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Principal Upanishads-Volume I by Dr.N.S.AnantharangAchAr Swamy: Reviews by Indian Scholars & AchAryAs: Part One

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Sadagopan • March 20, 2003 


SrI:

Dear  VedAbhimAnis :

VedAnta VidvAn Dr.N.S.Anantha RangAchAr Swamy released 
in February 2003 the first in the series of monographs 
entitled Principal Upanishads: Volume I . This monograph
follows the one released during 2002 under the title of
"Selections from Upanishads " . Latter has a collection of 
910 manthrAs selected from all the 15 well known Upanishads . 

The most released monograph covers 603 manthrAs from Nine
Upanishads with the original Sanskrit Text, outstanding 
English translations and author's own annotated commentaries .
   
The outstanding translation of the above manthrAs is a treat
to the beginner  as  well as to the serious student of 
Upanishads. As an erudite Scholar and KaalkashEpa 
adhikAri steeped in SrI Vaishnavite tradition , Dr.NSA Swamy 
has a unique place of his own among the VedAnthisc scholars. 
Dr.NSA Swamy has stepped in at a time , when there are 
very few authentic intrepretations in English of Upanishads 
following the VisishtAdhvaithic tradition . Following closely 
the commentary of the Upanishad BhAshyakArar , SrI RangarAmAnuja 
Muni , Dr.NSA Swamy has presented us a delectable treat . 
His clarity of style , the mastery of subject matter , 
the right amount of notes on the individual manthrAs 
has made the "Selections from Upanishads " a reference 
text that one must have in one's library as a crown jewel.

Principal Upanishads: Volume I
*******************************
We are truly blessed to have the above volume 
in a  series of three monographs .This volume is 
a brilliant assembly of 603 manthrAs from 9 principal 
Upanishads: Isa, Kena , Katha , Prasna, Mundaka , 
Maandookya , Taittiriya , Mahaa Narayana and
Svetasvataara. 

The Upanishads are the distillation of extraordinary
mystical experiences and as such have perrenial interest 
to all saadhakAs. DR. NSA Swamy's monograph has been 
reviewed by scholars and  his own AchAryan , HH PoundarIkapuram
SrImad Andavan. Here are  some  excerpts from them. adiyEn
will offer my own comments in a subsequent posting .

VidyAlankAra Professor S.K. Ramachandra Rao 
********************************************
Excerpts  from this eminent scholar from India are:

" The present work on the Principal Upanishads by one of 
our  most eminent traditional scholars, 
Dr.N.S.AnanatharangAcharya , is very welcome.
He has devoted every single day of his long life
over 80 years to the cause of preserving our cultural
values in their pristine purity; he has been breathing
spirituality from his early  years; and has been 
articulating eloquently the  upanishadic philosophy 
through his writings and  discourses.And he has stuck 
fast to tradition , SampradhAya.This is what has given his 
life meaning and  abundance and has provided strength 
and clarity to his writings ,in Kannada and in English;
and has endowed upon his discourses , at his home and 
in public force and vitality.He is at once orthodox 
and catholic, steeped in tradition and generous in
outlook , gentle and steadfast. He has not frosaken 
Karma , he has pursued Jn~Ana with a  fervour , but he
remains eminently a BhakthA. The most comfortable
combination of the three classical approaches is to be 
found in him.It is this that makes us hold our breath
and listen to what he says or read what he writes....

The author has followed the gloss of Ranga  Ramanuja 
Muni both in translation and in the  additional notes .
This line of thought has been presented for THE FIRST TIME
in English....The texts selected here are not only popular
but edifying to the common man . Given here are essential
thoughts --contents f these texts ,brief introductions,
suggestions for spiritual practise (UpAsana)simple 
translations in English and the original passages 
in Sanskrit.And more importantly, introduced at 
appropriate places are the author's own commnents ,
by way of annotation and explanation , kept apart
from translations by changes in font (italics).
These are significant contributions towards discovering 
hidden teachings in the Upanishads;they  emerge from
loyalty to tradition, devotion to truth and experience
in spiritual practise.One can have glimpses here of what
life long  saadhana can bestow.... Dr.AnantharangaachArya
has done a great service by incorporating RangarAmAnujA's
annotations and explanations while presenting this work
on the principal Upanishads in English. Dr.AnantharangAchArya's
effort is wholesome and holistic and is to be warmly 
commended .

HH SrImad PoundarIkapuram Andavan's anugraha SrImukham
******************************************************
" DR. N.S. AnantharangAchArya is a disciple of our Aasramam
and therefore , this Aasramam could be justifiably proud
of him...In the galaxy of disciples of this Aasramam,
Dr.N.S.AnantharangAchAr Swamy occupies a central position
and he has proved himself is an ever shining gem of
this Aasramam....His yeoman service to the followers of
Sri Swamy Desikan's sampradhAya by creating spiritual
awareness and knowledge of our philosophy and samprashAya
in them is par excellence and beyond  expression..His 
inimitable writings touching the hearts of laymen in 
other words , Paamara JanangaL and making them understand
the intricate topics of  Ubhaya VedAntha...By his latest
publication ,he has added one more feather to his cap.."

HH SrI RangapriyA Swamy's anugraha SrImukham
*********************************************
" The present invaluable work of Dr.AnantharangAchAr
is an excellent edition of the principal upanishads 
with text, translation and explanatory notes.

Among  books on Upanishads adorned with translation 
in English, those which are in favour of advaithA school 
are so numerous that reasers in general are led to belief 
that it is the only possible intrepretation and those 
which advocate the VisishtAdva school can be counted on
our fingers.This long felt need of the  latter school 
has bene fulfilled by a very competent person , who is
an erudite scholar , efficient discoursant and  a writer
with rich experience , who has dedicated his whole life 
to the study and propagation of VisishtAdvaihtic 
philosophy.He has continued this mission even in his
ripe old age with a  youthful spirit..The matter and
method presented and adopted by the veteran scholar 
fulfills exactly the need of the present day.  

adiyEn will share with you in the next posting 
my own delightful anubhavam of going through 
this outstanding contribution by the revered 
Dr.NSA Swamy for the first time . adiyEn looks 
forward to the next two volumes by  Dr.NSA Swamy 
in this series covering ChAndhOgyam and BruhadhAraNyakam.

NaarAyaNa , NaarAyana , NaarAyana 

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VardAchAri SadagOpan      




  





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