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Lost Dimensions: By Sisirkumar Ghose. Biblic Impex P: Ltd., 1/18, Ansari Road, New-Delhi-2. Price: Rs. 80.

Here are twenty-one essays collected, written by a savant of ­deep penetration into the complexity of life in our present age ­of scientific and technological progress. With a pen for clipping sentences and impregnating them with profound and “provoking ideas, he has offered a fare which makes the reader pause after ­almost every paragraph to try to follow the thought contained. Some of his observations are refreshingly original despite often his drawing upon many a thinker of the past as well as the present, both of the West and East. Rarely a page strikes as jejune or bereft of something vitally worthy of consideration by the intellectual world of today.

Starting the book with an essay on “The Lost Wisdom� he dives into the question, how to be human under modern conditions without wisdom. The emphasis on economic matters deludes man to be feeling no loss. Hence our first need is for a total view of life, “not a proliferation of unrelated expertise.� He answers that the separation of knowledge from metaphysics, ends from means, education from religion, has “spawned civilized savages.�

“Myth: Old and New� is the second essay, which, according to the author, was not to the past man a myth but a reality. Mysticism is the next topic. Though mysticism shares common point with magic, prayer, worship and metaphysics, the true mystic has little interest in miracles.

Coming to artists, he opines that artists more than philosophers dare to show the human being as he is.

On poetry he cannot resist the Indian thought which deems poetry as one with Being and Existence, because all poetry in the end is poetry of the Self. For there could be nothing on earth which does not happen in the human heart. The quest eternal is the quest within.

Dwelling upon Medieval aesthetics, he claims its justification as part of a living tradition. The tradition may not be extinguished without harming the human spirit.

The author’s whole-hearted support of Sri Aurobindo’s world view as derived from his work The Life Divine where the poet-sage felt that all problems of existence are essentially problems of harmony. HE further adds that return to Sri Aurobindo will be return to sanity and spirituality.

The secret of our change for the better lies in a transfer of our centre of living and being to a higher level of consciousness, higher than the mind and reason. The choice between the automatism of habits and instincts and the spontaneous obedience to the truth of our own realised being makes for the saving of the present man from the deep malady in which he is involved at every stage of the so-called advance of civilization.

According to the author a world society has become a necessity, everyman’s right and duty. Humanity’s only hope lies in the matching of technique with transcendence, the social with the supra-social in the world but not of the World. Such is the creative tension.

There are subtle passages which infuse the reader with a certain amount of dazzled feeling, both at the way the writer presents his case as also the epigrammatic style of his. Without the context sentences would baffle the mind in pursuing the thought. For here occurs a line thus: “Now-a-days in order to belong you must not belong.� Parenthetically it will baffle the reader. The re-reading of the entire paragraph alone produces the sought­ after meaning which when absorbed lifts the mind to a satisfactory understanding.

The book is by all considerations an unusual one, dealing with abstract thoughts while at the same time concluding problems with solutions which revel a well-stocked intellect and its singularly fresh interpretations of ancient and modern thinkers.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Kumoran Asan : By K. Sreenivasan. Jayasri Publications, Kaudiyar, Trivandrum-3. Price: Rs. 40.

Of the three important precursors of the Kerala renaissance in letters, Vallathol Narayanan Menon, Ullur Parameswara Aiyar and Kumaran Asan, the last alone died prematurely but leaving a blaze of his poetic fervour and highly cultured outlook inspiring many a later writer. His early education in the linguistic equip­ment of more than one language such as Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, English and his mother-tongue Malayalam, gave him an advantage which many others of his times, namely the later part of the last century and the first few decades of the present, did not possess. Also having lived for fairly sufficient periods of his life in Madras, Bangalore and Calcutta, his contacts with the people in those provinces as well as his own perceptivity of their habits and social outlook, easily provided him with sympathies for others, especially the downtrodden in the entire country.

