Unusual Essays of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava : Volume 1

Unusual Essays of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava : Volume 1
Author: M. K. Sudarshan
Publisher: StoryMirror Infotech Pvt Ltd
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2016-10-19
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1482886278

This book is less about Sri Vaishnavism as a creed and far more about a modern Sri Vaishnava’s outlook on life. Understanding the ancient Indian spiritual and religious tradition of Sri Vaishnavism can never be complete without some acquaintance with its scriptural literature that is found written mostly in the Sanskrit and native vernacular. In India today, English-educated modern youth, as well as young Indian communities at large in the global diaspora, lacking mastery in either language, completely miss out being able to appreciate and experience life, and the world itself, in the many rare, brilliant and quite “unusual” ways in which their distant ancestors saw it all and recorded their experiences too as scriptural insight. This book is a collection of 18 delightful essays in truly felicitous English, each one of which enables and then vividly brings to life for readers a deep and fresh understanding of the ancestral verities of India.

A Tale of Two Cities: The Decline and Fall of the "Ubaya-Vedantins" - An outline of the History of Sri Vaishnavas of Tamil Nadu that was never Written.

A Tale of Two Cities: The Decline and Fall of the
Author: M.K. Sudarshan
Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
Total Pages: 552
Release: 2024-10-16
Genre: History
ISBN:

This book is an expansive outline of history which, at the same time, is also a very comprehensive history of the Sri Vaishnava community of Tamil Nadu, India. It spans a period of 1000 years — from the 11th century CE to the present day. It is The historical narrative is woven around a “tale of two cities” i.e. Sri Rangam and Kanchipuram, the two towns in South India from where a titanic struggle for ownership, power, legitimacy and control over not only temples but also for the very self-identity of the Sri Vaishnava identity was waged for over seven centuries by two major sects, the Tenkalais and Vadakalais. The struggle continues to this day, having been dragged deeply into and getting increasingly embroiled in the larger issues and dynamics of the Tamil State socio-politics viz. language, ethnology, demography and culture. The “tale of two cities” is a historical narrative about grievous loss of religious legacy, debility of cultural identity and decline of economic prosperity arising from social alienation… This book is an absorbing tale of human frailties.... of ambition, greed, deceit, envy, malice and betrayal.

The Nondescript God: "Abstraction or Paragon?"

The Nondescript God:
Author: M K Sudarshan
Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
Total Pages: 133
Release: 2022-04-23
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN:

All theistic philosophies of the world conceive of a Supreme God but none except Indian Vedanta Metaphysics of the two great schools, Advaita and Visishtaadvaita, ventures deeply to inquire further into the real nature of Godhead: Is God an abstract ideal, “nirguna”? Or a paragon of ideal qualities, “saguna”? This book explains the uniqueness of the Visishtaadvaita interpretation of Theism in contradistinction to the Advaitin’s. Although its subject is a formidable one, the book written in a very novel format renders Vedanta Metaphysics intelligible to even a common reader and layman. Eight Dialogues, informal yet fluent and informative, between a philosophy-student and his mentor, the “Unknown Sri Vaishnava”, present the main Vedantic thesis of this engaging and very readable book in truly absorbing style

EPISTLES OF A PROLIFIC PONTIFF (Second & Updated edition)

EPISTLES OF A PROLIFIC PONTIFF (Second & Updated edition)
Author: M. K. Sudarshan
Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2024-07-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

This book The Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff, so carefully translated from the Tamil originals, covers a dazzling range of lofty topics, from Visishtadvaita Vedanta, spiritualism, philosophy, to social ethics, human psychology and personality development all of which truly define Sri Vaishnavism, one of the oldest and most revered living traditions of India, propounded by the great Sri Ramanujacharya in the 11th Century CE . Thanks to these 21 priceless English translations, readers will be able to easily partake of the timeless wisdom and dip into the vast ocean of Vedantic knowledge that this Acharya, the 44th pontiff of Sri Ahobila Mutt was renowned for in his lifetime. This book is sure to appeal to all persons who wish to acquire a deeper experience and authentic understanding of India’s Vedantic Philosophy….”

Essential Hinduism

Essential Hinduism
Author: Steven Rosen
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2006-10-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0313071551

As a world religion, Hinduism remains one of the most elusive for many. Its teachings, beliefs, practices, and history are reviewed here by an expert hoping to introduce readers to the world of Hinduism. While there are many forms of Hinduism, and offshoots as well, the complex nature of this faith makes it elusive to many. This straightforward overview, focusing on Vaishnavism-the most common form of Hinduism—is ideal for those who wish to learn more about this ancient tradition.. Beginning with chapters about the foundations of Hinduism, Rosen clearly lays out what is otherwise a complicated history. Providing Hindu terms alongside English translations, he is able to bring the faith alive for readers unacquainted with its varieties and its tenets. Moving on to chapters about practices, including festivals, teachings, chanting, eating habits and more, Rosen brings Hinduism to life in vivid detail.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Author: M. K. Sudarshan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-06-23
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN:

This book is an outline of history ... and not a comprehensive history of the Sri Vaishnava community of Tamil Nadu, India. It spans a period of 1000 years - from the 11th century CE to the present day. The historical narrative is woven around a "tale of two cities" i.e. Sri Rangam and Kanchipuram, the two towns in South India from where a titanic struggle for ownership, power, legitimacy and control over not only temples but also the Sri Vaishnava identity was waged for over seven centuries by two major sects, the Tenkalais and Vadakalais. The struggle continues to this day, having been dragged deeply into and increasingly embroiled in the larger issues and dynamics of the socio-politics of the Tamil State i.e. language, ethnology, demography and culture. The "tale of two cities" is a historical narrative about loss of religious legacy, the debility of cultural identity and decline of wealth arising from social alienation... It is a tale of human frailties too.... of ambition, greed, deceit, envy, malice and betrayal. This book of History is the third in a trilogy authored by M.K.Sudarshan: the first book "Unusual Essays of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava" (2016-17) dealt with the religious Literature of the Sri Vaishnava community while the second book, "The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?" (2022) was a brief treatise on the theological Metaphysics of Visishtadvaita, the central philosophy on which the community's faith stands rooted. The three books read together do present a panoramic view indeed of the profile of the modern Sri Vaishnava!

Ancient India

Ancient India
Author: Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher:
Total Pages: 490
Release: 1911
Genre: India
ISBN: