For those who want to get immersed in the world of religious texts and scriptures can visit the book stall launched by Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama here on Sunday. The stall has on display more than 20,000 books.
Extending a separate counter beside the Ramakrishna –Vivekananda Doll Exhibition and Public Library on the beach road, the place has an array of Upanishads, biography of saints, Vedanta Philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, among several others.
What makes the store more attractive is the fact that the books relating to various religions are not only available in three languages – English, Telugu and Hindi but are sold at a subsidised price. A separate section for children includes pictorial stories, stories of Mahabharata, prayer book, books on meditation and vedantic tales apart from a bunch of colouring books in attractive shapes.
Swami Vivekananda’s daily inspirational quotes, ‘The Puranas’, ‘Gospel of Strength’ and ‘Students power – its use and abuse’ are some of the pocket books that line up the racks. A plethora of personality development books, volumes of ‘Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda’, contemporary translation of ‘The Upanishads’ by Swami Nikhilananda, works like ‘Spiritual Life for Modern Times’, ‘The Story of an Epoch’ and ‘Vedic Suktas’ also form a part of the store.
Visitors can also browse through photos, CDs and devotional articles at the venue. “The place connects one with God. Our purpose is to reach out to more people, broaden their world view and strengthen their personality by spreading the message of Swami Ramakrishna and Vivekananda,” assistant-secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Swami Gunesananda said.
Visakha East MLA V. Ramakrishna Babu inaugurated the stall along with CMD of CMR Group Mavuri Venkata Ramana and secretary of the ashrama Swami Aatma Vidananda.