Even while he was only of teenage, he began lisping in numbers with the result poetry in rhyme naturally attracted him. Started on a career of writing, his enthusiasm for reforming the society in which he was living turned him out to be somewhat revolutionary in his ideas. Born of Ezhava community, he was subjected to the inhibitions of caste which revealed to him the injustice done to a section of the public by the age-old orthodoxy. Coming also under the benign influence of Sri Narayana Guru, the saint-reformer of Kerala, he changed from his original mental convictions into a spiritual as well as an innovator in everyone of his activities.

Mainly his Sanskrit ground in education gave him the required cultural steadiness to absorb other languages with ease. His philosophical penchant drew upon Buddhistic lore for pre­serving a compassionate tendency towards erring humanity. His writings so much captivated the youth of the land that all his output gave him prominence from the early years of his life.

The author of this volume apart from supplying the reader with the necessary biographical details, wherever the context needed the basic mental development of the poet during his outpourings, has highlighted the essence of the poetry having derived sustenance from both Indian and Western heritages. The author has rightly emphasised how he was the one poet among the writers of Kerala who tried to conform with success to the hoary tradition of the past while equally conversant with the Buddhistic Dharma and also contemporary poets such as Tagore, and thereby enriching the dynamic potentiality of the inheritances through his own expansion of experience.

This is more a book totally devoted to appreciation of Kumaran Asan and his achievements in the literary field than a very critical assessment of his merits.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Perspectives in World Religions Vol. 1: By George Nordgulen. Writers Workshop, 162/92, Lake Gardens, Calcutta-700 045. Price: Rs. 80.

This is a serious study of the approaches of the major religions of the world, topic-wise, viz., Ultimate Reality, Nature, Persons, Society. The author adopts what he calls the Hartshorne-White­ head perspective as he feels it would promote his interest which ­is to arrive at a comprehensive synthesis so essential for a World Order. The first volume covers the discussion on the nature of the Ultimate Reality.

He examines the positions of Sri Aurobindo, Radhakrishnan, Gandhi, Tagore, Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, as representing Hinduism. Buddhism is analysed through Gautama Buddha, Nagarjuna and Suzuki. Christianity is represented by Jesus Christ and prominent interpreters like Barth, Tillich, Islam by Muhammad, Al Ghazali and Iqbal.

He summarises his findings as under:

            Hinduism: Ultimate Reality in both impersonal and perso­nal, Absolute and God. The Absolute is indeterminate and can only be experienced mystically. God includes being and becoming, permanence and change. Reason can know God (?) but intuition is the proper organ of knowledge of Brahman. Ultimate Reality is basic to dealing with social and political problems. That Reality is truth and beauty. Intuitive experience is the final argument. All religions have a contribution to make to the world community.

            Buddhism: The Ultimate Reality is a becoming and Nirvana; it is empty; can be apprehended in terms of spiritual wisdom; as Dharmakaya it is both impersonal and personal; Reason can become craving, it must be transformed into spiritual wisdom; the Ultimate Reality has meaning only in so far as it illumines the immediate situation.

            Christianity: The Ultimate Reality is personal, God; God is the creator of the cosmos; God acts in history and covenants himself to persons: the most decisive revelation of God in history is in Jesus the Christ: some hold that God can be known only through his revelation; others hold to a natural theology; a real dialogue is developing between Christianity and other world religions. History is the most adequate horizon to interpret the ways of God to man.

            Islam: The Ultimate Reality is Allah; Allah is personal; Allah is the creator of the universe: there is only God, Allah; time, space and matter are derived from Allah. Allah, as ultimately real, provides the foundation for dialogue/unity of world religions.

The author constructs “dialogues� between Hinduism and Buddhism and also between Christianity and Islam. They are indeed stimulating exercises. We await the next volume which is to continue the argument and give the considered findings of the author. The present work is an earnest attempt and merits study.

–M. P. PANDIT
The Ascent of Self: By B. N. Parimoo. Motilal Banarsidas, Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-7. Price: Rs. 50.

