The Call of The Jagadguru (Review)

Review

THE CALL OF THE JAGADGURU

SRI SAMKARACHARYA OF KANCI

(Discourses of His Holiness Sri Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Sripadah of Kanci Kamakoti Pitham)

Published by: Ganesh & Co., (Madras) Private Ltd., Madras-17

Price: Rs. 4.

In the wake of increasing publications in the various languages of India, books in English may have only a limited appeal to large sections of the public. Still there have been and are attempts made for ushering in quite a good number of English renderings and translations of Tamil writings in order to meet the demands of persons not exclusively speaking Tamil. If any such thing deserves our instantaneous support and encouragement, it is the timely service of Messrs. Ganesh & Co., to popularise the words of wisdom of the Acharyaswami of the Kamakoti Pitham, by bringing out in a single volume in English, his utterances at the Mylapore Samskrita College during his recent sojourn there.

Nothing from the lips of the Master that has not invited the utmost reverence and deepest consideration from all lovers of Hindu culture and philosophy has found its way into this volume. In forty-three chapters, starting with The Divine Call and culminating with What to Pray for, the range of subjects dealt here with an eye to relevant topicality, demands a great deal of the reader’s concentration and useful employment of his time. The Vedic religion, to the Acharyaswami, is the fulcrum on which the entire Hindu civilisation revolves. Anushtanaor strict adherence to daily religious conduct, as ordained by the Vedas, to him is the be-all and end-all of existence. Advaita philosophy to him is the penacea for all human ills that visit us with our rampant materialism and fissiparous political pre-occupations. Bhakti or devotion to the Universal Mother to him, as to the great Saint of Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, has been and is the mainstay and source of true inspiration. In between these landmarks of his talks, there are as many sidelights found on our present society and the fast-enveloping changes we are undergoing, as there are passages of healthy collectives and timely admonitions to heed to the wisdom of our own sages who had carefully and with universal sympathy planned a system of conduct and a course of life that are still practicable, despite inroads and attacks upon the ancient order.

Wise words, words of superior intuition and words of life-giving knowledge have been garnered up in this golden granary. Perhaps a few examples may convince even the confirmed agnostic and nihilist of the abiding value of some of these thoughts:

“We must attach ourselves to Him, who has no attachments, to rid ourselves of all attachments.”

“If we practise little by little, we shall advance some way at least in the direction of mental purity and if, at the end of our lives, we are better men than when we began it, that will give us a carried-over merit in our next life, stand us in good stead and make for our salvation.”

“...it will be clear that the appeal to conscience orthe inner voice must be made only when all other forms of guidance that we have enumerated, namely, Sruii, Smriti, the way of good men, are not available.”

“It is not necessary that we should try to bring about uniformity in religions. Unity is what is important, not uniformity.”

“That in spite of the numerous and trying vicissitudes the Vedic religion of unknown origin survives today and has such a large following, is due to the fact that in it were born great souls, unselfish, pure and godly, who had deep devotion and earnest fervour, and who unswervingly adhered to the ordinances of its practice.”

“The fruit (cucumber) does not fall down, but gets detached from the stalk, or rather the stalk gets itself detached even without the fruit knowing it. Similarly the liberated one does not give up the world; the world gives him up.”

“A heavy log of wood needs a number of hands to lift it or drag it. Immerse it in water; even a child can pull it without effort. Even so should our troubles be sunk in the waters of Jnana.They will then become light to us.”

“Impurity of cloth or body would lead to diseases which would last only for one lifetime. But impurity of heart would lead to diseases which would affect the soul for several births.”

“Real socialism lies in giving up luxuries, leading a frugal life, observing simplicity in food and clothing and living like the common man.”

“Action is the means to actionlessness. For one would have then obtained That, after which there is nothing else to be obtained and so there will be no need of any further action.”

“The dramas that ought to be acted on the stage are those that are calculated to elevate the mind rather than corrupt it, which leave the beholder at peace with himself and with the world and which do not agitate his mind and rouse his passions.”

“The bitters of family life are steps leading to the sweetness of salvation.”

We can give really more of such valuable selections; but space forbids it. We merely echo the words of despair of Sri Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar, the Maharaja of Mysore, who has said in his Foreword to this volume: “In this magnificent volume ofprecious gems–how can I pick out one here and one there?” Even as he has done, let us acknowledge with folded hands the great merit we acquire by perusing this volume and pondering over the precious contents for long.

We cannot also conclude a review of this book without expressing our deepest sense of gratitude to Sri P. Sarikaranarayana Aiyar, Professor of Philosophy, The Vivekananda College, For the utter devotion and care with which he has helped in the English rendering of the inimitably racy Tamil of the Acharyaswami.