Vedanta in Tamil - Coimbatore V Kuppuswamy Iyer's translation of Gita

At the start of the twentieth century a wonderful book of translation in Tamil has come out. It is the translation of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Why this translation is wonderful, when more than one translation were coming out even in nineteenth century and even after this translation in the twentieth? It is because of the format and coverage of this attempt. This translation was by one V Kuppuswamy Iyer of Coimbatore. He is Villavarambal Kuppuswamy Iyer, who was a Vakkil in Coimbatore District Court in 1901 (the traditional year of publication given is Kali 5002).

The book runs to nearly 900 pages. Perhaps a further edition came out later which contains 995 pages in total published in two volumes. The slokas are given in grantha lipi, followed by word by word meaning in Tamil. Then follows explanatory elaborations which contain varied and many interpretations of great Acharyas and Commentators, sometimes in great detail and sometimes only the portions which bear on the differences. The author seems to have avoided as per his own declaration the caustic criticisms among various schools of thought. His approach seems to be a new one whereby we can see the varied perspectives on Gita slokas in a continuous narrative in Tamil. Perhaps he might have missed the detailed nuances of colloquy that happen back and forth across time between different schools. But it is a unique treat for the somewhat deep and common reader to get a feel of the variety without the heat of the difference. In the second volume Sri V Kuppuswami Iyer has done a great thing in the 18th chapter on the subject of Brahma Jnana. He has collected nearly all the relevant passages from the various Upanishads on the theme of Brahma Jnana and has given it in 60 pages as part of the elucidations. 

It is really astounding to see how many persons down the centuries have put forth their efforts in Vedanta in Tamil.
Srirangam Mohanarangan

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