PREFACE
MANGALASASANAS: Blessings of the Acharyas in original Sanskrit
Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Sringeri Sarada Pitha
Sri Kaliyan Vanamamalai Jiyar Swamigal
Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Puri Govardhana Pitha
Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Jiyar Swamiji
Sri Pejavara Mathadhisa Sri Viswesatirtha Swamiji
Sri Paramahansa Sri Vamadevaji Maharaj
Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Pitha
MANGALASASANAS: Blessings of the Acharyas in English Trnslation
CHAPTER 1: GREATNESS OF FOOD AND THE GIVING OF FOOD
dadasvannan dadasvannan dadasvannanyudhisthira
Annadanamahatmya: the greatness of the giving of food
Annamahatmya: the greatness of food
Karmayoga: the discipline of acting in the world
CHAPTER 2: THE STORY OF KING SVETA
Sage Agastya recounts the story to Srirama
Sri Varaha lays down the vrata of annadana
Annadana is sadavrata
Sharing anna is the discipline of living
CHAPTER 3: YAJNAS OF THE GREAT KINGS: RAMAYANA
The asvamedhayajna of Srirama
The asvamedhayajna of king Dasaratha
Ramarajya
CHAPTER 4: YAJNAS OF THE GREAT KINGS: MAHABHARATA
The rajasuyayajna of Yudhisthira
Leading Yudhisthira to the aSvamedhayajna
Ramarajya of Yudhisthira
The asvamedhayajna of Yudhisthira
CHAPTER 5: YAJNAS OF THE TAPASVINS
Story of the unchavrittibrahmana
Turning dust into gold
The story of the kapotadampati
CHAPTER 6: YAJNAS OF THE GRIHASTHAS
Grihasthasrama: Uma-Saïkara samvada
The five great yajnas of the grihastha
Pancaiva mahayajnah
Annena ha vai jayate yo’sti
Manu teaches the discipline of pancamahayajna
Pancamahayajna begins at marriage
Pitriyajna
Devayajna
Bhutayajna
Manusyayajna
Vighasasi bhavennityam
CHAPTER 7: PROVIDER OF THE UNPROVIDED
King as great grihastha: Apastambadharmasutra
King as great grihastha: Mahabharata
Provider of the unprovided
Protector of varta and krisi
Protector of the times
On the sword’s edge
CHAPTER 8: ANNA: THE FIRST MANIFESTATION OF BRAHMAN
Kevalagho bhavati kevaladi
Annaand brahmavidya: Taittiriyopanisad
Preparing the seeker for the search: Siksavalli
Instruction in brahmavidya: brahmanandavalli
Leading the seeker to darsana: bhriguvalli
Recalling the primacy of anna
Ahamannam
EPILOGUE I: INDIA FOLLOWS THE DISCIPLINE
The tapas of Aputran
The yajna of Harsavardhana
The Chatrams of Thanjavur
Chengalpattu: The polity of sharing
Producing the plenty to share
EPILOGUE II: STRAYING FROM THE DISCIPLINE
The memory abides
The British break the discipline
Scarcity takes the place of plenty
Independent India fails to reverse the decline
Scarcity and callousness have become the norm
The sin must be expiated
Svastivachana
Sources
Transliteration convention