Multimedia CD-Roms Presented by Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Indian Culture (SAFIC), Puducherry

[Dr.Sampadananda]

Dear All,
Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Indian Culture (SAFIC) which is a unit of
Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry has prepared three multimedia CD-
Roms for which the details have been given below...all those who are
willing to procure these CDs please contact: Manager, Splendour, 16,
Goubert Avenue, Puducherry - 605001; Email: sple...@aurosociety.org

1. Srimad Bhagavad Gita

The Gita is one of the profoundest books of Indian spirituality. It is
special in its structure of thought and in its language. It does not
seek to confine itself to any one school or religious view but in
fact, “there is a wide, undulating, encircling movement of ideas which
is the manifestation of a vast synthetic mind and a rich synthetic
experience… It does not cleave asunder, but reconciles and unifies.”

Studying, understanding or simply listening to the Gita forms a part
of life for millions of people not just in India but world over. Many
commentaries have been written, giving diverse interpretations of the
Gita. In Sri Aurobindo’s phenomenal work titled ‘Essays on the Gita’,
we enter into the spirit of the Gita and look at the truth with a deep
insight.

The multimedia CD contains a veriety of material, presented in a
manner which is easily accessible: the entire 700 verses of the Gita
in Devanagari with a Roman transliteration, followed by an English
translation, (ANVAYA the prose order of the Sanskrit words) and word
by word meaning. Each verse has been traditionally chanted to
illustrate the sound and beauty of the Sanskrit language. In addition,
miscellaneous writings and extensively interlinked indexes give much
to the scholar to work with. These include a Quarter-verse Index, a
Subject Index, and a Word Index which lists all the words in the Gita
alphabetically along with their grammatical analysis. Hundreds of
visuals have been used to give each page its own mood and atmosphere,
at times bordering on the sublime. Last but certain not the least, it
contains the entire text of Sri Aurobindo’s ‘Essays on the Gita’.
A CD meant not just for spiritual seekers, philosophers, researchers,
but for people of all age groups, nations, beliefs, who want to know
what the Gita has to say and wish to understand its true spiritual
essence.

This CD-Rom is compatible only with the Windows.
Product Code: 8906049510000
Price: `995/-

2. Chandovallari – Experiencing Sanskrit Prosody

Chandovallari is an introduction to the Chandas or main metres in
Sanskrit. The examples and the indexes enable interested readers to
become familiar with the commonly used metres and identify them.

Apart from the introduction there are three main sections:

Section one (Understanding Chandas) explains the place of chandas in
Indian literature, the history of chandas and chandashastras(the main
texts on metres), the classification of chandas and the rules
governing them.

Section two (Experiencing Chandas) deals with nineteen major and well-
known metres along with explanations and examples collected from
various sources. Each shloka is followed by an English translation.
The original Sanskrit texts are given both in Devanagari and in Roman
transliteration.

Section three (Indexes) has several indexes to facilitate the readers
to become familiar with the Sanskrit metres and understand them
easily.

The CD contains audio renderings of the examples of all the nineteen
major metres. It is enriched by background music and visuals.

For each metre there are six examples which have been divided into
three sets, each containing two verses. Generally the first two (1&2)
verses of each metre illustrate the traditional way of reciting or
singing the verses. The second two (3&4) are set to a tune based on a
particular raga and a tala or rhythmic beat. The third two (5&6) are
based on a raga but the tala is absent to facilitate a free singing of
the verses. The rendering in all the cases is in harmony with the
rules or principles of the metres.

The contents of the CD-Rom are also available in a book form.

This CD-Rom is both Windows and Mac compatible.
Product Code: 8906049510017
Price: `495/-

3. The Wonder that is Sanskrit

“If I was asked what is the greatest treasure which India possesses
and what is her finest heritage, I would answer unhesitatingly – it is
the Sanskrit language and literature and all that it contains.”
- Jawaharlal Nehru
Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the world. The deeper one
goes into it the more one is amazed by its beauty and perfection.
Whichever aspect one explores, there seems to be no limit to its
treasures and wonders. Its very name means “refined” or “sculpted to
perfection”. It is through this language that India has been
expressing herself abundantly and incessantly for centuries, and its
future rests much on this most dynamic language. But in the recent
past, we have been cut off from this voluminous body of the highest
wisdom, knowledge and genius. This trend is only now beginning to
change, and a resurgence of Sanskrit in all fields of life would also
mean a revival of the true spirit of India and its soul-force. It is
through Sanskrit that we will be able to connect ourselves with the
puissance and the creative thrust which propelled our forefathers to
create one of the greatest civilisations in the past.

The Wonder that is Sanskrit contains two CDs: Devabhasha and
Ashtavadhanam. They present the wonders of Sanskrit to even those who
have had no previous contact with the language. Presented in an easy
and fluid manner, here are interesting aspects of the Sanskrit
language and highlights of the great creative genius of the Indian
culture.

In Devabhasha – the Language of the Gods, one sees Sanskrit in its
manifold aspects:
- the perfection of its grammar, the scientific and logical
arrangement of its alphabet
- interesting and astounding creations, the agility and
flexibility of
the language, and the extraordinary capacity of the human mind in
creating unparalleled literary feats which leave us with a sense of
sheer wonder
- the varied fields in which its literature has made a
contribution:
poetry, mathematics, science, astronomy, astrology, logic, law,
religion, politics, drama, history, geography, medicine, yoga etc.
- the opulence, exuberance, subtlety, perfection and exquisite
beauty
of its poetry
- how Sanskrit is a source of upliftment and enlightenment, a
sacred
medium for expressing the highest spiritual truths and experiences
- how the Soul of India expressed itself through Sanskrit for
centuries and more importantly the role that it will play in the
future of India and the world

In Ashtavadhanam – the Eight-fold Concentration, one participates in
an unbelievable art form, so rare that few have seen it. Avadhana has
been formulated as a scholarly play or mental feat where both creative
and retentive faculties of mind are brought into play. One witnesses
here:
- heightened power of concentration and the extraordinary
potential of
the human mind
- spontaneous creativity, the power of imagination, poetic
ability and
quick thinking of the Avadhani
- amazing flexibility of the Sanskrit language, and the value
and
beauty of Indian culture

The Wonder that is Sanskrit is enriched with audio renditions of
Sanskrit verses, background music, printable text, background visuals,
selective video footage and other miscellaneous interactive facilities
which are easy to access.

This CD-Rom is compatible only with the Windows.
Product Code: 8906049510024
Price: `745/-

For ordering these products please contact:
Splendour, Auroservice
16, Goubert Avenue
Puducherry – 605001
Phone: +91 413 222 4827
Email: sple...@aurosociety.org