The experiment

The Valmiki-Ramayana, the Yogavasishtha, the Mahabharata and the Harivamsa explain the essence of Vedas, Sastras, Puranas and Itihasas in a simpler manner. These are called the Suhrit-Samhitas or the Friendly Treatises, while the Vedas are called the Prabhu-Samhitas or the Commanding Treatises. These works explain the great universal truths in the form of historical narratives, stories and dialogues. These are very interesting volumes and are liked by all, from the inquisitive child to the intellectual scholar.

The well-known speaker and advisor to Srisailam Temple Trust Board Puranapanda Srinivas has come out with two new books, ‘Nenu Unnanau and ‘Mahamantrasya’, which are compilations of slokas on Hindu deities and explain the quintessence of Vedas and Sastras. The publication comes with a first-of-its-kind display of 500 colourful pictures of Lord Hanuman in addition to those of other gods and goddesses.

Srinivas said the Itihasas give us beautiful stories about the teachings of Hinduism. The stories about the Ramayana and Mahabharata help in firmly stamping the principles of Vedas on the minds of the people.
The common man cannot comprehend the high abstract philosophy of the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras. Hence, the compassionate sages Valmiki and Vyasa wrote the Itihasas for the benefit of common people. The same philosophy is presented with analogies and parables in a tasteful form to the common run of mankind.

Quoting Samarth Ramdas, Srinivas said the book ‘Nenu Unnanu’ explains with rare pictures about Lord Hanuman, who is a symbol of nationalism and resistance to persecution. In the modern era, he is viewed as the ideal combination of "strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence" and "loving, emotional devotion to Lord Rama, the book Mahamantrasya explains how not to be egoistic and how one should keep his feet on the ground as he tastes success in life.

Srinivas has been giving discourses on Rudra Namakam, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sree Rama Raksha Stotram, Sivanandalahari, Lalitha Sahasranamam and is an author of over 70 books which help people to evolve from a mere biological being to a spiritual being. According to Srinivas, his first guru was his father Puranapanda Radha Krishna Murty who taught him Ramayana, Bharatam, Bhagavatam and Kavya vachanas.

He said he would soon be coming up with many more books to spread the teachings of the Sastras and Itihasas. He expressed his happiness over the patronage he has been getting from the family members of NTR as well as noted film producer Sai Korapati. As gratitude towards the help he had got from them in publishing the books, he said he had dedicated the new books to Nandamuri Harikrishna, who recently died in a road accident.

- Puranapanda Srinivas