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Book Review
Prabandha literature
SRI DESIKA PRABHANDAM: Published by Sri Krishna Sabha, 4/264, J.S. Yagnik Marg, Sion East, Mumbai-400022. Rs. 30 (paperback), Rs. 45 (hardbound).
SRI VEDANTA Desika had dedicated his life to the propagation of Sri Ramanuja's philosophy. Being a subtle logician, he had established the soundness of Visishtadwaita from the point of view of Srutis (Vedas) and of reason.
His voluminous contribution of works in the form of poetry, drama, kavyas, stotras (religious lyrics), Vedanta and commentaries are in Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrit and Manipravala. What cannot be easily digested in Ramanuja's texts can be found in the Azhwars' Divya Prabhandam (4000 in number) and a few doubts left in them can be understood from Desika's Vedantic works.
Desika Prabhandam, a compilation, contains 405 verses in Tamil under 19 topics which appear interspersed in his 32 Rahasya granthas broadly classified as Amirtaranjani (17 works) and Amrithaaswadini (11 works) and four other contributions explaining the "secrets" of philosophy in Manipravala. The introduction titled "Prabhanda Anusandana Deepika" gives a splendid account of the significance of the Desika Prabhandam and when to recite them.
This thoughtful production will be a valuable companion for all Srivaishnavites to render them on important religious functions and also daily in their prayers and divine service.
DVV
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