Post by Amritha Varshini on Dec 7, 2013 20:16:16 GMT 5.5
Feedback on the 20th Issue of Amritha Varshini eMagazine
By every issue, the Amritha Varshini News letter is getting better and better. Each and every issue is unique in its own content and style. As usual, the 20th issue also contains some outstanding works that deal with different aspects of spirituality.
The new way of presenting the article by giving the photo of each writer was very appealing and the reader could get an idea of the spiritual world he was being led into. It was very appropriate that the newsletter opened up with the Anugraha Bhashanam of Maha Periyava. Maha Periyava has revealed the Upanishad teachings in a simple and understanding way. The Upanishad declares that only by freeing ourselves from the concept of time and space we will be able to comprehend the truth. Happiness and sorrows are relative terms and one who is conscious of his Self, such differences do not hold any relevance. This gives a pleasant setting for the newsletter.
Sri P.R. Kannan has been giving translation of Lalita Trisati Stotram regularly. Sri Kannan's devotion and scholarly knowledge is evident from this beautiful work. He has been truly translating the Stotra and it is only because Goddess Lalitha has blessed him, he is able to give such marvelous translation on a continuous basis. We look forward more such inspiring works from him.
Sri Venkatachalam is no stranger to the readers of Amritha Varshini. He has been regularly contributing to this newsletter. His Tatwa Bodham is indeed worth reading and worth assimilating.
Atma Bodha or self Knowledge is a treatise on Advaita Vedanta, the doctrine of non-duality. It consists of sixty eight verses in melodious Sanskrit and is composed by the great Sankaracharya. Sri O.V. Srinivasan has taken up a great task of interpreting the works of Adi Sankara. He has cited instances from Bhagavatam to highlight the importance of contentment and discipline.
The poem on devotion by Smt. Renuka Sury was excellent. "You lose yourself only to gain the ultimate; to be one with the totality where you came from". "Come on, surrender your ego. Drown in the ocean of reality and Ananda". What a wonderful expression. A great volume on devotion has been written just in few words. I have no words to express my appreciation to Smt. Sury for such a marvelous poem.
"Every one is responsible for his present condition", says Sri J.K. Sivan in the article titled 'Man & God's Will". He adds: “It is true that every thought and action is weighed in the universal balance scale of justice." We should therefore guard ourselves from making any move that would bring an adverse consequence. The best course therefore is to act without the sense of doership. "So long I am not the doer, there is no Karma.”
Sri Ramanathan has compiled some good quiz which would help us to enlighten our knowledge on spirituality. The quiz prompts us to know more about the great saints who composed immortal verses like Mukunda Mala, Kanda Sashti Kavacham etc. I hope this should not only create a curiosity in us to know more about many spiritual literature but also to study them in depth.
Sri Annamacharya has composed many Keertanas on Lord Venkateswara in Telugu. I am reminded of one of his beautiful song "Deva Devam Bhaje Divya Prabhavam, Brahmana…" very well rendered by Smt. M.S. Subbalakshmi. Sri Dasu Damodara Rao has selected one song: "Bhavamu Lona" (Chant Govinda's name Oh heart) and has given its meaning beautifully.
It seems Amritha Varshini magazine is never complete without an inspiring story from Smt. Shantha Rajan. Her story on Kabir Das was very illuminating indeed. She is a gifted devotee and I look forward more such illuminating works from her.
Sri O.N. Ravi who is an orator and scholar, has proved that he is a good writer too. He has highlighted the importance of Nama Sangeerthanam by depicting the story of Sridhara Ayyaval. Iyyaval's contribution in formulating a Padhati form of Nama Sangeerthanam should be written in golden
letters.
Readers of Amritha Varshini were immersed in the continuous shower of nectar which came in the form of devotional poems, articles and Stotras. In short, Amritha Varshini is proving to be a great treasure for all spiritual aspirants. I congratulate the writers for their good contribution and Sri Anand Vasudevan for the dedication being shown by him in bringing out this issue regularly and excellently.
V.S. Krishnan.
December 2, 2013
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