Venkat Garikapati showed interest in literature right from his childhood. He even took part in literary symposiums and in literary events on All India Radio. He used to write on his favourite subjects in many Telugu newspapers and weeklies. He mastered the art of commenting on Annamacharya Kirtanas on television and on stage. Though he is in the field of banking, his love for literature and philosophy made him write this book which is a compendium of all the articles he contributed.
Venkat says that all that he wrote is in the direction of ‘Bharateeya Sanskriti’, the culture of India. He divides his work into three major channels – culture coming of from ages, urge to put in minds of the youth what traditions we had, and quoting some instances from the epics that enriched the nation. Perhaps as Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma, founder of Rushi Peetham mention in a prologue, the base and strength and richness of thought emanated from his study of Annamacharya Kirtanas to such an extent that he became an authentic commentator understanding the depth of each of the thousands of lyrics. He extended this knowledge into his writings on other subjects, with flow in his language that attracts the reader.
There are about seventy articles in the book. Most of the articles like the first ‘Vinayame Vijayaaniki Naandi’ belonging to ‘Vyaktitva Vikasam’ personality development, take episodes from Ramayana and ‘Bhagavanthudu-Bhaktudu’, God and his devotee, have a touch of Pouranic element and pilgrimages to the temples of Gods. Then he discusses Annamacharya’s contribution to society and Bhakti in another article ‘Telugu Pada Kavita Vaitalikudu’ whose literary influence landed in his articles. He analyses some of Annamayya kirtanas with in-depth observation. Then in another article ‘Bhagavdgeeta-Jeevana Sugeeta’ he explains that God Krishna taught the man Arjuna his needs and deeds. ‘Nishkama Bhakti’ the selfless prayer to God, and the need for a human to be calm under all circumstances. He refers to Thondamanudu, who built the temple for Venkateswara on Tirumala Hills and gave his daughter Padmavati to the Lord in marriage. He narrates events that surround Tondaman’s story.
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Then some more articles on personality development are linked to gaining ‘vivekam’ understanding self. ‘Vijaya Deepti-Samayasphurti’ that says apt action wins one’s goal, exemplified by how Arjuna could kill Karna only after seeing the latter’s chariot got stuck in mud. There was patriotic element too in some articles like ‘Pogadara Nee Talli Bhoomi Bharatini’ .
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Venkat discusses some rare aspects of Dasavataras, explaining some intricate sequences that happen in Avatara episodes. Some symbolic processes involved in the celebration of ‘Utsavas’ are found in the article ‘Simhachala Chandanotsavam,’ like the application f sandalwood paste to ‘Ugra Narasimha’ in attempt to calm him down after he killed Hiranyakasipa brutally.
Again the personality development article ‘Samayaniki Tagu Mataladi’ a line of Thyagaraja kriti, holds good if one knows how to talk according to situation, exemplifying them taking the episodes of Mahabharata, centred round Dharmaraja.
By bringing in episodes of epics, Venkat charts out messages to indirectly help young readers shape their life.
VIKASA VIBHASAM
(Adhyatmika, Vyaktitva Vikasa Vyasa Samputi)
Author: Venkat Garikapati, Price: Rs.150, Pages: 240
Available at all prominent book shops and with G.V.Umavardhani
Contact: 9704179950, 8985235385