Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani

The Puranas and great Epics – the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian and life and culture. The various episodes therein are of very great significance. Sages and saints who wrote them were gifted with the rare power of anticipation of events to occur. A study of Epics, Puranas kindles hope in a person to hold up to God’s feet and obtain his guidance and help to enjoy a smooth journey through life. But it is to be noted that the great eighteen Mahapuranas alone consist of 3,71,000 Sanskrit verses approximately. The Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata consist of 24000 and one lakh Sanskrit verses respectively.

To go through in to such a vast ocean of knowledge is not possible for a knowledge seeker or a layman. Hence Vettam Mani’s Puranic Encyclopaedia is a boon to all the people of the world. It took him five years for him to compile this great encyclopaedia. To provide such a Comprehensive and well-nigh exhaustive book of study and reference with regard to episodes,
incidents, characters occurring in the many Puranas and such other work in Sanskrit are a monumental task.Vettam Mani has successfully achieved his goal.

The book in A4 size runs to 921 pages. All the subjects are arranged alphabetically. Culling out various facts from different Puranas, each subject is justified fully for its contents. Deep, extensive and exhaustive study, patient and untiring research are so very patent on every page of the book. Starting from ‘A’ one may go in for any subject he wants to refer to. Arjuna, Brahma, Abhimanyu, Cyavana, Dhanurveda, Drona, Duryodhana, Ekavira, Ganapati, Hariscandra, Iravan, Jambavan ,Rama, Krishna, Viswamitra, Vyasa, etc. The book covers well over 6000 topics. This is a must for all the libraries of the world.Every lover of learning and knowledge everywhere owes an eternal debt of gratitude to the compiler Vettam Mani. The book is published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, Delhi, India

Review coutesy: Santhanam Nagarajan

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Adhyathm Ramayanam - Malayalam - Tunchathu Ezhuthachan

Adhyathma Ramayanam is the Malayalam version of Ramayana written by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan in the early 17th Century. Ezhuthachan is considered as the Father of the Malayalam language. The speciality of his version of Ramayana is that it is full of devotion. It has been so popular in Kerala that it has been sued for daily chanting in all Hindu homes in Kerala for more than 300 years. Keralites celebrate mid-July to mid-August as Ramayana Masam (Ramayana Month) every year.

This ebook comprises of 6 kandas:

1. Bala Kanda
2. Ayodhya Kanda
3. Aranya Kanda
4. Kishkindha Kanda
5. Sundara Kanda
6. Yuddha Kanda

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The Yoga Upanishads Sanskrit Text & English Translation

English translation of 20 Yoga Upanishads. The translator, G Srinivasa Ayyangar, has closely followed the Sanskrit commentaries of Sri Upanishad-Brahman-Yogin who is the only one so far known to have achieved the unique distinction of having written a commentary on all the 108 Upanishads.

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Srimad Bhagavad Gita - "Sadhak Sanjivani' Hindi Commentary by Swami Ramsukhdas

An exhaustive Hindi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by one of the greatest scholars of Gita in 20th century.

Poojya Swami Ramsukhdasji (1902-2004) was an enlightened sage whose life was fully dedicated for the propagation of the teachings of Gita among the masses. He has authored morethan 50 books on Gita and other spiritual topics. His books have been translated into English and also in all prominent Indian languages. The famous "Sadhak Sanjivani", his
masterpiece, contains Sanskrit slokas of Gita, meaning of each word in the slokas and meaning & commentary upon the slokas (verses).

His discourses in Hindi and books in several languages are available for online viewing and download at http://www.swamiramsukhdasji.org/

Source of e-text: http://www.gitapress.org/

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In Woods of God Realization - Swami Rama Tirtha - Volume 1

This is the first of 7 volumes of Complete Works of Swami Rama Tirtha.

Described as “one of the greatest souls, not only of India, but of the whole world” by Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Rama Tirtha (1873-1906) was a living embodiment of the teachings of Vedanta. One of the greatest saints and philosophers of India, Rama Tirtha brought the message of yoga and Vedanta to Japan, Egypt, and the U.S. In the Woods of God Realization is a complete collection of his writings and lectures. In this seven volume work Rama Tirtha presents a practical and inspiring view of Vedanta and also discusses timely topics such as married life and realization, Christianity and Islam, war and peace, and patriotism.

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Sri Lalita Ashtotharam Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation

108 names of Divine Mother (Sri Lalita) - Sanskrit Text, English Transliteration and Translation.

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Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotram - Malayalam

Lalita sahasranama is the most popular and sacred hymn for the worshippers of the Goddess Lalita Devi, i.e. the Divine Mother, in the form of her and the male gods' feminine power, Shakti. Etymologically, "Lalita" means "She Who Plays". It is supposedly one of the most complete stotras, one need only recite it to gain 'Moksha'.

The thousnad names of the divine Mother are organised as in a hymn, i.e. in the way of stotras. This hymn occurs in the Brahmanda Purana. It is a dialogue between Hayagriva, an (avatara) of MahaVishnu and the great sage Agastya. Lalitha sahasranama was composed by 8 vaag devis (vaag devathas) upon the command of Devi Sri Lalitha.

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Vidura Niti - Sanskrit Text with English Translation

Vidura Niti comprises of maxims of Vidura on "right conduct" in the form of a dialogue with King Dhritarashtra. This text, containing more than 500 slokas, is found in chapters 33 to 40 of Udyoga Parva of Maha Bharata of Sage Vyasa.

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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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Yaksha Prasna Sanskrit Text + English Translation

Yaksha Prasna is an episode taken from Mahabharata. It is a dialogue between Yudhishthira and Yama, the lord of Death who disguises as a Yaksha. In this Yudhishthira gives amazing and enlightening answers to very difficult questions asked by Yama.

During the time when the Pandavas were living in the forest, a deer took away the stick used to make fire from the sage’s home in the forest in its antlers. The saint tried to recover it but could not. He then requested the Pandavas (sons of Pandu) to trace the deer by its hoof marks and recover it. The Pandavas followed the hoof marks of the deer throughout the day and reached deep in the forest. Dharma Puthra the eldest of the Pandavas became very tired and wanted to drink some water before carrying on the chase any further. Sahadeva the youngest brother volunteered to bring the water. He spotted a lake near by. The lake was bare of any living beings except a crane. When Sahadeva tried to drink water from the lake, the crane spoke to him, Oh Sahadeva, the water of this lake is poisonous, if you drink it without answering my questions. Sahadeva did not bother and drank the water from the lake and died. After some time Nakula came in search. And was surprised at seeing the dead Sahadeva. He too decided to drink water and was warned by the crane and he too died on drinking the water. The same thing happened to Arjuna and Bheema. Seeing that all his four brothers are missing, Dharma Puthra came in search. Since he was very thirsty, he too tried to drink the water from the lake. But when the crane warned him, he decided to answer the questions of the crane. Before asking questions, the crane revealed himself as a Yaksha. All the questions asked by the Yaksha were answered by Dharma Puthra to the Yaksha’s satisfaction. Then the Yaksha gave a boon to Dharma Puthra to bring back alive one of his dead brothers. Dharma wanted, Nakula to be made alive. The surprised Yaksha asked him, Oh king, why did you choose Nakula, when you could have chosen Bheema and Arjuna? Dharma Puthra replied, I am alive and so my mother Kunthi has one son. I wanted my other mother Madhri also to have a son alive, The Yaksha was very much pleased and gave life back to all the Pandavas. Given below are the pointed questions asked by the Yaksha and the pithy and very direct replies given by Dharma Puthra. These are a store house of knowledge and termed as Yaksha Prasna (Questions of Yaksha).

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