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Re: Rigveda
> If you want to read a good English translation of some selections from
> the Rg Veda, try the book titled, "The Heart of the Rg Veda", by
> Mahuli Gopalacharya. The author is from the Maadhva (dvaita)
> sampradaaya. In his book he shows how shallow the interpretations
> of certain well known Western scholars are, compared to the highly
> symbolic interpretations he provides. I prefer his interpretations
> over those of the Western scholars, especially on important suktas
> such as the Vishnu sukta and the Pavamana sukta.
I guess you mean the Purusha Suukta and the BaLitthaa Suukta,
respectively; I have never heard of a Vishnu Suukta or a Pavamaana
Suukta. But his explanation of the BaLitthaa Suukta follows Madhva's
rather than SaayaNa's.
In any case, the book is `The Heart of the Rigveda', by Mahuli
R. Gopalacharya, Somaiya Publications Pvt. Ltd., Bombay, New Delhi.
> I read this book a long time ago in IIT Bombay. I am not sure if
> it is avaliable here.
I'm not sure if it is even in print; my father purchased a copy when
it was newly published, which is how I know about it.
> The ideal choice would be a good translation of SaayaNaacharya's
> commentary on the Rg Veda, but I doubt whether such a work has been
> ever undertaken by any scholar, western or Indian.If there is such
> a translation, I would be surprised. I sure would like to know about
> it if someone has seen such a translation.
I think H.H. Wilson, the 19th-century scholar, has a translation which
closely follows SaayaNa's. This is `Rig-Veda Sanhita: A Collection of
Ancient Hindu Hymns of the Rig-Veda', Translated by H.H. Wilson, M.A.,
F.R.S., Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, 1977. This is a work in
several volumes (seven or eight, I think), written around 1850 and
re-printed in 1977. Volume II has a Library of Congress number BL
1115.A3 1977 V2; the other volumes should be right next to this one on
the same shelf.
However, SaayaNa and Gopalacharya have differing views about the Veda,
due to their differing traditions. (Many of you will know this
already, but just in case someone doesn't.)
Regards,
Shrisha Rao
> Anand
