http://www.exoticindia.com/book/deta...eid=67d0bc58f7
There is an interesting new multi-volume book series being sold by Exotic India entitled Voice of God and authored by the Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Peetarohana Shatabdi Mahotsava trust, and apparently representing the teachings of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swami.
I realize most people here are not into the traditional Advaita of Sri Adi Shankara and his disciplic descendents like Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (whose opinions on varNAshrama-dharma I am posting elsewhere). However, the Swami has quite a following in spite of his traditional roots, and his book not only discusses the philosophy of Advaita, but also discusses the importance of religion and of Vedic culture. Other topics covered by the books include government, crime, archana "idol-worship," bhakti, the glories of various festivals and holy places, the importance of having a guru, animal sacrifices, the veda-s and their auxiliary sciences, the purANa-s, samskAra-s, varNAshrama-dharma, family values, and many, many more topics.
The book appears to be written with the goal of explaining these things to a modern audience, which is certainly refereshing in this day and age where people have their own ideas about what Hinduism is and don't want to hear differently from a learned acharya. What strikes me about the Swami's teachings, is that he does not endorse the crassly athestic tendencies that many modern followers of Advaita seem to endorse. He clearly values traditional culture and dharma, and speaks out in favor of upAsana. Though I do not agree with him on philosophical matters, his is an opinion I definitely respect.
I thought that these books would be of interest to those wanting to understand more about Advaitic Hinduism through one of India's most revered acharyas.
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