Mysore/Mysuru: Dr. Shelvapille Iyengar, Chairman, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, KSOU, released Vedanta Desika’s book Godastuti translated into Kannada in verse form at Namana Kala Mantapa, Krishnamurthypuram, on Aug. 16.

The book was translated by scholar late Ananta Narayana Iyengar.

Senior Sanskrit scholar Dr. H.V. Nagaraja Rao spoke about the book. Sri Ilai Alwar Swamiji was the chief guest. Seetarama Iyengar, retd Joint Director, Kendra Reshme Mandali,  presided.  Art critic Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan and others were present.

Vedanta Desika was an Indian polymath who wrote religious as well as poetical works in Sanskrit and Tamil. He was an Indian philosopher, Srivaishnava Guru and one of the most brilliant stalwarts of Srivaishnavism in the post-Ramanuja period. He was a devotee, poet, master of acharyas, a logician and mathematician.

Desika is considered to be an incarnation of the divine bell of Venkateshwara of Tirumala. He has composed over a hundred works during his period. Incidents from Desika’s life teach us how he followed what he preached; and was totally surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord in a mood of utmost humility and detachment.

Godastuti is a set of 29 shlokas in Sanskrit by Vedanta Desika in praise of Goda or Andal. It is believed that reciting this will bestow the individual with a peaceful, problem-free and a happy life with abundant wealth.

Ananta Narayana Iyengar  was born in 1926. After his primary and secondary education in Melkote and high school in Sagar, he became involved in freedom struggle.

He later joined the high school as a teacher, where he eventually became the Head Master. He did his Master’s in English from Benares University, studied Kannada classical poetry and Kannada Ratna from Kannada Sahitya Parishat. With his dormant interest in Karnatak Music, he learnt Gamaka seriously, became a Gamaka Vidwan, gave public performances and on AIR regularly. At Hubballi, he founded the ‘Kumaravyasa Seva Sangha’ and organised national-level Gamakotsava every year.

 He served as a Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya for fifteen years. With his deep understanding of Vedic studies and knowledge of Sanskrit, he gave a discourse on Bhagavadgita at Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) for more than two years.

He was an active theatre artiste in his younger days, was a student of K.V. Iyer’s Vyayamashala and yoga practitioner. His book Yakshaprashne released during his life time was reprinted in 2012.

Translating Desika’s stotras into Kannada in verse is challenging. Iyengar has not only met this challenge bravely but has done justice to it. Godastuti in Kannada makes an exemplary and quality reading.

 The book is published by D.V.K. Murthy Prakashana, Mysuru.  On the occasion, Koviladi Archana rendered the Sanskrit and Kannada version of the poems beautifully.