V. Subramanian

Saundaryalahari is a rare tantric work whose authorship is attributed to Samkaracharya. It is a long poem of one hundred verses, a hymn of praise to the Divine Mother, an invocation and a prayer that awakens man from stupor to a state of effulgent energy and creativity. In this monograph the original Sanskrit text of each verse is presented in Devanagari script accompanied with its Roman transliteration. English rendering of the verses and explanatory notes are provided with an eye to modern readership. Inclusion of yantras in their pictorical symbols focus attention on underlying potencies of each verse. The possibility of attainment of power and success by single minded recitation of the verses is stressed on. The monograph will be of special interest to mother worshippers of all denominations. Students of religion and philosophy will find it appealing. The general reader with a love for poetry and literature will also like it.

The Sacred Songs of India Vol. VII: Hymns to Ganesa, the Darling Deity makes a slight departure from the predecessor volumes.Sacred Songs of India Volume One contained songs of Mystics intoxicated with God in the form of Krishana or Rama.The songs on Ganesa included in this volume span over twenty centuries: from Vedic period to the twentieth century.The song's presented in this volume are a veritable ocean of devotion centred on the beloved image of God Ganesa.Sacred Songs of India. Vol. VII, like its predecessor volumes will be a limitless repertoire for all artistes in music, drama and ballet.

Sacred Songs of India Vol. VIII the Sacred Songs of India Volume Eight, like its predecessor volumes, encompasses selections from the life work of ten mystic poet - saints of India.The mystic poet - sages included in this volume lived between the 3rd century and the 20th century A. D. and came from such diverse regions of India as Tamil Nadu, Madhya Predesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa. They sang in different languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Punjabi, Hindi (Braj bhasha) oriya and Malayalam. But all of them sang of the glory of God, for whom they yearned, pouring out their devotion in inimitable immortal poetry. Like its predecessor volumes, Sacred Songs of India, Volume Eight, will be a valuable repertoire for all artistes in the field of music, dance, drama and ballet and priceless source or reference for scholars of India's spiritual history.

Maxims of Chanakya" is the crystallised wisdom of Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, the Indian Philosopher - States - man, who helped Chandragupta Maurya establish the first unified state in Indian History in fourth century B.C. Often called the Indian Machiavelli, Chanakya is known for his political acumen and statecraft which enabled him to win bloodless victories over his enemies, overthrow a tyrannical regime and prevent the balkanisation of India at a time when it was ravaged by foreign invasions.The maxims of Chanakya, over one thousand in number, included in this book, culled from the three major works attributed to him: Arthasastra, Chanakyasutras and Chanakyarajanitisastra (sometimes knows as Chanakyanitidarpana), cover a wide range of subjects. No branch of life or learning has been left untouched by the great political genius. He has something pithy to say on politics, administration, economics, ethics, education, health, sex and self - improvement. In terseness of expression, no language, with the possible exception of Latin, can excel Sanskrit and the great master has used this wonderful language to such perfection that one is awestruck by the volume of message often conveyed in a couple of words. The English translation of Chanakya's original Sanskrit maxims captures their brevity and wisdom, for the benefit of a larger audience, not conversant with the Sanskrit language.The introduction: "Chanakya His Life, Times and Work" adds to the value of this publication.It is hoped that "Maxims of Chanakya" will prove an invaluable guide to the Legislator, the Administrator, the Planner and the Educationist - all those who shape a country's policy or an individual's future.