by Dr. V.N. Seshadri Acharya is a
a critical examination of the material contained in the above
mentioned source-books.

adiyEn
Ramesh Sarangapani
secretary
Sri Ahobila Muth, Inc.