Date: May 9th 2011

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

Namaste!

Today (May 9th) is the birthday of Sri Ramanujacharya and yesterday (May 8th) was the birthday of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. There are several articles on these two great teachers of Vedanta on our site. They are:

1. Ramanuja by Swami Sivananda http://www.dlshq.org/saints/ramanuja.htm
2. Sankara by Swami Sivananda http://www.dlshq.org/saints/sankara.htm
3. Sankara Jayanthi by Swami Chidananda http://www.dlshq.org/religions/sankarajay.htm
4. Sankara - The Genius by Swami Krishnananda http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/fest/fest_05.html

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

Book Synopsis

First Lessons in Vedanta
By Swami Sivananda

Vedanta literally means the end, conclusion or the culmination of the Veda. It is comprised of the Upanishads. It deals with the transcendental science of the Atman, or Brahma-Jnana. It is the philosophical portion expounding the nature of the Atman, whereas the first portion of the Vedas, the Karma-kanda deals with ritualistic observances and sacrifices. Vedanta expounds the true nature of the Self, declares that Brahman, the Supreme Self alone is real, the world and the diverse phenomena are unreal, and the individual soul is identical with Brahman. The Upanishads and the Brahmasutras are the most authoritative works on the Vedanta. Upon these intricate texts numerous voluminous complicated commentaries by several great Acharyas like Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Nimbarka, Vallabha have been written. They are extremely difficult and very lengthy works. And the language too is difficult Sanskrit. Therefore, to give a clear understanding of the basic principles of Vedanta philosophy in easy and simple manner these few lessons are given. They present the truths and the details of Vedanta philosophy in a way that can be read and understood by all and remembered without difficulty. This will give a good idea of the main outlines of the Vedanta philosophy, the details of which could be filled in later through a study of the bigger works. This is a groundwork for detailed Vedantic Study. It equips the student with a preliminary knowledge of the Vedanta.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.dlshq.org/books/es92.htm

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RIGHTS OF MONKEYS: One day some people went to the Master and suggested to him, "Swamiji, it will be good if we had a flower garden here. This nuisance of the monkeys is frightening the visitors. So shall we use something to drive them out?"

"This place belongs to them," began the Master. "The forest belongs to them. You have come and occupied their place and now you wish to drive them out! It is cruel! We are at fault. They are not at fault. They were living here so peacefully and now we have come and occupied this place and wish to drive them out. No, it should not be done!"

"Ramanuja was the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy or qualified non-dualism. Ramanuja's Brahman is Sa-visesha Brahman, i.e., Brahman with attributes. According to Ramanuja's teachings, Lord Narayana or Bhagavan is the Supreme Being; the individual soul is Chit; matter is Achit. Ramanuja regards the attributes as real and permanent, but subject to the control of Brahman. The attributes are called Prakaras or modes. Lord Narayana is the Ruler and Lord of the universe. The Jiva is His servant and worshipper. The Jiva should completely surrender himself to the Lord. The oneness of God is quite consistent with the existence of attributes, as the attributes or Shaktis depend upon God for their existence." - Swami Sivananda

Other Sivananda related lists:
1) Sivananda Daily Readings
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sivanandadaily/

2) Sivananda's Thought for the Day
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SivanandasThoughtForTheDay/

3) Sivananda Daily Readings & Thought for the Day http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dlsmalaysia/

4) Various Selections from Sivananda's Works http://www.sivananda.org/publications/mailinglists/