The Hindu Book Review - The Essence of Gita

Date:12/08/2003 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/br/...00308120012030
0.htm

Essence of the Gita - A Book Review

THAERTTHATTU VARTHAI: By Sri Vadikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar in
Tamil Verse, with meaning and explanation in Tamil by (Varan)
Vanamamalai R. Narasimhachariar; Pub. by N. Raman, 38/7, Vivekananda
Street, Sakthivelammal Nagar, S. S. Colony, Madurai-625010. Rs. 125.

THE UPANISHADS, the Brahmasutra and the Bhagavad Gita are the three
important texts for all the Vedantic schools of thought. Vadikesari
Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar (13th century), disciple of Periyavachan
Pillai, wrote apart from works like the 12,000 (Panneraiyirappadi)
commentary on the Tiruvaymozhi of Nammazhwar, Rahasyatrayakarika,
Pramanasangraha and the Bhagavad Gita in Tamil. It is not an exact
translation but its quintessence (Gitasara).

The Gita is popularly referred to in the Srivaishnava tradition
as "Thaerthattu Vartai" (message from the driver's seat in the
chariot). The very fact that traditional exponents of various schools
of thought, mystics and saints, scholars and laymen understood and
interpreted it in different ways, indicates its importance and
popularity.

The present work of Vadikesari Jeeyar in classical Tamil, set in
the "Vennpa" metre is difficult to follow. Hence an exhaustive
exposition of it in simple Tamil has been attempted by the late R.
Narasimhachariar of Vanamamalai, for the benefit of the lay reader.

Some difficult concepts of the original are explained clearly by him
with the help of a number of anecdotes and episodes. He quotes
relevant passages from the works of the Azhwars and scriptures. The
exposition is simple and impressive. This work appeared serially in
the Tamil weekly, Swadesamitran, some years ago.

The publishers have done a commendable job in bringing it in book
form. They have also provided about 100 topical headings for the
verses, making it easy for the reader to understand the main topics.

Most of the original verses of the Gita are also transliterated in
the Tamil script for the benefit of those who want to read the
original verses in juxtaposition. But it has to be pointed out that
in a few cases the transliteration is not satisfactory (pp. 128, 297,
300). The Vanamamalai Jeeyar has given a valuable foreword to this
work.

M. NARASIMHACHARY

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