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ISSN 0975-4067

KIRAVALJournal of Sanskrit Research Foundation

The New Trivandrum Sanskrit Series

Vol.IV. Book.I & II

January-June

2012

SANSKRIT RESEARCH FOUNDATIONT.C 39/37

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-36

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ContentsEditors Note 5

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E]]x Ei \VxJhbx-V.B 44

Sree ankars Views on VedicRitualism- Dr. V.Vasanthakumari 54Dramatic representation ofPhilosophy Dr. V.Vasudevan 63The Influence of Kalidasa inKumaran Asans Works, Especially

Chintavishtayaya Sita Dr.V.Asalatha 71Logic and Epistemology in

Nyyadpik Dr. S. Sivakumar 76Yogic Remedies to CurrentProblems of Life Dr. S.Sureshkumar 82Voice of the Silenced: A re-reading of Bamas

Sangati and P. SivakamisThe Grip of Change Athira Sasidharan 90Vidymdhavya Dr.Prajitha. P.V 100Review

Brahmastravtti -An Opening toTraditional Wisdom - Dr.G.Narayanan 110Obituary

Prof. Dr. M.H Sastrikal 114

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Brahmastravtti : An Opening to

Traditional WisdomDr.G.Narayanan

jk&-+IxMh RMiinlSxxni`E{ xViiS, {nE x{CE b.. n&,x{CE b.Bx.VMzl&; chennai-2009

The long tradition of Indian philosophy has produced large numberof philosophical literature, both original ones and in the form of

commentaries. The commentaries, mostly, excelled the originals. Itwas regular to write commentary on original texts that form thefoundation. Vrtika is a text that analyses the correctness of the originaland supplements added information, if any. Bhya explains themeaning of the original in independently and tkas tries to bring outthe hidden ideas from the bhyas. As everyone knows the vyakaranatexts are the best example to this. Ktyyana, the vrtikakra, explained

the stras of Pini and added more information and explanations.Pataali the bhhyakra wrote an elaborate commentary themahbhya on stras and Vrtika. In Vedanta philosophy all hasaccepted the stras of Bdaryaa as the foundation. Then the bhyasforms the real foundation of different Vedantas. Thre are vrtikas,vttis and subcommentaries on these bhyas. In advaitavedantaSurevara is vrtikakra. The Bhmati and Vivaraa schools are relatedto subcommentaries on nkarabhya. That is, all the works,irrespective of commentary or subcommentary or any other, have a

place and importance in the hierarchy of philosophical literature.

Here the book under consideration is brahmastravtti byN.S.Rmnujattcrya. The author, former Vice Chancellor ofRashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeta, Tirupati, is a well known scholar in

the field of Sanskrit. His contributions to Sanskrit philosophy throughhis books and Research articles reflects his mastery over all the sastras.

Review

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110 Eh Dr.G.Narayanan

He was conferred the prestigious French Governments Chevalierrecently.

Brahmastravtti follows the Srbhya of Rmnuja to explainthe Brahmastras. In the Visidvaita, Sudaranasri inrutaparakik had explained the commentary of Rmnuja.Rmnuja himself wrote two short vttis- vedntasra and vedntadpato explain the meaning of vedntastras. Still what is the use of a newvtti? One may doubt. Author has explained the need in his prastvanathat though Rmnuja had showed the meaning of sutras in three texts

and Sudarana further explained them in rutaprakik reader mayget it difficult to understand the real sense of stras which are writtenin the form of anumnas. Further the method of adhikaraasampradya makes it difficult to realise the viaya, samaya, andsagati according to which the stras were explained in the highertexts like Bhya andBhyatka. Therefore this particular text, whichis also named as akarnugua, is to reduce the difficulty in

understanding the meaning of stras.This book is written in simple Sanskrit without any jargon. The

method of navyanyaya is not employed. So the difficulty level is low.Brahmastra is a text that employs the old scheme of logic. The vttiexplains each sutra word by word giving its grammatical as well as

philosophical significance. It gives the meaning of each sutra followingbhya and rutaprakik. Then it continues to explain themeaning of stra that is applicable to it. Still this text is not a

replacement to bhya andrutaprakik. But it is a complement. Ithelps the reader to understand the arguments ofBhya andtka withmore clarity.

This book aims those who are engaging in public debates withother systems namely Advaita and dvaita. It could provide them insights

into the real idea of the masters. The Bhya and literature affiliated to

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Eh111Brahmastravtti: An Opening to wisdomit were passed on orally. A merit of this was the clarity in understanding,which loses when the transmission and distribution takes other forms.The methodof interpretation - exegesis- varies from system to system.

For a proper understanding of the system one should master the rulesand tools of hermeneutics that followed by the system. Brahmastrafollows adhikaraa method. There for the interpreters andcommentators follows the tools for interpreting each adhikaraa, whichare viaya, viaya, prvapaka, uttarapaka, and sagati. These weresame, to an extent, for all Vedanta systems. There are differences aboutthe number of the angas of adhikaraa and on the angas itself. Systemsdiffer in the interpretation because of the difference in the approach toscripture and metaphysics and arrive at different conclusions. TheBrahmasutavrtti of tatacharya explains the 156 adhikaraa and 545sutras discussing all the five angas of adhikaraa. The text quotes visayasamayacaiva vicronirayastath; prayojana ca

pacngam prcodhikaraa vidu. According to some other there

are ten angas. Here the author of brahmasutravrtti explains the tenangas of adhikaraa for clarity.

New books dealing with philosophy, especially viitdvaita,advaitavednta and dvaita, were coming out in Sanskrit language. Butalmost all of them are devoted for discussing the mutually unacceptableand controversial issues. Among them the book of Rmnujattcryais a difference. Above all this book is useful to all who love vedanta

and like to seek the real meaning of Vedanta. This book shows howthe sutras are configured and teaches how to read and realise them.This approach helps the enthusiasts of other system also to understandforming of prvapaka. The editors Dr.V.Vasudevan andDr.N.Jaganathan had done an excellent work in publishing it. Bookslike this could lessen the difficulty in learning and understanding of

Indian philosophy by bringing out the traditional knowledge for public.