Herein we have a treasure of mystic songs sung by Lal Ded, a woman saint of Kashmir of the 14th century A. D., and a realised soul. Acclaimed as an “Avatar� her songs are sung even today by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike. These songs in Kashmiri language are but the outpourings of her heart in her spiritual ecstacy and hence are enlightening and enlivening to one and all, and unravel her mystic experiences and spiritual progress. Kashmir Saivism and Kundalini Yoga stare at us at every step. The language is lucid, symbolic and poetic also. A special feature of this collection is, the author has arranged the songs in a particular order, and now they unfold “a regular growth of mystical thought and experience,� and the ascent of self from one step to another culminating in the realisation of the one Supreme.

The author has given the original song’s in Devanagari script, transliterated them, and also rendered them into English. His commentary on each song cites parallels from Bhagavadgeeta, Upanishads, Brahmasutras and Shaiva Tantras, and brings out in full the spirit of the songs, with their symbolism explained in a lucid way. Some wrong interpretations stand corrected.

According to Lal Ded “concentrating on the Pranava at the Nabhi Padma is a means to building a bridge up to, Sahasrara (Brahmanda) and she stresses the need of Kumbhaa.�

The introduction gives a life sketch of Lal Ded and points out the essence of her teachings. Key to pronunciation of Kashmiri is also given. It is now for the readers to study the work, enjoy the poetry and experience the enthralling spiritual bliss expressed therein.

–B. KUTUMBA RAO

The Song of the Red Rose and Other Poems: By Dr. D.V.K. Raghavacharyulu. Saradhi Publications, Guntur-522 201. Price: Rs. 20.

The harp of Ariel is a deceptive instrument. Tuning it prosodically is no easy task, but making it mark exactly the sounds of life calls for almost super-human concentration, the Yogic stance of a Sadhak, the all-embracing paravidyaof the Mantradrishta. When it is done, we gain moments of perfect assonance that insinuate us into the secret of life’s laya, the uncanny ability to live in the ambience of a great joy. But how impossible!

Dr. Raghavacharyulu knows this and hence his plaintive cry that a poem at best, for the modern man, is but “a nice place to hide oneself in.� Happily, however, poetry for him is not a confessional niche to pour in real or imagined unsavoury auto­biographical anecdotage. Adventuring into the rich literatures of Telugu, Hindi and English, he presents a variety of mental movements, even as his emotional involvement with the subject of his choice is crystallised into cerebral pellets. There are intense irradiations from what he has read, be it Indian mythology or American literature. Just a tilt of the angle and suddenly two mendicant beggars appear as Annapurna and Shiva; Varahaavatara and Vasundhara, Krishna, the burning of Kama, Savitri and the Ugadi festival are tremblingly rendered in modern poetic idiom.

Not all the evils of modern life can defeat the poet, for Dr. D. V. K. is intensely alive beneath the adroitly self-forged veils. A long poem like “The Song of the Red Rose� first dodges our understanding but presently the figure of Jawaharlal Nehru amid the misty pack of his party grows clear enough. Burrowing through the Chinese-box patterned images, we reach at the truth in a moment of self-introspection, and this leaves us with an aching heart. Poetry thus discharges its function as a prayer, and a prayer can sometimes be a painful experience as well:

“All prayer is pain;
In despair hope voices
Its own outcry,
And faith annotates
Its own absurdity;
All prayer is fear
And trembling.�

–Dr. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

The Philosophy of Visishtaadvaita: By P. N. Srinivasachari. Price: Rs. 60.
Vedantasaaraof Bhagavad Ramanuja, edited by Pandit V. Krishna­macharya with English translation: By M. B. Narasimha Ayyangar. Price: Rs. 40.

Both the books are published by the Adyar Library and Research Centre, Adyar, Madras-20.

