For quite some time, I have been thinking of writing about two issues in my blogs. One, about a very rare precious Telugu resource on the Internet. Second, about an extraordinary literary multi-linguist (polyglot) – Dr. (Prof.) P.S. Sastri. The latter, I will defer to a future time, as it needs more careful study and preparation.
Today, I would like to dwell on this rare Telugu treasure. I came to know about it, just by pure chance when I was leisurely browsing the Kanchi Kamakoti organization’s website (http://www.kamakoti.org/telugu/). I cannot comment about their Tamil section as I can barely read the Tamil script. But the Telugu section is just superb – it is beyond any description, only superlatives (or hyperboles) can convey about its content, range of topics, and very (though I would not use the adjective, esoteric) rare works. Sitting in Northeast, continents away, in a remote place, how lucky am I to avail such works? At this site, I can read about Sri Ramana Maharishi, the Upanishads, puranic stories about Radha, Adi Sankara, and many more. I can read the original Sanskrit verses, their meaning in Telugu, and some very illuminating, one of a kind works in Telugu. I got to read about Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swami and his great musical compositions. Such a site is very rare indeed. If I am waxing eloquent, a bit rapidly typing sentences, it is because only a true aspirant (i.e., a sincere devotee) knows how difficult it is to get even a copy of Dakshinamurti Stotra or its faithful translation in a remote corner of the world. Even in India, in small places it is very difficult to get authoritative books on Sanatana Dharma, commentaries, or elegant helpful (lucid) translations in vernacular. Of course, publishers like Gita Press (of Gorakhpur), Gollapudi, and others are doing their best to promote awareness in Sanatana Dharma in all major Indian languages. Many publishers go out of their way to satisfy customers, as they would normally mail books to anywhere. Still, the exorbitant international shipping charges discourage many foreign readers; not everyone can splurge hundreds of dollars on books, CDs, or audios. Spiritual path may be strewn with many a hurdle, but (lack of) money is never one of them.
A sampling of some works at the Kanchi Kamakoti website: Ramana Maharishi by Suri Nagamma, Mahayogam (enunciated by Sri Ramana Maharishi), Na Ramudu ( = My Rama) by Viswanatha Satyanarayana, Sri Sri Sri Prabhudattaji, Biography of Sri Seshadri Swami, Bhakti Rasayanamu by Madhusudhana Saraswati, translated by Potukuchi Subhrahmanya Sastri, Ph.D. Obviously, there are many more gems of Bhakti literature, expositions of Hindu scriptures, and Hindu philosophy embedded in this Telugu section. I have not exhausted reading all of the books (or headings) in this vast repository. I do not think I will be able to read all of its content; life is too short. (I will elaborate on this point towards the end.) I do visit this site whenever I have a difficult question, when I am desperately searching for clarification of a tricky issue. Usually I come away with a clear(er) insight.
To understand Hindu mythologies properly [let us leave aside for a moment -mistranslations, distortions, intentionally warped commentaries – because there is no time for “stupid, bad arguments”; there are lots of pseudo works parading in the garb of modern anthropological (abhorring interpretations – often they highlight the author’s ignorance rather than scholarship!) insights as great original books. One must exercise extreme caution in selecting “what to read”, otherwise one will be thrown off the track! ], we have to either learn Sanskrit a bit or be fully equipped in a regional language (Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, etc.). Only the local language has an organic bonding with the (subcontinent) Indian soil, its ancient culture, and its ethos. English, sad to say this, does not have the required vocabulary. Besides, English words lack the proper etymological underpinnings to support Sanskrit. It cannot translate karma, dharma, punya, or maya (a point often emphasized by commentators like Sri Chaganti, Sri Pratyag Bodhananda, and others). Sure, there are some aborted attempts to find approximations for such profound words. But the translated English word (idiom) will not communicate the force (punch) of the original.
Here, in these web pages, among these forests of thought provoking, very gentle meditative discourses, I am lucky to come across many names of my forefathers, great commentators, and numerous benedictory sermons of Paramacharya. Even in India, it is nearly impossible to come across such a wide range of books. Maybe, I can browse or borrow a few books from a local Rama Krishna Mission library. Still even such a task requires physical transportation and healthy body. Just with an Internet connection, any reader can access these works in her home, at all hours, across all continents.
With much humility, I pay my gratitude and thanks to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham for gifting such an invaluable treasure of wisdom (and knowledge) to many remote devotees. It is like a blessed “distant learning” portal. Many people must have contributed to this effort, to make it fully functional and successful. Computer (software & hardware) professionals, librarians, liberal donors, and certainly, lots of dedicated supervisory staff. From a far off place, I do not know their names. Yet, I feel as though they are helping me to progress on my arduous journey. I salute them with all my heart. Specially I must mention my gratitude to the Sadhana Grantha (Grandha) Mandali of Tenali (Sri Bulusu Suryaprakasa Sastry garu), who have graciously contributed many volumes to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
Reading a single poem, a single sentence, or one good book can change entire life. The innocent boy Dhruva (Pole star) and the more recent Balayogi (of Mummidivaram) episodes come to my mind. At a minimum, by reading these books, I may, at least partially, discharge my debt to the great eternally living rishis of India (Bharata-khanda).
The modern impatient English-only (semi) literate youth greedily wants these things translated into English. Hold that terrible ugly thought! Only great scholars like Dr. P. S. Sastri or Sister Nivedita can attempt such a task. Now, due to our misfortune, we do not have them among our midst anymore. Each age must bear its burdens and curses – and bear one must patiently, with a sense of total surrender to the Lord Venkateswara.
A last word – we, I mean, most of us can read only so much. Very few (bless them, such great souls) can read all the eighteen puranas, the three epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Srimad Bhagavatam), and the Bhagavad-Gita; ideally, one has to read each purana at least three times. But, mere reading can lead to other troubles: a false sense of pride, scholarliness, the weight of erudition, unnecessary ego, etc. So, since time is of essence (on this earthly planet), one should read only a modest number of books (This is not my original idea, I am paraphrasing here). And then, absorb the real “meaning” behind each text (verse, sentence, word, or syllable) and hastily move on to the real task at hand. And the real task, is, implementation (practice and more practice) with utmost care. Practice, patience, and extraordinary care, i.e., attention to the detail – all that matters finally.
Copyright by the author 2012
Copyright by the author 2012