Srividyasara – Prasnottara – Malika

Dr. Goda Venkateswra Sastri, M.Sc. Ph.D,CAIIB is a distinguished Vedic Scholar teaching the Prasthantraya text in several institutions over the past thirty years. He has participated in a large number of Vidvat Sadas and Seminars. Recognising his wide scholarship, he has been awarded many titles such as Advaita Siddhi Ratnakara, Vidya Vachaspati, Brahma Vidya Bhusana, and so on. He has contributed a number of articles to learned journals.

Dr. Goda Venkateswara Sastri got Poornadiksha from Gnanandanatha, Brahamsri Injikollai V.Jagaderswara Sastrigal of Guhananda Mandali. He is a practicing Upasaka of Sri Vidya. He has been giving lectures on Sri Vidya texts like Lalitha Sahasranaama Bhaashya of Bhaskararaya, Varivasya Rahasya, Kamakalavilasa, Ganesha Sahasranama, Subramanya Kalpa, etc. Many Yagas are performed under his direction at various places. He has been the key note speaker at many a seminar on Tantra Mantra Yantra.

Sastriji was an officer with the Reserve Bank of India for 30 Years before taking voluntary retirement for the purpose of teaching and research in Tarka, Mimamsa, Vedanta and other systems in Sanskrit.

The world of Upasakas of Sri Vidya, worship of the Divine Mother Has an immense need of the worship. The original texts namely Vedas, tantras and manuals are in Sanskrit and are couched in allegorical and secret ways. Many sadhakas sincerely want to follow the path but do not have a correct guidance. Those who are following the path now are not able to explain the meaning of various rituals due to lack of knowledge of the original texts. In order to fill the gap an attempt is made in this book to explain the tenets in a simple way. The question and answer method has been adopted for easy grasping and is expected to sustain the interest of sustain the interest of the reader. This would also help as a manual when readers have a specific query to look at.

My disciples and sons have done a lot of help right from framing the questions through proof reading. Some of them are Shri Ramanathan, Vijay Dhavala, S.Balakrishnan, Rajagopal, Ramachandra Sekar, Sangeetha Lalwani, Smt Madavi. Both my sons Chi. Ananth Somayaji and Eswar were helpful in going through the proofs. May the blessings of the Divine Mother be with them and I bless all of them to have a peaceful and satisfied life. Special mention has to be made for the services rendered by my better half Smt Suryakumari who has always patiently helped in all my actions.

With folded hands I prostrate to The Swamijis who have blessed this endeavour by offering the Srimukhams for the same.

Shri S.Jambunathan andShri S.kumar took special efforts in making this book user-friendly with beautiful graphics and pictures and pictures / illustrations. May the Divine Mother bless him with all good things in life.

I also thank the authorities of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for publishing the treatise on Srividya.