The author of the first book, now in its third edition, was a professor of philosophy and also a student of “Mahamaho­padhyaya� Kapisthalam Desikachariar, one of the foremost exponents of Visishtaadvaita. This unique work gives an analytical, critical, comparative and comprehensive exposition of the central features of the philosophy of Visishtaadvaita. The author proclaims and establishes by cogent arguments that Visishtaadvaita is a true - philosophy of religion, which reconciles the opposition between philosophy and religion and the conflict between monism of Shankar a and pluralism of Madhwa and others and is capable of satisfying, if liberally interpreted; the demands of science on the one hand and of ethics and religion on the other. In addition to an introduction covering fifty pages, this work contains 22 chapters. Philosophy of religion, Ramanuja’s theory of knowledge, criticism of the theory of two Brahmans, ontology (in six chapters), cosmology, the three Yogas, Prapatti Yoga, Ubhayavedanta, mysticism of Visishtaadvaita and Mukti are some of the important subjects expounded herein with clarity and authority. The concluding chapter gives a summary of all the chapters. Exposition of Vaishnava religion based on not only on the Prasthaanatraya but also on the mystic outpourings in Tamil of the Vaishnava saints also is a special feature. Chapter on Ubhayavedanta deserves a special study. Tenets of Visishtaadvaita philosophy are compared and contrasted with those of Shankara, Madhwa and other Indian philosophies. Western philosophies are not ignored. Here we have an intellectual treat to all students of oriental philosophy in general and Visishtaadvaita students in particular. Descriptive list of contents, a detailed index, glossary and bibliography make the world complete in all its essentials.

The second book under review is a very concise commentary on the Brahmasutras of Badarayana by Sri Ramanuja himself. This edition is based on five Mss. and one printed book; The text and commentary in Samskrit are followed by transliteration of Sutras and translation into English of the Sutras and the commentary thereon. An introduction in English by Narasimha Iyyengar and another introduction in Sanskrit by Pandit V. Krishnamacharya bring out the salient features of Ramanuja’s Visishtaadvaita philosophy. The translation is very good. Short notes are given and differences in textual readings are pointed out. A summary of the different sections of the four chapters of the Brahmasustras add to the utility of the work.  Four necessary appendices including an alphabetical index of the Vedanta. aphorisms and of the authorities cited by Ramanuja are also given. To those who cannot wade through, for any reason the elaborate commentary, the Sri Bhashya, but desire to know the essence thereof, this work is of immense value.

–â¶ÄÂÙ´¡±·¶Ù±õ³¢³Û´¡â€�

The Art of Biography: By Dr. D. Anjaneyulu. Christian Literature Society, Madras-3.

We have in this tiny monograph written by Dr. D. Anjaneyulu a fine perceptive account of Biography and its development in English literature. Being a good student of much of modern writing in English, Dr Anjaneyulu has succinctly folded the early attempts of biographical literature in England, and given a valuable contribution on the prevalent views of both the Victorian heavy volumes Life and Letters as well as the later production of biography in art-form whose exemplar was no less than Lytton Strachey. In making his subtle yet unobtrusive observations of some of the well-known biographers, the author does not fail to be critical of some of the notable examples such as Andre Maurois when he says: “Romantic exuberance and lack of historical authenticity are some of the faults of this school.� Again he speaks of the post-Stracheyans that “if the biographical method of Strachey began to fall into disrepute in the late ’Thirties, it was mainly due to the excess and ineptitude of his growing crop of imitators.�

We have here equally short assessments on the American scene in Biographical writing as also upon Indian writing in this genre. No doubt everyone could expect references to Gandhiji’s autobiography, Nehru’s and Nirad Choudhari’s, because all the three are commanding still much attention from writers working in this particular field.

The Institute of Development Education under its Director Dr. Chandran Devanesan has started its career of usefulness by giving the world of literary writing good material for their profitable consumption � a  solid proof of which is this brochure.

–â¶ÄÂÙ´¡±á¸é±õ¶Ù´¡³Û´¡â€�

That Atom of Sand: By L. N. Birla, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kulapati Munshi Marg, Bombay-7. Price: Rs. 22.

These short stories from the pen of a well-known industrialist reveals how much his mind has not lost its normal being amidst an otherwise very crowded life fraught with stupendous issues of financial undertakings and the consequent exercised hours of mental energy. Twenty stories are collected in this volume which range in their interest from the sublime to the ridiculous. Often the author resorts to telling a tale without any of the surplusage of descriptions and reflections. But the reader cannot fail to be impressed with his talents evinced in suggestive points of view so far as the society in which Indians move and pursue their occupations. The title story is not without its deep undercurrent of the Parnassus coming down to earth when shaken to its roots and disturbed from its erstwhile exclusiveness. For sheer delight of a humorous situation arising by unforeseen events in a serious conference, ‘International Delegation� easily captures the reader’s imagination. The writer fortunately has not followed the modern new writing which for a change resorts to sex as well as an apparent abruptness of ending. If he has observation of life around, he does not also write for the sake of mere cleverness of contrivance of events or innovation for its own sake in short-­story writing.

