Sri Madhwacharya - Biography - English

Sri Madhvacarya, also known as Vasudeva, Ananda Tirtha and Purnaprajna, is one of India’s greatest theologians. He is the founder of dvaita philosophy, and is one of the most important commentators on the Upanisads, Bhagavad-gita and the Brahma-sutras. In addition, he wrote many original works that dealt with important aspects of his new doctrine. In all, he wrote 37 works. Not only did Madhvacarya’s powerful literary output help to establish his teachings during his own lifetime, it has inspired a vast literary tradition that continues to the present day.

His doctrine asserts that this world is real and that there is an eternal and immutable difference between the individual soul and God.

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1. Sri Madhwacharya - His life and Times - CNK Aiyar

2. The Life And Teachings of Sri Madhvacharyar - C.M. Padmanabha Char

Swami Ramathirtha - Hindi Biography by Narayan Swami

This book is a comprehensive biography of Swami Rama Tirtha (1873 - 1906) in Hindi by Srimannarayana Swami who was a direct disciple of the saint. Narayana Swami had the good fortune of being closely associated with the saint for many years.

Swami Rama Tirtha was one of the greatest exponents of Advaita Vedanta. He was among the first notable teachers of Hinduism to lecture in the United States, traveling there in 1902. During his American tours Swami Rama Tirtha spoke frequently on the concept of 'practical Vedanta' and on education of Indian youth. He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities, and helped establish several scholarships for Indian students.

His discourses and other works are compiled in "In Woods of God Realization" in 7 volumes.

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In Quest of God by Swami Ramdas

"In Quest of God is an autobiographical account of Swami Ramdas’ unique experiences during the first year of his itinerant life all over India as a God-intoxicated Sadhu, culminating in his spiritual enlightenment.

After receiving the initiation of Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram from his father, Swami Ramdas, then known as Vittal Rao, renounced the worldly life in 1922 and wandered as a mendicant sadhu all over India and the Himalayas, in various states of God-intoxication, with Ramnam ever on his tongue, and heart as his only refuge. 

His path of complete surrender to the Will of God is joyfully rendered in a most inspiring way. After over a decade of wandering in a God realized state of liberation he returned to Southwestern India, and founded Anandashram, near Kanhangad, with the help and support of his foremost disciple, Mother (Mataji) Krishnabai, also a self-realized being.

In Quest of God is the first book in a trilogy chronicling Swami Ramdas' pilgrimage to God-realization. The next two books, In the Vision of God, vol. 1--The Continuing Saga of an Extraordinary Pilgrimage and In the Vision of God, vol.2--The Conclusion to the Saga of an Extraordinary Pilgrimage complete the series. Many readers find themselves in a lifelong love affair with this illuminating and transformational story. 

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In Quest of God OCR PDF
In Quest of God Scanned PDF 1952 edn

In the Vision of God DJVU file

Sayings of Ramdas PDF
Sayings of Ramdas DJVU file

Sri Ramanujacharya - A biography

Ramanuja (11th Century CE), also known as Ramanujacharya, was a theologian, philosopher, and scriptural exegete. He is seen by Sri Vaishnavas as the third and most important teacher (Acharya) of their tradition (after Nathamuni and Yamunacharya), and by Hindus in general as the leading expounder of Visishtadvaita, one of the classical interpretations of the dominant Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.

Ramanuja may have written 9 books. They are also referred to as the nine precious gems, the Navarathnas.

1. His most famous work is known as the Sri Bhasya or Brahma Sutra Bhasya. It is a commentary on the Brahma Sutras.

2-4. Gadhya Thrayam (three prose hymns). All three are: Vaikunta Gadyam describing in great detail Vaikuntha, Sriranga Gadyam, a prayer of surrender to the feet of Ranganatha, Saranagati Gadyam, an imagined dialogue between Ramanuja and Shri (Lakshmi) and Narayana where he petitions Lakshmi to recommend Narayana to give him

5. Vedartha Sangraha (a resume of Vedanta). It sets out Ramanuja’s philosophy, which is theistic (it affirms a morally perfect, omniscient and omnipotent God) and

6. Vedanta Saara (essence of Vedanta) an appendix to Sri Bhasya

7. Vedanta Deepa (the light of Vedanta), another

8. Gita Bhashya ( his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita)

9. Nithya Grantham (About the day to day activities to be performed by all SriVaishnavas)

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Eknath - Biography

Eknāth (1533-1599) was a great saint and prominent Marāthi religious poet in the Hindu tradition in India.

