Epistles of Light: Letteres to Sri Ramana Maharshi

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Back of the Book

Epistles of Light presents series intimate, revealing letters written in Sanskrit by Vasishtha Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni while residing at Anandasrama, Sirsi (North Kanara, Central Karnataka) in 1931 to his Guru, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

“Giver of everything desirable! Though I may be having a thousand desires, they are all set at rest within the cave of Heart scorched by the effulgence of your benevolent look. Only one of them sprouts forth raising its head even now. May my impure Ego perish! My Lord, grant me the fulfillment of this aspiration.”

Foreword

Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni was one of the most important spiritual and intellectual figures of modern India. He left an unparalleled legacy of works that address all the most important spiritual and cultural issues of humanity. He covered both spiritual and social concerns and provided a dharmic insight and impetus to shape the destiny of India forward according to its yogic values and energies from its glorious Vedic past.

Ganapati was one of the greatest writers of modern India. Probably the only other writer who covered a similar range of topics and with such depth and inner experience was Sri Aurobindo. Ganapati was a consummate poet, philosopher, social commentator, historian and, above all, Yogi. He wrote on the Vedas, Vedanta, Tantra, Ayurveda and Jyotish. His works included his own concise Sutras on a variety of topics much like the great Sutras of old, inspired poetic songs to the Goddess and Gods, prose on historical works, essays on aspects of dharma, and even an unfinished novel.

There was little in the Sanskrit literary and philosophical realm that Ganapati’s writings did not address in both depth and detail. Yet he based his extensive work not on any mere intellectual curiosity or dexterity but on a powerful buddhi gained through extensive tapas, devotion, and meditation. His writings flowed spontaneously from inner realization born of years of intense internal practices. His works always center on devotion to the Goddess and the mantric powers she is well known to give those who are faithful to her. His knowledge of Sri Vidya, Sri Chakra and Dasha Mahavidya was extensive and reflected throughout all his works.

As an important thinker for modern India as a whole, Ganpati Muni was of the same generation and stature as not only Aurobindo but also as Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore. Yet, unfortunately, he remains the most neglected of such important figures, though his influence is on the rise again.

Why is then the Muni not better known? The main reason is that he wrote in Sanskrit and his works were never widely published or translated into modern languages. Had he written or been widely translated in English or at least in Hindi, his influence and regard would be as great as any of the other gurus of modern India. Another reason is that Ganapati himself was a very humble and other worldly person. He did little to promote himself or his writings. His inner work was always more important to him than any outer recognition, which he never courted.

Ganapati is most known for his connection with Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, whom he viewed as his guru and held the highest reverence for. Ganapati was one of Ramana’s first disciples. He even gave him the name Ramana, showing that the Tamil boy guru was really one of the greatest sages and Jnanis in history. Were it not for Ganpati’s recognition and articulation of Ramana’s teachings, Ramana may have even remained unknown to the outside world.

Most of the Sanskrit renditions of Ramana’s works were done by Ganapati and his disciples. Ganapati’s Sanskrit works with Ramana include Ramana Gita, Saddarshan