Further the narration runs smooth with no device anywhere to mislead the avid reader or throw him overboard by unbelieva­ble situations. Some of the stories like ‘Whose Woes� or �Raja Sahib Encounters a Ghost� add certainly to the little occurrences in ordinary minds whose entire making would only permit of such attitudes that conduce to sympathy or laughter from others.
–â¶ÄÂÙ´¡±á¸é±õ¶Ù´¡³Û´¡â€�

Microcosmagraphia Poetica: Dr. K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar. Writers Workshop, Lake Gardens, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 20.

There is a kind of poetry which instructs and delights; there is another kind of poetry which aims at “the magic rendition of the veils of unknowing and thereby tunnels a passage to God.� Those who are solely brought upon the Anglo-American tradition of poetry may altogether miss the meaning and music of this poetry. Dr. K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar’s� first volume of poetry belongs to this second kind of poetry whose roots are firmly in the native soil. Simple and profound, the muse of Iyengar partakes the qualities of the divine Ganga whose waters do not fail to refresh the tired traveller.

In his ‘Essay on Man� Dr. Iyengar gives a graphic description of man, not from cradle to grave, but from the beginningless state of Rasa, from primordial inconscient state of life to the time when he attains Nirvana and holds a truce to mortality. After man attains his sublime state of mind “Where beginning and end are one�, there is no point in coming down to the “cactus land and ground of gravel.� He should progress still further. The poet proclaims thus in the Aurobindonian idiom: “A break­through beyond mortal man must be /Evolution’s new decree. The time, already, seems to have come for awakening, the pre­ordained supermind and consequent descent of the divine. Iyengar, at the end, visualises a “new earth, a new life and a new Man � a god-man of tomorrow.� This then, is, verily, Paradise Regained.

Dr. Iyengar’s style is simple, sensuous and passionate. His couplets of compressed thought, like those of Alexander Pope, are eminently quotable. “The poetic word is the mighty echo/ofthe breath of a great soul.� “Humility thus becomes the critic /not show of omniscience.� “What’s alive has a spiritual glow /the flash is from soul to soul.� Here is a flash from Isaavasya: �Poetry means looking at the face of Truth behind the golden cover.� The entire poem is a glorification of man, who, according to Iyengar, is Kavi who, again, is no other than Rishi. Written in the tradition of Sri Aurobindo, it has attained a transparency which it is difficult to find in the master himself.

In the Lap of Himalayas: By Swami Akhandallanda. Sri. Rama­krishna Math, Madras-4 Price: Rs. 5.

Here is an enchanting book coming under travelogue. Swami Akhandananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, gives here an exciting account of his walking tour in the sacred Himalayan region. He begins this journey in 1877, the day which Queen Victoria sat on the throne of England. Starting from Calcutta, he reaches Hardwar after three months. From there, he treks to Kedarnath, visiting Jumunotri and Gangotri on his way, taking a pledge to travel alone and without money. The grandeur and glory of the Himalayas come fully alive in these captivating pages. Written in a disarmingly simple style, the book is full of sublime and ennobling thoughts, stirring descriptions of landscape and skyscape, interesting incidents and wise comments on men and matters. The simple mind of the author touches the height of poetry and philosophy at times naturally under the mind-bogging splendour ofthe Himalayas. The reader is bound to be intoxicated with the spiritual thoughts and experiences with which the book is replete. The book, incidentally, is a powerful vindication of Hinduism. It will do a lot of good if our younger generation reads it, for it is a powerful means of spiritual education. Dr. Naredranath B. Patil deserves our grateful thanks for having rendered the original Bengali version into such splendid, flawless, exhilarating English. The glossary at the end is highly useful.