Saint Eknath is believed to be the first person in Middle-age Maharastra who have abolished concept of Untouchability by his actions. His well described poems advocate soft corner and equal treatment among all living beings even with animals.

For his spiritual development in his youth, Eknath had accepted the discipleship of a Guru named Janārdan Swāmi- a saint and scholar and highly ranked minister in the kingdom of Devgarh.

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Sri Aurobindo - A Biography

An exhaustive biography of Sri Aurobindo (1872 - 1950) who was an Indian nationalist and freedom fighter, poet, philosopher, and yogi. He joined the movement for India's freedom from British rule and for a duration (1905-1910), became one of its most important leaders, before turning to developing his own vision and philosophy of human progress and a spiritual path which he termed Integral Yoga. He wrote over a hundred poems, many plays and several
books.

In his famous Uttarapara speech, he proclaimed, "I say no longer that nationalism is a creed, a religion, a faith;I say that it is the Sanatana Dharma which for us is nationalism. This Hindu nation was born with the Sanatana Dharma, with it it moves and with it it grows. When the Sanatana Dharma declines, then the nation declines, and if the Sanatana Dharma were capable of perishing, with the Sanatana Dharma it would perish.The Sanatana Dharma, that is nationalism. This is the message that I have to speak to you".

Of India's future Sri Aurobindo prophesied : "India of the ages is not dead nor has She spoken Her last creative word. And that which She must seek now to awake, is not an anglicised oriental people, docile pupil of the West and doomed to repeat the cycle of the Occident's success and failure, but still the ancient immemorial Shakti recovering Her deepest self, lifting Her head higher towards the supreme source of light and strength and turning to discover the complete meaning and vaster form of Her Dharma".

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Ganapati Muni - A Biography

This book is an adaptation by Dr. G. Krishna from the original Telugu biography of Ganapati Muni by Gunturu Lakshmikantam.

Vasistha Ganapati Muni (1878-1936), famed as Kavyakantha, and popularly addressed as Nayana, was the foremost disciple of the great saint, Ramana Maharshi. Ganapati Muni as a mighty spiritual personality in his own right and had a large following of illustrious disciples. It is a standing testimony to his spiritual sincerity, humility, and intellectual honesty that he recognized the uniqueness of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's teaching, accepted Him as his Guru, and proclaimed him as the Maharshi to the whole world.

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How I became a Hindu - David Frawley

David Frawley, who is now known as Vamadeva Shastri is perhaps the first American to get recognition in India as an Acharya of Hindu Dharma. In this book he describes how and why he was attracted to Hinduism and eventually embraced it.

David Frawley (Vāmadeva Śāstrī) is an author on Hinduism, Yoga and Ayurveda, and the founder and director of the American Institute for Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which offers courses on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Hindu astrology. He is also a Professor of Vedic Astrology and Ayurveda at the International Vedic Hindu University (IVHU). He is a Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), and a Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer).

To know about his life and work, visit http://www.vedanet.com/

Source of etext: www.hindubooks.org

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The Story of Swami Rama Tirtha

Biography of Swami Rama Tirtha (1873 - 1906), one of the greatest exponents of Advaita Vedanta. He was among the first notable teachers of Hinduism to lecture in the United States, traveling there in 1902. During his American tours Swami Rama Tirtha spoke frequently on the concept of 'practical Vedanta' and on education of Indian youth. He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities, and helped established several scholarships for Indian students.

His discourses and other works are compiled in "In Woods of God Realization" in 7 volumes.
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The life and teaching of Tukaram by J. N. Fraser & J. F. Edwards

 
Sant Tukaram, a prominent Maharashtrian saint and religious poet, was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in 17th century CE. Tukaram was a devotee of Lord Vittala (or Vithobā) - an incarnation of Lord Krishna, who in turn, is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is quite renowned for his contribution to the Bhakti Movement of Maharashtra.

