A Hermeneutic Study of Vacanamrtam

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The text Vaćanâmṛtam', a collection of dialogues contains a well-formulated Vedanta. In Indian tradition, Scripture is considered the primary source. Therefore, an extensive study of the text in hermeneutic perspective is undertaken.

The book is divided in six parts. Part one comprising three chapters gives an overview of Hermeneutics from Western and Indian perspectives, and the text 'Vaćanamrtam in the hermeneutic perspective. Part II covering two chapters gives a glimpse of the life story of Sri Swaminarayana and the general history of Gujarat. Part III comprises two chapters meant for the general introduction of the text and of the compilers. Part IV covering five chapters discusses various methods employed; and beauty of the prose of the text. Part V in three chapters deals with the major topics - Epistemology. Ontology, Ethics and Religion. Part VI comprises two chapters; one chapter with reference to Hermeneutics as an ongoing process covers a comparative reading of different traditions, and in the concluding chapter, I offer my personal observations.

Purnima M. Dave (b. 1946 Mumbai). She is an MA in Philosophy of the University of Mumbai. Dr. Dave joined as adjunct faculty in the Philosophy Dept. of University of Mumbai after her retirement as head of the Dept. of Philosophy in Parle College (Mumbai). She earned her doctorate in Philosophy from Mumbai University. Dr. Dave has travelled extensively. She has participated in International Conferences and seminars and presented Papers.. Her papers are published in refereed Journals and books in the field.

This work is an attempt at 'A Hermeneutical study of the text Vacanämrtam. The term 'Hermeneutics is novel in India and so it excites our interest in the study of the religious text Vacanämrtam'. However, the technique of hermeneutics has been in vogue in Indian tradition since ancient times.

The present work deals with the subject in six parts.

Part I covers three chapters. They together provide neces- sary background information to give a clue about the main theme of A Hermeneutic Study of 'Vacanãmṛtam'. It gives an overview of 'Hermeneutics from Western and Indian perspec- tives, and then the placement of the study of the text "Vaćanāmrtam (the text in Vedic/Hindu tradition) in the hermeneutic perspective. In chapter 1, a broad outline of the Western perspective of Hermeneutics is given in more or less chronological sequence. I have chosen to focus on the ideas of Schleiermacher (1768-1834), Wilhelm Dilthey (1833- 1911) and Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900-2002), three most prominent representatives of contemporary thought as their thinking is in continuation of the hermeneutic tradition of the earlier traditional thinkers and yet it is rather a reaction to the older conception. In second chapter, I talk about a myth regarding the very existence of Indian Philosophy that pre- vailed in the West for a very long time, and then I submit that in Indian tradition hermeneutic approach has been in vogue from ancient times; and hermeneutics as a discipline concerned with establishing principles for the retrieval of meaning, especially from a text is by no means a new science in India. Chapter III informs us that the basic theme of the text 'Vacanāmṛtam' is undertaken with reference to the method of hermeneutics in regard to the scriptural interpreta- tion comprising of five factors: text; context; what the text conveys in the context; what the tradition says in the context and, fusion of horizons that of the text and the reader. Each of these five factors is discussed in detail in the subsequent chapters.

In Part II covering two chapters, we get a glimpse of the life story of Sri Swaminārāyaṇa, the religious teacher and the master of the text. It also gives only so much general history of Gujarat as necessary for the sympathetic comprehension of the work and philosophy of Sri Swaminārāyaṇa. I have given an objective presentation of the biographical account of Śri Swaminārāyaṇa through three different phases allowing the reader to establish connectivity in them. We shall miss here the anecdotes and subjective elements.

Part III comprises two chapters. The first chapter gives an introduction of the text "Vaćanāmṛtam,' the meaning of the term 'Vacanāmṛtam,' the general features of the text and the views of various scholars regarding the authenticity and various other dimensions of the text Vaćanāmṛtam. It also gives a broad outline of the teaching style of Sri Swami- nārāyaṇa. However, a detailed study of his style is discussed in the subsequent chapters. The second chapter covers a brief life-sketch of the four compilers as the text 'Vacanāmṛtam' is compilation of the dialogues and discus- sions held between Sri Swäminäräyana, the Master and his disciples.

The aim of Indian Council of Philosophical Research is to promote valued research in the field of philosophy in general and Indian philosophy in particular. Doing so ICPR publishes significant research works. The text, 'Vacanãmṛtam' has a status of Sacred Scripture and it belongs to Sri Swaminarayana tradition. The text is a record of creative dialogues that took place between 1819 and 1829 CE. The philosophy expounded in the text through dialogue and discussion deserves to be given due importance for the understanding of the synthetic approach of Indian culture.

Dr. Purnima Dave claims that her post-doctoral research work was a humble attempt at "A Hermeneutic Study of the Text Vacanämrtam". She had the privilege to hear Yogiji Mahārāja, an enlightened Guru speaking on the text 'Vacanāmṛtam' for long years. Besides, she is also equipped with the contemporary methods of study and research. As an ardent student endowed with critical faculty, she has gone into the depths of the text and and presented the topics comprehensively with remarkable clarity, analytical skill and insightful understanding. To the best of my understanding, she has done justice to the inspired utterances of Śri Swāminārāyaṇa.

The main topics which constitute the subject matter are grouped in six parts: Part I covers three chapters. They together provide necessary background information to give a clue about the main subject of "A Hermeneutic Study of "Vacanāmṛtam'". It gives an overview of 'Hermeneutics from Western and Indian perspectives, and then the placement of the study of the text, "Vaćanamṛtam' (the text in Vedic tradition) in the hermeneutic perspective.

Part II covering two chapters gives a glimpse of the life story of Sri Swaminarayana, the master of the text, and only so much general history of Gujarat as necessary for the sympathetic comprehension of the work and philosophy of Sri Swaminārāyaṇa.

Part III comprises two chapters. The first chapter gives a detailed information about the text 'Vaćanāmṛtam.' The second chapter covers a brief life-sketch of the four compilers as the text is compilation of the dialogues and discussions between Sri Swaminārāyaṇa, the Master and his disciples.

Part IV covers five chapters. They deal with the methods employed by Sri Swaminārāyaṇa in the 'Vacanãmṛtam' such as simile and stories, and methods of personal account and narration. The fifth chapter highlights the beauty and elegance of the prose of the text 'Vaćanämṛtam' from the literary point of view.

Part V in three chapters deals with the major topics of Sri Swaminārāyaṇa Vedanta philosophy. It includes Episte- mology and Ontology, Ethics and Liberation.

Part VI comprises two chapters. The first chapter provides insight by the juxtaposition - body-soul relation as explained by Swaminārāyaṇa (East) and (East) and Process Theology of A.N. Whitehead (West) in regard to Human- Nature-divine relationship; the texts of Buddhist tradition (Sramana tradition) and Swaminārāyaṇa tradition (Vedic/ Bhakti tradition) with regard to their ethical input; and two contemporary stalwart personalities, Śri Swaminārāyaṇa (theistic tradition) and Swami Vivekananda (Advaita tradi- tion) with regard to their missionary zeal and reforms.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages