Contribution of Sacchidanandendra Sarswathi to 20th Century Advaita

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From the Jacket

Sacchidanandendra Saraswathi Swamiji (1880-1975) is one of the greatest Advaitins of The Twentieth Century. He was known as "Abhinava Shankara" Karnataka Shankara" And so on in spite on writing more than 150 works in Kannada, English and Sanskrit his contribution to advaita has gone unnoticed. Hence the book makers a systematic and a comprehensive surety of his contribution along with some biographical details. It is the first of its kind in English.

S. Ranganath secured First Class, First Rank in M. A. Sanskrit from Bangalore University. He is the recipient of Hiriyanna gold Medal and Hebbar Srivaishnava Sabha Gold Medal. The title Vedabhooshana was conferred on him by Veda Dharma Paripalana Shabha. American Biographical Institute, U.S.A. has honoured him with the title The man of the year 1996. he has a Vidwan Degree in Advaita Vedanta from Sri Chamarajendra Sanskrit College. He has studied Rigveda traditionally for eight years. His Ph. D. dissertation was contribution of Vacaspati Misra to India Philosophy. He has eighteen books and sixty research papers to his credit. His Kannada translation of Prof. Satya Varat Shastri's Ramakirti Mahakavyam is published in Bangkok (Thailand). He is Professor of Sanskrit, N.M.K.R.V. College for Women, Bangalore.

Preface

Sacchidanandendra Saraswathi Swamiji (1880-1975) was one of the greatest Advaitins of the 20th century. He was born in Karnataka and was Popularly known as "Abhinava Sankara", "Karnataka Sankara" and so on. He had the unique opportunity of getting the Bhasya Shanthi from Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrsimhabharathi Swamiji the 33rd pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetam and happened to be a classmate of Sri Chandra Sekhara Bharathi Swamiji the 34th pontiff of Sringer Sharada Peetam. He also had the close association with Gondali Maharaj and Abhinva Vidyatirtha Swamiji the 35th pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetam. Sacchidanandendra Saraswathi Swamigal had imbibed the best of the east and the west in his life with an open mind. He had interacted with scholars of the caliber of Prof. T. R. V. Murti and Prof. T. M. P. Mahadevan and had shared his wisdom with them. Swamiji wanted to preach and propagate uncontaminated pure Advaita and hence wrote his Magnum opus "Vedanta Prakriya Pratyabhigna," Along with Vishuddha Vedanta Sarah not being satisfied with original in Sanskrit on Sureshvaracharya's Naishkarmyasiddhi entitled "Sugama". To explain and expound the Sum and wrote Gita Sastrartha Vivekah in 3 parts. He translated Upanishads, Gita, Brahmasutras, Prakaranas, Stotras of Sankara into Kannada so that non Sanskrit people who knew only Kannada also could get the Message of Shankara. His works in Kannada like "Jeevanta Vedanta" and "Anubhavagamya Vedanta" High-Light the practicaland experimental Dimension of Advaita. For Children he wrote some works through story medium to inculcate Wisdom and Morality in them.

Swamiji started "Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya" to spread Adhyatma among the masses at hole Narasipur and Later founded its branch at Banglore. Swamiji's ardent students H.S. Laxminarasimha Murthy and K.G. Subbaraya Sarma are incharge of the Karyalaya respectively. "Adhyatma Prakash" a journal to spread Adhyatma was also Started by Him.

Thus Swamiji's contribution to 0th century Advaita is Multifarious. As a original writer, as a commentator, as a translator, as an organizer, as a populariser his contribution is unique and un-paralleled.

In spite of such significant contribution, he has not got the due recognition with he richly deserves as non Kannada people Don't know him and there is no work in English about him highlighting his total contribution. It is in this background that an attempt has Been made in this direction this book of mine this is only a sample survey and by no means a comprehensive survey.