Hunting the ‘I� (according to Sri Ramana Maharshi): Lucy Cornelessen. Sri Ramanashramam, Tiruvannamalai. Price: Rs. 4.

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, the sage of Arunachala, is a phenomenal personality of our century whose voice has lured the attention of the entire world because of its authenticity and novelty. He rediscovered ancient spiritual truths in himself by directly experiencing the divine. When this unlearned sage spoke, it is as if the entire past of Bharat spoke through him, from the primordial to the present. It is this aspect of universal spirit and application of wisdom on the part of the Bhagawan that is singled out for projection in this book by the German lady devotee, Lucy Cornelessen, on the occasion of the Birth Centenary of Sri Ramana. She has tried in this volume to interpret the life and message of Sri Ramana from a fresh point of view. In the first section, ‘Lone Star,� she brings out the uniqueness of Sri Ramana contrasting him with Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. The main events in the life of Sri Ramana are briefly scanned in this section. The rest of the book is devoted for the explanation of his teachings in the chapters entitled ‘Hunting the ‘I�,� �Maya�, ‘The Voice of Nature� and ‘Awakening.� The most interesting and refreshing part of the book, however, is the section called ‘The Birth of Man� in which the authoress discusses the course of evolution of man not only from the biological point of view but also from psycho-sociological point of view.

–Dr. G. SRIRAMAMURTY

Human Values: By Dr. Sampooran Singh. Faith Publishers, Jodhpur. Price: Rs. 10.

This brochure coming from the pen of a Doctor of Science, a thinker, an established writer, is sure to appeal to all politicians who really desire human welfare.

The United Nations in spite of their adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Bill of Human Rights have not succeeded in ushering in an era of real peace, freedom and joy, because, as the learned author rightly observes, “they have made a reinforced structure on a foundation of shifting sand dunes, that are the ever-changing Human Rights.� So the author argues out a case for the adoption of Universal Declara­tion of Human Values also which have their foundation on changeless Truth, because a society which is inherently filled with values is competent to deal with today’s complexities and a society unaware of ethical and spiritual values for its existence is ignorant of the foundation of its own methodology. This, in short, is the burden of this booklet.

After a long introduction, we have a draft of the Universal Declaration of the Human Values which comprises of ten parts dealing with uniqueness of Man, Body, Mind and Consciousness, Ego, Quest for universal happiness, Law of Karma, Education, Art, Science, and interplay between Science and Religion. This is followed by a “draft of the International Optional Covenant on the Human Values.� It may be noted here that it is not the ignorance of these values, but it is a lack of will on the part of all the nations and their leaders to live up to those that is at the root of all the modern evils. This book is really thought-stimulating and inspiring and should be read by all political thinkers.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO

Essentials of Spiritualism: By T. B. Basava Rajayya. For copies: R. Jayachandram, 13, Coles Road, Bangalore-5. Price: Rs. 45.

Sivaadvaita philosophy, according to the author, expounds the essentials of spiritualism, and it is a universal Dharma. Here is an attempt to explain the main tenets of Sivaadvaita and describe mainly the lives of Basava and Samkara. “Renukageeta�, significance of the letter “S� in Sivaadvaita Bhaktiyoga, Vidyaa­-Avidyaa, Shatsthala Mahavriksha, Ashtaavarana, Panchaachara, Shatsthala Sri Nataraja, Sri Renukacharya, Date of Shamkara the exponent of Advaita, Vivartavada, Parinamavada, etc., are some of the topics discussed herein.

A startling revelation is made by the author. The age of Adisankara, according to the author, is 5th century B. C. Sri Sankara the author of the Bhashyas on “Prasthaanatraya� lived in the 8th century A. D. Adisankaracharya presided over Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha for six years from 482 B. C. to 477 B. C. Basing himself on some statements in “Guruvamsa Mahakavya�, written by K. Laxmanasastry, the author asserts that Sri 1008 Adi Jagadguru Revana Siddha Mahayogi Sivacharya, founder of Rambhapuri Math, gave with his blessings the Chandramoulisvaralinga and Ratna­garbha Ganapati to Adisankara, and these two are even now worshipped by the Acharyas of Sringeri Math. The subject matter is presented in English and Kanarese languages. Though the presentation is not satisfactory, patient readers can gather some information regarding Sivaadvaita in its outlines.
–â¶ÄÂÙ´¡±·¶Ù±õ³¢³Û´¡â€�

SAMSKRIT - ENGLISH

Sri Lalita Trisati Bhashya of Sri Shankara Bhagavatpaada: By Dr. C. Suryanarayanamurthy. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kulapati Munshi Marg, Bombay-7. Price: Rs. 30.

