'The choice is yours' bookSrI: Dear BhakthAs : Let me share with you what I enjoy about this First Monograph in the series of "The Choice is Yours " . Yes , there are plans to release over time additional essays of SrimAn SadakOpan IyengAr by Sri Sukti PrachariNi Sabha with the support of Aasthika Community around the world in the future . Sri Sadagopan IyengAr has penned as I remember almost 300 esaays (so far) of high caliber and authenticity . It is all his AchArya Bhakthi and Lord Hayagreevan's anugraham that propels him to perform this kaimkaryam of sharing the vast amount of knowledge he has acquired over the years on the fine points about Sri VaishNava SampradhAyam from a Ubhaya VedAnthic perspective . This first release , " The Choice is Yours " has 55 Essays that appeared over the past few months in Sri RanganAtha PaadhukA , Internet Lists like Oppiliappan , Malolan , Sri Ranga Sri et al . At the outset , I wish to state that I am proud of Sri Sadagopan IyengAr's command of style and content in tackling this difficult task of handling classic material ; He has facile use of the modern idiom to help youngsters and new comers to gain the appreciation of our ancient sampradhAyam . I am equally proud of the Sri Sukthi PracharaNi Sabha for taking this " massive " initiative , finding the fund and the invaluable Editorial help of Oppiliappan Koil the gifted Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan Swamy , a doyen of our SampradhAyam . You may have a question as to why myself or anyone would like to invite your attention to acquire this book , which may be considered as a packaging of essays released earlier . I would like this opportunity to bring to your and Your family's as well as your friend's attention why I believe that the book has unusual aspects of its own to warrant the acquisition of this book for your archival reading on our ancient SampradhAyam starting with Sriman Narayana and extending to present day AchAryAs , who strive hard to reach out to aasthikAs . Here are my reasons : 1) The author's Admirable skill in " presenting our glorious tradition in the modern idiom, while adhering faithfully to the spirit of the original works of ancient seers ". These original and " timeless works " that Sri Sadagopan IyengAr ihandled by the author are the VedAs , Upanishads , VishNu PurANam , Dhivya Prabhandham and a host of other sacred literature . There is a central thread that runs through all the 55 essays chosen for the just released volume . That is the mighty doctrine of SaraNAgathi for Mukthi ( Prapatthi Yogam ) after thorough analysis of the various choices . 2)He has clear scholarship and command over his material ; He has amazing proficiency both in English , Tamil and Sanskrit and most importantly in the SampradhAya . His vocabulary is rich and noteworthy . His power in phrase making is indeed a rare gift . 3) Sri Sadagopan IyengAr is a Master Story teller with a serious purpose . In olden times , he would have been a beloved PourANikar and KaalkshEpa AdhikAri . 4) His devotion to his AchAryAs is exemplary . 5) The proceeds from the sale of this book is going towards Saathvic Charities that would please the ThiruvuLLam of AchAryAs . The Sri Sookthi PrachariNi Sabha of Singapore has a clear road map on diverting the funds from the sale of the books to nourish the roots of our divine sampradhAyam . They have completed one fourth of their planned work and adiyEn prays for their continued success in such Kaimkaryams . 6) The internet postings did not have any images to go with the Text . The book has some of the most beautiful choice of images to go with the 55 essays housed in this monograph . Examples are those of AchAryAs , superb color plates of archAvathAra Moorthys , special graphics . The images chosen have been beautifully integrated with the text . This is truly a Multimedia Book of trend setting quality . The border of each page contains the lovely image of Dharbham ( ThUppul ) , which appears to protect the sacred content . ChakratthAzhwAn provides additional raksha at the beginning of each essay . The beautiful picture of ParthasArathy PerumAL and His family in the front inside cover and Lord Oppiliappan and His family in the backside of the cover are very beautiful . The picture of VeNNai Thirudum KaNNan ( The Butter Thief ) alone on Page 47 will steal any one's heart . 7) Each essay has an intriguing and teasing title and the essay develops the theme of the title into SiddhAntham . Some illustrative examples among the 55 essays are : (a) " Insure and Be Secure " , where with adroitness , Sri Sadagopan IyengAr compares the offerings of the mundane , modern Insurance industry with that of the ancient fail-proof Insurance policy of SaraNAgathy . This is a Master Piece that must be read by every Sri VaishNava .. (b) " Hari Potter or Complexities of Creation " is such a profoundly informative essay about " the nuts and bolts of Creation " as the Master Creator goes about His work of creation . (c) " How to see the Lord " is a moving essay on how to visualize , absorb and enjoy the Archaa Moorthys as revealed by the AchAryAs and the AzhwArs . d)" Diamonds in the Sky " is another of the essays, where it is a celebration of the 27 Nakshathrams - -"the distance deciders of our destinies " starting from Krittikaa Nakshathram . e) The essay in defense of AchArya RaamAnujaa's use of prose instead of poetry as the medium of communication in His Sri Sookthis is a memorable one .Using His three Gadhyams as examples , Sri Sadagopan IyengAr convinces us that " All his (RaamAnujA's) works are standing and eloquent testimony to the fact that prose can portray as well as , if not better than poetry , the kaleidoscopic of moods and feelings running the entire range from exhuberance , joy , fulfilment and bliss , to gratitude , humility and servitude , to disappointment , intense longing --- ". f) The essay entitled with the innocuous & polite title of " Good Evening " goes on to make a case with appropriate dhivya prabhandham passages that " the evenings belong to the Lord " . g) The essay on " Divine Dishes " brings us back to the section of BhOjyAsanam in NithyArAdhanam in general and the 18 BhakshaNam offerings to the Lord on Sri Jayanthi , His avathAra dinam . h) For narrational excellence , "An Englishman's Prapatthi " about the happenings at MadhurAntham easily contends for the top spot with a convincing message about the power of SaraNAgathy as experienced by the English Collector at MadhurAnthakam . i) The three connected essays with the title of " The Last words " is a treasure house of information . adiyEn can go on and on but hopefully you have been persuaded by now about the richness, relevance and tastiness of the offerings in the Monograph : " The Choice is Yours " and hope you will acquire a copy of this book for serious reading and reference to your friends(Suhrudhs) and relatives . Please remember that the fnds raised from the distribution of this Book series will go only to support other Sri VaishNava Kaimkaryams dear to the hearts of our AchAryAs . NamO NaarAyaNAya , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan P.S : Those in USA can purchase this book in two to three weeks time online from Ahobila Matam North America web pages ( http://www.ahobilamutt.org ) "or by sending e-mail to Sriman R.Rajaji at Rrajaji@xxxxxxx / Please refer to my earlier mail for information on other distribution centers in India , Asia and elsewhere or write to Sri Mukundan of Sri Sookthi PracharaNi SabhA at Singapore . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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