Some Aphorisms (of Sri Trilinga Swamy)

(Faith is very complex yet very simple. Hindu faith (Sanatana Dharma) encompasses a vast canvass of thought and enquiry. Its corpus (now almost completely written down and commented profusely) is humungous – the four Vedas, major Upanishads, eighteen Puranas, Upa-puranas, Itihasas, and many narratives (mind, not fictional!) that are associated with innumerable holy pilgrim places in the Indian subcontinent. For any ordinary mortal it is absolutely impossible to read or master all the works; not only that, to fully comprehend the original Sanskrit texts is beyond anyone’s lifetime. Often many interpreters of this faith fall into errors (particularly several English authors with preconceived anthropological notions) and wrongly interpret the core essence of such a great faith. The primacy of Hindu faith stands on two sturdy (indestructible) pillars: Its scriptures dating back into many thousands (not two thousand, not five thousand, much farther into antiquity – almost limitless origins, (for ex: see Kanchi Swami’s discourses on Vedas, అపౌరుషేయ) and a succession of swamis (proponents, bhaktas) leaving footprints on the sands of time. Its springs are eternally full and alive. I humbly attempt to give English translation of some of the essential quotes of Mahatma Sri Trilinga Swamy (C.E. 1607 - 1887) here. Detailed explanations are deliberately omitted. The reader has to think about each issue, ponder over the meaning, and enter into a stilled state of “deep meditation”. S(he) has to discover herself their true meaning.

Why do I harp on Swamis or Gurus in this context? Let’s leave aside some phony characters. I illustrate my point about the desirability of a Guru with two instances: Once Narada (బ్రహ్మ మానస పుత్ర) went to Vaikuntha for a meeting with Lord Narayana. After the usual pleasantries and discussions Narada departed the holy premises walking slowly backwards with his posterior towards the exit.  Immediately after Narada’s departure Narayana turned to Maha-Lakshmi and instructed thus: “Devi, get some gomayamu, wipe out cleanly Narada’s seat (chair) and wash it down with ganga-jal.”

Devi Lakshmi was aghast. She gently asked, “Lord, why? May I know the reason, if you don’t mind.” “Narada needs a Guru. As yet he has not been initiated properly through a master.” Yet we find the same Narada later instructing prince Dhruva about Tapas. Not only that the wandering sage introduces Dhruva to the greatness of “dwadasi-akshara mantra”. No wonder the young boy gets a darshan of Lord Narayana in no time, just in a matter of months. 

Lastly I must also mention about the unbounded compassion of many gurus: From Seshadri Swami, Sadasiva Brahmendra, to Kanchi Paramacharya and many others (Shirdi Sai) – they (the Gurus) helped (and still help) all disciples, provided for their earthly needs, corrected students’ mistakes, and gently guided them on their paths. Genuine seekers must take the trouble and read their extensive biographies and authentic works. As they say "a mustard seed (worth) of sincere practice is much better than a mound of vapid pedantic arguments".) 

D = Disciple

G = The Guru

D Who created the earth and its life forms?
G Eswara* (The Supreme Lord with control over everything. Swami)
D Who produces (affects) the creation?
G Brahma
D Who is Brahma?
G Eswara’s power (Sakti)
D Who rules the creation?
G Lord Vishnu or Lord Narayana
D Who is Narayana?
G Eswara’s power (Sakti)
D Who destroys creation or Who dissolves it?
G Maheswara – i.e., Mahadeva
D Who is Mahadeva?
G Eswara’s power (Sakti)
D Who (what) is Brahmani (Saraswati)?
G Brahma’s power (Sakti)
D Who is Lakshmi?
G Vishnu’s power (Sakti)
D Who is Durga?
G Mahadeva’s power (Sakti)
D Who helps us to cross the ‘ocean of life’?
G Eswara
D     What is bondage?
G Love of things (subjects)
D What is Salvation (Relief)?
G After getting over the delusion with subjects, one merges with Eswara
D What is a terrible hell?
G Our (physical, material) body
D Where is Swarga ( Heaven)
G If the desires are eliminated, this Earth itself is a Swarga
D How do we overcome “the bondage with the world/life”?
G With the knowledge (wisdom) of the ‘Self’ (to be continued)

* A whole book(s) can be written about Eswara. For now it is sufficient to contemplate Eswara as the all pervading, formless (i.e., beyond any specific form), and total authority over all the worlds (rather limitless cosmos). All words and descriptions will be approximate, erroneous (and fail) while dealing with Eswara. Copyright 2025 by the author

