Acknowledgements and Gratitude
“Whereas, Dr S. Bhagavadpada at the outset expresses his gratitude and salutations to the three illustrious Masters, no more on the physical plane: Sri J Krishnamurti, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Sri Ramana Maharshi, as well as to the contemporary Master, Sri Sri Bhagavan; for their priceless and distinctly different upadesas – from which he has vastly benefitted at various stages in his spiritual life.
“And, whereas, after having entered the third asrama of life [Vaanaprasthaasrama]; at 62, he feels, this is the timely ‘harvesting’ season of his life, as the earlier ‘tilling’ and ‘sowing’ seasons of his spiritual life are now patently behind him.
“He therefore feels grateful to the Master Sri J Krishnamurti, as well as to the Master Sri Sri Bhagavan, both of whose teachings, in entirely different ways, brought him the blessing of the Sthitha Prajna’s ‘Atma prasannata’, as well as his subsequent authentic ‘discovery of Hinduism’, through a ‘Hindu homecoming’, facilitated by the Master Sri Sri Bhagavan’s upadesa.
“And whereas, he is also grateful to the Vedic Astrologers, Prof V K Choudhry, the founder of the Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology [SA] in the first instance, and to Pandit Vamadeva Shastri, and many others, past and present, who have, in a greater or lesser measure, inspired him and paved the way, for his deep understanding and assimilation of Jyotisha, which has led to his perception and teaching of Jyotisha [Vedic Astrology], as an almost independent spiritual ‘darsana’, in tune with its Vedic ethos, but cast in the framework of the Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology[SA].
“And whereas, on the eve of the commencement of his auspicious ‘loka kalyana’ mission, he also wishes to record, his gratitude to several venerable ‘departed ancestors’, whose blessings he has always enjoyed throughout his life: The beloved atmaswarupis: Smt Yamini Purna Tilakamma, & Sri Niraghatam Ramakottayya [maternal grandparents in this life]; Sri Anantha Ramachandran & Smt Kanaka Durga Ramachandran [parents in this life]; Dr N Sivakamu[a benevolent elder, and patron in the early years]; Smt Vaidharbhi Varadarajulu & Sri Varadarajulu [parents of Sri Sri Bhagavan in this life]; Dr Suseela Kumar & Sri S N Kumar[parents of Dr Prema Shanker in this life].
“And whereas, he is also beholden to a very large number of other beloved atmaswarupis now in the world, all of whom had extended their warmth and sincere support, during difficult times in his life, in one way or the other – as close family members, teachers, loving friends, well wishers, patrons, and many devotees of Sri Sri Amma Bhagavan, etc.”
