Versatile Genius

1) General Introduction

(By Prof K. B. Ramakrishna Rao)

Four magnificently edited and published volumes (the fifth is to be released soon) presenting the writings and discussions of Sri Kapali Sastry are a fitting tribute to the memory of the savant. They provide the source material to estimate how a keen mind like Sri Kapali Sastry reacted to the major spiritual and cultural impacts he had in his life from his younger days upto the times of his 'close encounters' with the spiritual giants like Sri Kavya Kantha Ganapathi Sastry, Sri Ramana, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother of Pondicherry. A devoted student that he was of the spirit of the Hindu culture and philosophy, he has left for us invaluable contributions on the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Tantras, the Bhagavadgita—let alone his interpretations of the great Masters he met in his life. The foremost contribution, perhaps, of Sri Sastry happens to be—arising out of his spiritual participation in the wisdom of the Maha Yogi Sri Aurobindo and the Mother—the exposition of Sri Aurobindo's position regarding the greatness of the Vedic or the Samhita and its mystic cum symbolic character. The revolution in Sri Aurobindo's thinking and the follow up for elaboration by Sri Kapali Sastry needs to be emphasised. His contribution in this direction is recorded in his Siddhānjana, a sanskrit commentary on Rig Veda (first Aṣtaka), an Introduction to the Rig Bhāshya Bhūmika, Tattva Prabhā or the Lights on the Fundamentals. This is only a summary account of the main features of Sri Aurobindo's philosophy. Besides there are elaborate essays on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo.

Sri Sastry's place among the direct disciples of Sri Aurobindo is second to none, and has an authenticity which can only be had due to the exceptional personal contact he had with the Mahayogi. Sri Sastry had the life's gift of the Master's grace by which he could capture within him, a felicity all too distinct in abundance and clarity, with the result we have from Sri Sastry an authentic version of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga and Philosophy.