The souvenir released by Sri Rama Bhakta Jana Sabha, K.K. Nagar, Chennai (23661529) is a book of Prarthana Slokas. It is a comprehensive collection of hymns invoking the main deities of the Hindu pantheon, from Ganesa to Anjaneya.
Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam, Sri Rudram, Chamakam, Subramanya Bhujangam, Hanuman Chalisa, etc are some of the slokas that find a place in the volume. Both the Sanskrit version and the English transliteration are given for the benefit of those who cannot read Tamil.
The volume is interspersed with attractive pictures. A word about the cover – an exquisite picture of Rama, Sita and Hanuman. A brief note explains that Keshav’s creation depicts the episode after the Coronation. A pleased Sita gifts a precious necklace to Anjaneya, with Rama’s consent. Sri Rama dhootha is holding the jewel with great veneration. The earthy and muted shades in which the scene and the characters are painted make the visual riveting.
The souvenir contains pictures of the Samaj’s music festival of 2009-10 and Sri Rama Navami festival of last year. The Samaj publishes ‘Bhakti Sudha,’ a pocket book edition of slokas in Tamil, a must in the collection of the spiritually inclined.
Sri Rama Bhakta Jana Samaj is located at S/17-B (New 106-B), Ponnambalam Salai, K.K. Nagar, Chennai 600078.
G.V.