Encyclopaedia on Srimad Bhagavatam (Purana)

The perpetual Srimad Bhagavatam cherished and prized legacy of Indian culture. The idealized version of Bhaga-vatatam described in deep into the consciousness of every Hindu religious thinkers. The accurate depiction in different ages and regions testifies to the universal and everlasting popularity of Srimad Bhagavatam Worshipful homage's unto Lord Krsna, divine incarnation of the Supreme Deity, Bhagavat Narayana, His perfect personality representing the perfect ideal human individual, inspire all beings to strive to improve their own character and conduct and to emulate the noble behaviour of Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam is the transcendental science not only for knowing the ultimate source of everything but also for knowing our relation with Him and our duty toward perfection of the human society on the basis of this perfect knowledge. It is powerful reading matter in the Sanskrit language, and it is now rendered into English elaborately so that simply by a careful reading one will know God perfectly well, so much so that the reader will be sufficiently educated to defend himself from the onslaught of atheists. Over and above this, the reader will be to convert others to accepting God as a concrete principle.

Readers will find this work of value for many reasons. For those interested in the classical roots of Indian civilization, it serves as a vast reservoir of detailed information on virtually every one of its aspects. For students of comparative philosophy and religion, the Bhagavatam offers a penetrating view into the meaning of India's profound spiritual heritage. To sociologist and anthropologists, the Bhagavatam reveals the practical workings of a peaceful and scientifically organized Vedic culture, whose institutions were integrated on the basis of a highly developed spiritual worldview. Students of literature will discover the Bhagavatam to be a masterpiece of majestic poetry. For students of psychology, the text provides important perspectives on the nature of consciousness, human behaviour and the philosophical study of identity. Finally, to those seeking spiritual insight, the Bhagavatam offers simple and practical guidance for attainment of the highest self-knowledge and realization of the Absolute Truth.

About the Author:

T. Rengarajan, commitment to the cause of legal education, and his dedication in the propagation of Hinduism, place him on a high pedestal among the contemporary Hindu religious writers.

His books have been received wide appreciation from different publishers in India. He has written nearly 65 books of which nearly 26 were published.

Compulsive writer, his elucidation of complexities of Hinduism, his commentaries on points of Hindu Religious characters and his unambiguous presentation are highly valued by the publishers.

He was awarded Fellowship from United Writers Association, Chennai, and awarded Life Time Achievement Awards, 2004 for his contribution to Hinduism and other Indian religions in 2004-05. His name is under recommendations for different awards based on religious subject. He actively participated in Social activities, Secretary of Public Grievance Redressing Society. He had submitted number of Parliamentary Bills to Government of India, New Delhi.

Preface:

This book relates the anecdote of the Lord and His incarnation since the most basic records of the Vedic narration. It has 18,000 verses and consists of 12 books also called cantos. These books tell the whole history of the Vedic ethnicity with the essence of all its traditional stories called puranas and includes the cream of the Vedic knowledge compiled from all the literatures as well as the story of the life of Lord Krsna in full (cantos 10). It tells about His birth, His youth, all His wonderful proofs of His divine nature and the superhuman feats of defeating all kind of demons up to the great Mahabharata war at Kuruksetra. It is a brilliant story that has been brought to the West by Svami Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, a Caitanya Vaisnava, a bhakti (devotional) monk of Lord Visnu [the name for the transcendental form of Lord Krsna] who undertook the daring task of enlightening the materialist westerners as well as the advanced philosophers and theologians, in order to help them to overcome the peril and seclusion of impersonalise and the philosophy of meaninglessness.

Srimad Bhagavatam begins with the definition of the ultimate source. It is a bonafide commentary on the Vedanta-sutra by the same author, Srila Vyasadeva, and gradually it develops into nine cantos up to the highest state of God realization. The only qualification one needs to study this great book of transcendental knowledge is to proceed step by step cautiously and not jump forward haphazardly as with an ordinary book ordinary book, it should be gone through chapter by chapter, one after another. The reading matter is so arranged with the original Sanskrit text, its English transliteration, synonyms, translation and purports so that one is sure to become a God-realized soul at the end of finishing the first nine cantos.

The Tenth Cantos is distinct from the first nine cantos because it deals directly with the transcendental activities of the personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. One will be unable to capture the effects of the Tenth Cantos without going through the first nine cantos. The book is complete in twelve cantos, each independent, but it is good for all to read them in small installments one after another.

I must admit my frailties in presenting Srimad Bhagavatam, but still I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of society on the strength of the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (1.5.11):
tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api,
namany anantasya yaso' nkitani yac
chrnvanti gayanti grhanti sadhavah.

"On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a transcendental creation meant for bringing about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literature, even through irregularly composed, is heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest."

The Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana." (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43)

The timeless wisdom of India is expressed in the Vedas, ancient Sanskrit texts that touch upon all fields of human knowledge. Originally preserved through oral tradition, the Vedas were first put into writing five thousand years ago by Srila Vyasadeva, the "literary incarnation of God." After compiling the Vedas, Vyasadeva set forth their essence in the aphorisms known as Vedanta-sutras. Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) is Vyasadeva's commentary on his own Vedanta-sutras. It was written in the maturity of his spiritual life under the direction of Narada Muni, his spiritual master. Referred to as "the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic literature," Srimad Bhagavatam is the most complete and authoritative exposition of Vedic knowledge.