Sri Lalita Trisati is a collection of three hundred names in praise of the Goddess Sri Lalita. This Stotra which is believed to have been composed by Siva and Parvati is considered far superior to Lalita Sahasranamastotra also. Sri Shankara Bhagavat­paada commented upon this. This fact adds to the glory of the Stotra. This commentary (Bhaashya) is translated by Dr. Surya­narayanamurthy who is well-read in Advaita Vedanta, and is also initiated into Srividya. This is the second revised and improved edition of this work. The translation is authentic. A valuable introduction of thirty-eight pages highlights the greatness of the commentary. A more valuable part of the introduction is a free translation of Srividyaa Deepika of Agastya, which explains the meaning of the famous fifteen-lettered Mantra. The translator concludes that Srividya is an illuminating synthesis of Vedas and Agamas, representing Aryan and Dravidian cultures, thereby approving the Dravidian theory. This is an indispensable book to all devotees of Devi.
–B. K. SASTRI

SAMSKRIT

Mandaakinii: By Sribhashyam Vijayasaradhi. For copies: Secretary, Samskrita-Bharati, S. V. S. A. College, Station Road, Warangal-2. Price: Rs. 20.

Descent of the sacred river Ganga, by stages, on to the earth and its flow thereon till its merger into the ocean is the theme of this marvellous lyric in Samskrit, written by a poet of high order and an erudite scholar in three Sastras. In order to cater to the trends and tastes of modern readers, all these lyrics are written in the form of songs that can be set to melodious music and sung. The river Ganga and the ocean are personified as a wedding and loving couple pining for each other till they meet together. Sringara is the dominant sentiment. Sounds match with the sense throughout the poem. Hundreds of Samskrit verbs denoting different movements and gaits parade before us. Subjects of Mantra and Yoga Sastras, religion and philosophy, grammar and Alankara, Natya and Music, Vaastu and Silpa, flora and fauna and a host of others peep in at every point. Every page speaks of the rich scholarship and high poetical talents of the writer.     
–B. K. SASTRI

TELUGU

Vasanta Vallari: By Varanasi Venkata Rao. For copies: G. Krishna Mohan, Prasanti Publishers, Punnammathota, Vijayawada-10. Price: Rs. 5.

This is a collection of lyrics by and large, some of which may be classified under “song.� One is apt to agree with “Karunasri� and Dr. R. V. Satyanarayana Rao, who have, besides words of appreciation and encouragement for the author, expressed that this debut can be the forerunner to further works by the author. The varieties of topics indicate the poetic heart and glimpses of vision, looking for and expressing the core that abides in Nature and human nature. Some of the poems are intended for children. That the saddest themes give rise to deepest thoughts can be discerned in the three elegiac poems. The book is well got-up.

�KOTA S. R. SARMA

Samskrita Kriyalu: By K. Alahasingaracharyulu. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, Saifabad, Hyderabad-4. Price: Rs. 5.

This valuable publication of the Akademi has laid all the Andhras who listen to the Samskrit news, daily broadcast twice by the All India Radio, Delhi. The author has collected in this book 150 sentences from the Samskrit broadcasts, and explained the formation of the verbs found therein. While doing so the other conjugational forms in all persons are also given. In some places other sentences are also taken for illustrating the points at issue. A few pages are devoted to the explanation of the meanings and usages of the indeclinables and Krit suffixes. Meanings of some verbs, indeclinables and nouns that are often used in broadcasts are also given. With this as a guide, any Andhra can hear and understand the Samskrit news without tears, and even attempt to speak Samskrit.

–B. K. SASTRI