Like Namdev, Janabai, and Eknath, Tukaram wrote in archaic Marathi a large number of devotional poems identified in Marathi as abhang (अभंग). A collection of 4,500 abhang known as the Gāthā is attributed to Tukaram. It is believed that he was a contemporary of Shivaji Maharaj.

Tukaram puts bhakti at the centre of his spiritual life. In one of his verses, he declares that Bhaktimarg is "the only way to God in this age". Another provides a succinct statement of his philosophy of religion: "God has no form, nor any name, nor any place where he can be seen; but wherever you go, you see God."

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Glimpses of Swami Dayananda (Biography)

Biography of Swami Dayananda Saraswati (स्‍वामी दयानन्‍द सरस्‍वती) (1824-1883), one of the greatest leaders of Hindu revivalism and the founder of the Arya Samaj. He was a renowned Vedic scholar who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas.

Among Swami Dayananda's immense contributions is his championing of the equal rights of women - such as their right to education and reading of Indian scriptures - and his translation of the Vedas from Sanskrit to Hindi so that the common man may be able to read the Vedas. The Arya Samaj is rare in Hinduism in its acceptance of women as leaders in prayer meetings and preaching. Considering his contributions to the reformation and revival of Hinduism, all Hindus are indebted to this great soul forever.

He was also the first to proclaim India for Indians. His book SATYARTH PRAKASH contributed to the freedom struggle by inspiring the freedom fighters. On the basis of these facts some believe that Swami Dayanand rightfully deserves to be called as Grandfather of the Indian Nation.

To read Satyarth Prakash or Light of Truth in various languages, visit http://www.satyarthprakash.com/

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Stories of Indian Saints - Maha Bhakta Vijaya-Part 2

This book is an English translation of Mahipati's Marathi text "Bhakta Vijaya" which records the legends of Indian saints, irrespective of their difference in caste, community, creed, language and place of origin. What little knowledge we have on
the Saints of Maharashtra comes mostly from the two books, Bhakta Vijaya and Bhakta Lilamrita, written by Mahipati (1715 - 1790) who lived in Tharabad, about 35 miles from Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.

"Bhakta Vijaya" contains soul-stirring stories of several saints including Jayadeva, Tulsidas, Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath, Jnaneshwar, Eknath, Tukaram, Namdev, Janabai, Gora, Kabir, Rohidas, Narsi Mehta, Ramdas, Sena, Mirabai, Bhanudas, et al
Bhakta Vijaya has been translated into almost all prominent Indian languages. It has been a source of inspiration to millions of devotees and has been used for daily reading and Harikatha all over India for more than 300 years.

Source: Digital Library of India, Bangalore - http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/index.html.en

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Stories of Indian Saints - Maha Bhakta Vijaya - Parts 1

This book is an English translation of Mahipati's Marathi text "Bhakta Vijaya" which records the legends of Indian saints, irrespective of their difference in caste, community, creed, language and place of origin. What little knowledge we have on the Saints of Maharashtra comes mostly from the two books, Bhakta Vijaya and Bhakta Lilamrita, written by Mahipati (1715 - 1790) who lived in Tharabad, about 35 miles from Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.

"Bhakta Vijaya" contains soul-stirring stories of several saints including Jayadeva, Tulsidas, Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath, Jnaneshwar, Eknath, Tukaram, Namdev, Janabai, Gora, Kabir, Rohidas, Narsi Mehta, Ramdas, Sena, Mirabai, Bhanudas, et al. Bhakta Vijaya has been translated into almost all prominent Indian languages. It has been a source of inspiration to millions of devotees and has been used for daily reading and Harikatha all over India for more than 300 years.

Source: Digital Library of India, Bangalore - http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/index.html.en

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Sankara the Missionary - Biography of Adi Sankaracharya

Sankara the missionary is a biography of Adi Sankaracharya, the most renowned Indian philosopher, published by Chinmaya Mission. Sankaracharya was not only a thinker and the noblest of advaitic philosophers, but he was essentially an inspired champion of Hinduism and one of the most vigorous missionaries in our country. No single person could ever have achieved what he had achieved in his short span of life of 32 years.

He interpreted Brahmasutra of Badarayana and major Upanishads based on the philosophy of non-duality and composed many advaitic texts such as Upadesha Sahasri, Aparokshanubhuti, Viveka Chudamani, etc in addition to various devotional hymns.

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