Essential Works of Hinduism

Essential Works of Hinduism

I give this list with abundance of humility. I am not qualified really for this task but even with reservations I venture this list for the beginners. Specifically I have in mind (the target audience) an innocent grand child, a youngster, or someone with deep longing to explore the essential Hinduism. This is not intended for critics who willfully distort and wantonly propagate wrong interpretations of the ancient faith for obtaining some professorial chair or some emolument. Such “interlopers” can find umpteen third rate works in English. Ideally, the guru (or someone like Sri Sivanandamurty) would provide guidance in all such matters. But for many beginners finding a guru (any guru) is difficult or some are utterly allergic to the concept of ‘guru’; even if one finds one may not fully repose faith in the guru. [I cannot recall now the exact source of this pithy illuminating statement: Even if the guru is imperfect, if the disciple sincerely believes in his (her) guru and follows till the end – then both the guru and the disciple would be uplifted and released with miraculous results!]

The Preparation

The earnest enquirer starts with a clean, clear mind. We approach each book, chapter, and paragraph with open mind free of all biases. (i.e., Avoid all cross talk. Look at the pure signal.) First we read each chapter with full proficiency in the original language (either Sanskrit or vernacular). We try to understand and get the essence of a story. Still, at the end our mind may be left with lingering doubts. Per se, such doubts may not do any harmful damage. We need lot of patience to continue the trek and wait for the day when all doubts will eventually be cleared. No point in hurrying or abandoning our project half way.

Now coming to the language. Foremost, we must learn our mother tongue, whatever it is – Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati, or Bengali, etc. If English is really the mother tongue, then we are in a pickle. Finding authentic (English) translations of many Indian original works is very arduous, extremely difficult, but not impossible. Now learning a language really means full proficiency in all the working modes like reading, speaking, and writing. In addition, we need some grasp of Sanskrit; at least we should be able to read and write the mother (lingua), i.e., Sanskrit of many languages (the large Indo-European family).

So, now we presume the reader (or whoever be the interested aspirant) knows a bit of Telugu, just enough to read in Telugu script.

1. Stotra-Kadambam (by Bala Saraswati Book Depot) స్త్రోత్ర కదంబము (బాలసరస్వతి  బుక్ డిపో) It is a small book comprising many valuable Slokas and Stotras. This pocket size book is very moderately priced (about 10 Rupees) making it accessible to many. The first page starts with invocation to Lord Ganesa. I’ve given the meaning of the sloka here: Ganesa's Grace

Sloka on Ganesa

Let us dwell on this first page for several minutes and meditate. Thus, we’ve started the exploration with a small yet auspicious step.

(The Internet savvy reader will find these slokas at several web sites. iPhone, laptop, or digital devices are handy for searching. But they also cause distraction to the mind. So, if there is no other way, print a page or two in Telugu (or other vernacular) script and use it to learn and pray. Keep away from diversions as much as possible. Also, be aware of typographical mistakes.) 

2. Srimad-Bhagavatamu by Bammera Potana (Telugu translation from the original in Sanskrit. It contains lyrical poetry interspersed with musical sounding prose sections.) Copyright 2021 by the author

 (To be Continued) 

Telugu Encyclopedia of Sanatana Dharma

For quite some time, I have been thinking of writing about two issues in my blogs. One, about a very rare precious Telugu resource on the Internet. Second, about an extraordinary literary multi-linguist (polyglot) – Dr. (Prof.) P.S. Sastri. The latter, I will defer to a future time, as it needs more careful study and preparation.

            Today, I would like to dwell on this rare Telugu treasure. I came to know about it, just by pure chance when I was leisurely browsing the Kanchi Kamakoti organization’s website (http://www.kamakoti.org/telugu/). I cannot comment about their Tamil section as I can barely read the Tamil script. But the Telugu section is just superb – it is beyond any description, only superlatives (or hyperboles) can convey about its content, range of topics, and very (though I would not use the adjective, esoteric) rare works. Sitting in Northeast, continents away, in a remote place, how lucky am I to avail such works? At this site, I can read about Sri Ramana Maharishi, the Upanishads, puranic stories about Radha, Adi Sankara, and many more. I can read the original Sanskrit verses, their meaning in Telugu, and some very illuminating, one of a kind works in Telugu. I got to read about Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swami and his great musical compositions. Such a site is very rare indeed. If I am waxing eloquent, a bit rapidly typing sentences, it is because only a true aspirant (i.e., a sincere devotee) knows how difficult it is to get even a copy of Dakshinamurti Stotra or its faithful translation in a remote corner of the world. Even in India, in small places it is very difficult to get authoritative books on Sanatana Dharma, commentaries, or elegant helpful (lucid) translations in vernacular. Of course, publishers like Gita Press (of Gorakhpur), Gollapudi, and others are doing their best to promote awareness in Sanatana Dharma in all major Indian languages. Many publishers go out of their way to satisfy customers, as they would normally mail books to anywhere. Still, the exorbitant international shipping charges discourage many foreign readers; not everyone can splurge hundreds of dollars on books, CDs, or audios. Spiritual path may be strewn with many a hurdle, but (lack of) money is never one of them.