After compiling the Bhagavatam, Vyasa imparted the synopsis of it to his son, the sage Sukadeva Gosvami. Sukadeva Gosvami subsequently recited the entire Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit in an assembly of learned saints on the bank of the Ganges at Hastinapura (now Delhi). Maharaja Pariksit was the emperor of the world and was a great rajarsi (saintly king). Having received a warning that he would be die within a week, he renounced his entire kingdom and retired to the bank of the Ganges to fast until death and receive spiritual enlightenment. The Bhagavatam begins with Emperor Pariksit's sober inquiry to Sukadeva Gosvami: "You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die. Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember and worship, and also what he should not do. Please explain all this to me."

Sukadeva Gosvami's answer to this question, and numerous other questions posed by Maharaja Pariksit, concerning everything from the nature of the self to the origin of the universe, held the assembled sages in rapt attention continuously for the seven days leading up to the king's death. The sage Suta Gosvami, who was present in that assembly when Sukadeva Gosvami first recited Srimad Bhagavatam, later repeated the Bhagavatam before a gathering of sages in the forest of Naimisaranya. Those sages, concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people in general, had gathered to perform a long, continuous chain of sacrifices to counteract the degrading influence of the incipient age of Kali. In response to the sages' request that he speak the essence of Vedic wisdom, Suta Gosvami repeated from memory the entire eighteen thousands verses of Srimad Bhagavatam, as spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit.

The reader to Srimad Bhagavatam hears Suta Gosvami relate the questions of Maharaja Pariksit and the answers of Sukadeva Gosvami. Also, Suta Gosvami sometimes responds directly to the questions put by Saunaka Rsi, the spokesman for the sages gathered at Naimisaranya. One therefore simultaneously hears two dialogues: one between Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Gosvami on the bank of the Ganges, and another at Naimisaranya between Suta Gosvami and the sages at Naimisaranya forest, headed by Saunaka Rsi. Furthermore, while instructing King Pariksit, Sukadeva Gosvami often related historical episodes and gives accounts of lengthy philosophical discussions between such great souls as Narada Muni and Vasudeva. With the understanding of the history of the Bhagavatam, the reader will easily be able to follow its intermingling of dialogues and events from various sources. Since philosophical wisdom, not chronological order, is most important in the text, one need only be attentive to the subject matter of Srimad Bhagavatam to appreciate fully its profound message.

Readers will find this work of value for many reasons. For those interested in the classical roots of Indian civilization, it serves as a vast reservoir of detailed information on virtually every one of its aspects. For students of comparative philosophy and religion, the Bhagavatam offers a penetrating view into the meaning of India's profound spiritual heritage. To sociologists and anthropologists, the Bhagavatam reveals the practical workings of a peaceful and scientifically organized Vedic culture, whose institutions were integrated on the basis of a highly developed spiritual worldview. Students of literature will discover the Bhagavatam to be a masterpiece of majestic poetry. For students of psychology, the text provides important perspectives on the nature of consciousness, human behavior and the philosophical study of identity. Finally, to those seeking spiritual insight, the Bhagavatam offers simple and practical guidance for attainment of the highest self-knowledge and realization of the Absolute Truth.

When I was approached with a request to the Publisher M/s. Om Publications, New Delhi to present this work, I was somewhat nonplussed and a bit puzzled as to what I could write about a scriptures that is being read by millions of people all over India and many other parts of the worlds and which has been translated into numerous languages and upon which very many writers have written numerous books over the past centuries. Later on under the guidance of many eminent orientalist, whose have been of great help to me in my studies? It is not possible to mention all their names, which will be found in the course of the book.

But I have to mention my sisters and Brother-in-law, Late S.V.K.S. Srinivasan, Acarya Purusa of Thirumala Tirupathi Devasanthanam, Dharmakartha of Manavala Mamuni Temple, Tirupathi, one and only Acarya Purusa of Sri Veeravalli Family, whose duty to look after the religious functions of Tirupathi. The death ceremonial function is being carried out by me as per the Brahmanical system, under the guidance of TTD-Tirupathi-Peeda Jeeyangar. Under his oral and my sister's mental guidance, helped me to bring the script in the Dictionary form.

On 3/9/06, a black day in my life, when my both sister Mrs. S.V.K.S. Srimathi Srinivasan, Advocate-Part Time Lecturer-Mahila University, and Miss. T. Vidhya-Hindi Teacher who had died in a fatal road accident, leaving me, my brothers T. Parthasarthy (Co-operative Audit Officer) and T. Ramesh (Engineer-ADCO-UAE) and sister T. Geetha (Advocate) to face all family sorrow. It is found to be very difficult to explain it by means of words. Let my sister soul rest in peace, in the feet of Lord Venkatesvara, Tirupathi without any re-birth.

My sincere thanks to my Ever loving Parents Late Ambujam Thirumalai. My father Sri. A.S. Thirumalai (Late), retired from Indian Air Force as Hony. Flying Officer continuously 29 years from 1943-72. He actively participated in the World War II, India's Independence struggle Indo-China War, Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangaladesh.

Although every care had been taken to render the Encyclopaedia free from errors, it is possible to work of this size some errors and omission may well have gone undetected. I request that such mistakes be brought to my notice.