“The Choice is Yours”
A wonderful Monograph of SrI. K.Satakopan
Iyengar:
Introduction By SrI.
V.Sadagopan svami of NEW YORK.
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Dear Devotees of Sri SampradhAya : Sriman K.Sadagopan IyengAr of Coimbatore has
released a most thought provoking monograph with theTitle of " The Choce is
Yours " containing eminently readable and deeply profound essays
on the above subject and other related doctrines of Sri
VaishNavism . This Monograph is a Tour-de-Force and has 400 Plus
pages .Sri Sukti Pracharini Sabha has released this brilliant monograph ; this is a trend
setting publication at many levels . The Book has recieved anugraha BhAshaNams From HH Prakrutham
Srimath Azhagiya Singar ,HH Srimath Poundarikapuram Andavan Swamy and HH
Srimath Srirangam Andavan Swamy . SrimAn Satakopan Iyengar is a highly
regarded sishyar of Sri Ahonbila Matam and this book was released by HH
Prakrutham Srimath Azhagiya Singar few weeks back with anEka VedOktha
AaseervAdhams . Here are some excerpts from the
anugraha BhAshaNams of the three AchAryas to give an idea of their appreciation
of the scope and content of this monograph : Prakrutham Srimath Azhagiya Singar : HH
Sri Narayana Yathindhra MahA Desikan : " In this Mechanical world , we
have choices in all walks of life , starting from education to life style .
The life of the person, who chooses the best, is full of happiness and
prosperity. If such is the case for materialistic life , is it not necessary
for one to choose the best way to attain salvation ? Our PoorvAchAryAs have shown the right
and best way for Mukthi, after thorough analysis of various
choices , i.e., Prapatthi Yogam ( Total Surrender ) . This is the
gist of the articles written by Sri K.Satakopan Iyengar . He has
chosen to emphasize these views to the modern and younger generations in
a form that they would like to read. A layman , who wishes to choose the best
book to know about our sampradhAya in a simple manner but authoritative
way would choose this book only . As such the choice
is yours . " HH Srimath Poundarikapuram Andavan :
Sri GopAlArya MahA Desikan: " It is very difficult to write
such an elaborate treatise without having a deep knowledge in every aspect of
our Sri VaishNava sampradhaya , which has won universal acclaim as
the best . The divine grace of Acharyas acquired
by Sri Satakopa IyengAr has given him extraordinary spiritual strength
to write such a valuable treatise giving a treaure of information to the
readers . His Acharya Bhakthi can be compared to that of Sri Madhurakavi and Sri
KooratthAzhwAr . His deep devotion towards his
Acharyas has conferred on him invaluable deep insights into our scriptures and
this has been eminently reflected in his treatise and the vocabulary
adopted by him in this book is marvellous and unique . He desrves
congratulations and admiration of every SriVaishNava." HH Srimath Srirangam Andavan : Srimath
Sri Ranga Ramanuja MahA Desikan " It is heartening that our
youngsters , especailly abroad , have started questioning what our Sampradhaya
is . We need not go into the question what it isd ue to . The fact is that
our boys and girls are very particular about knowing our Sampradhaya . But the old timers , who have mastered
the subject , are unable to quench the thirst of our children due to the
lack of mastery over the modern universal medium . Hence finding a person ,
who is a master in both the subject and English , is the need of the hour . Sri Satakopan Iyengar Swamy is one of
the rare scholars , who is proficient both in English and in the SampradhAya as well .
His Holiness Srimad Andavan feels happy that a person has come forward to
guide our youngsters on the right path . HH is doubly glad to know that Sri Satakopan
IyengAr Swamy is publishing a book with 55 articles on our SampradhAya in
English . We are sure that such a publication will go a long way to enlighten the
modern readers ". Dear Devotees : These are indeed the
highest of praise that you can expect from our Acharyaas , who are not given to
easy praise of anyone in the matter of the intrepretation of the sacred
doctrines of our glorious Sampradhaya . adiyEn is convinced that Sriman K.
Satkopan Iyengar Swamy has passed the tests and expectations of of our
AchAryas with flying colors and has been awarded the Magna Cum Laude
grade , the highest one can aspire for . He has become a kruthArTaa and the Sri
Sukti PrachariNi Sabha of Singapore has to be congratulated for its
wisdom , front end investment and commitment to make this book available to one and
all across the globe . This book deserves to be read widely by
Sri VaishNaas and aasthikAs of every background . |
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Some
comments on the book: 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 kaimkaryamof 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 . I
congratulate once again Sri Sukti Pracharini Sabha of Singapore for its
foresight and initative to release the sacttered and yet well-read ,
scholarly essays of Sriman SatakOpan IyengAr of
ThiruvallikkENi/Coimbatore in the form of a Book . This is one of the
greatest services to Sri VaishNava community. NamO NaarAyaNAya , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan aDiyEn gives below the details of the Various
centres, where the book " The Choice is Yours " by Sriman
K.Sadagopan IyengAr can be acquired. Suggested donation: (Rs.450 in India and
$25 in other countries ) In India A) SrI. K.Sadagopan svami ( Autographed Copy ) B) SrI. Diwakar Kannan E) SrI Ahobila Muth Book store (SrI Badri) In other Countries: A) USA: (Will be available from 2nd week, July)
B) Gulf Countris: (Will be available from 2nd
week July) Email: rmvenkat@yahoo.com Tel: 0097150 5848561. C) South East Asia, Australia: |