            A sampling of some works at the Kanchi Kamakoti website: Ramana Maharishi by Suri Nagamma, Mahayogam (enunciated by Sri Ramana Maharishi), Na Ramudu ( = My Rama) by Viswanatha Satyanarayana, Sri Sri Sri Prabhudattaji, Biography of Sri Seshadri Swami, Bhakti Rasayanamu by Madhusudhana Saraswati, translated by Potukuchi Subhrahmanya Sastri, Ph.D. Obviously, there are many more gems of Bhakti literature, expositions of Hindu scriptures, and Hindu philosophy embedded in this Telugu section. I have not exhausted reading all of the books (or headings) in this vast repository. I do not think I will be able to read all of its content; life is too short. (I will elaborate on this point towards the end.) I do visit this site whenever I have a difficult question, when I am desperately searching for clarification of a tricky issue. Usually I come away with a clear(er) insight.

            To understand Hindu mythologies properly [let us leave aside for a moment -mistranslations, distortions, intentionally warped commentaries – because there is no time for “stupid, bad arguments”; there are lots of pseudo works parading in the garb of modern anthropological (abhorring interpretations – often they highlight the author’s ignorance rather than scholarship!) insights as great original books. One must exercise extreme caution in selecting “what to read”, otherwise one will be thrown off the track! ], we have to either learn Sanskrit a bit or be fully equipped in a regional language (Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, etc.). Only the local language has an organic bonding with the (subcontinent) Indian soil, its ancient culture, and its ethos. English, sad to say this, does not have the required vocabulary. Besides, English words lack the proper etymological underpinnings to support Sanskrit. It cannot translate karma, dharma, punya, or maya (a point often emphasized by commentators like Sri Chaganti, Sri Pratyag Bodhananda, and others). Sure, there are some aborted attempts to find approximations for such profound words. But the translated English word (idiom) will not communicate the force (punch) of the original.

            Here, in these web pages, among these forests of thought provoking, very gentle meditative discourses, I am lucky to come across many names of my forefathers, great commentators, and numerous benedictory sermons of Paramacharya. Even in India, it is nearly impossible to come across such a wide range of books. Maybe, I can browse or borrow a few books from a local Rama Krishna Mission library. Still even such a task requires physical transportation and healthy body. Just with an Internet connection, any reader can access these works in her home, at all hours, across all continents.

            With much humility, I pay my gratitude and thanks to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham for gifting such an invaluable treasure of wisdom (and knowledge) to many remote devotees. It is like a blessed “distant learning” portal. Many people must have contributed to this effort, to make it fully functional and successful. Computer (software & hardware) professionals, librarians, liberal donors, and certainly, lots of dedicated supervisory staff. From a far off place, I do not know their names. Yet, I feel as though they are helping me to progress on my arduous journey. I salute them with all my heart. Specially I must mention my gratitude to the Sadhana Grantha (Grandha) Mandali of Tenali (Sri Bulusu Suryaprakasa Sastry garu), who have graciously contributed many volumes to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

            Reading a single poem, a single sentence, or one good book can change entire life. The innocent boy Dhruva (Pole star) and the more recent Balayogi (of Mummidivaram) episodes come to my mind. At a minimum, by reading these books, I may, at least partially, discharge my debt to the great eternally living rishis of India (Bharata-khanda).

            The modern impatient English-only (semi) literate youth greedily wants these things translated into English. Hold that terrible ugly thought! Only great scholars like Dr. P. S. Sastri or Sister Nivedita can attempt such a task. Now, due to our misfortune, we do not have them among our midst anymore. Each age must bear its burdens and curses – and bear one must patiently, with a sense of total surrender to the Lord Venkateswara.

            A last word – we, I mean, most of us can read only so much. Very few (bless them, such great souls) can read all the eighteen puranas, the three epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Srimad Bhagavatam), and the Bhagavad-Gita; ideally, one has to read each purana at least three times. But, mere reading can lead to other troubles: a false sense of pride, scholarliness, the weight of erudition, unnecessary ego, etc. So, since time is of essence (on this earthly planet), one should read only a modest number of books (This is not my original idea, I am paraphrasing here). And then, absorb the real “meaning” behind each text (verse, sentence, word, or syllable) and hastily move on to the real task at hand. And the real task, is, implementation (practice and more practice) with utmost care. Practice, patience, and extraordinary care, i.e., attention to the detail – all that matters finally.
Copyright by the author 2012