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Fostering a great legacy
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Natesa Sastrigal's contribution to Sanskrit and the science of astrology is immense, says SUDHAKSHINA RANGASWAMI.
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AMONG THE traditional scholars of the 20th Century who made pioneering contribution to the preservation of the Vedic heritage, Kadalangudi Natesa Sastrigal is gratefully remembered for the rich legacy he bequeathed on posterity in the form of translation of Sanskrit texts in Tamil and publications of rare works. Kadalangudi, however, is etched in public memory to this day as a house of astrology, as Sastrigal became a renowned astrologer in the then Madras where he migrated from his native place in 1917 with the mission of publishing Sanskrit works in Tamil.
Born in 1878, Natesa Sastri's traditional upbringing shaped him into a fine scholar in the Vedic Sastras — Vedanta, Nyaya, Kavya, Vyakarna and Jyotisha. By the time he came to Madras he had earned the patronage of the royal families of Travancore and Mysore for his exposition of scriptures and also the friendship of notable personalities of his time.
This was a period of national awakening when gaining freedom from British rule was the paramount concern of every progressive person. The cross-cultural encounter and modern system of education necessitated translations of Sanskrit literature into English and Tamil. It was his foresight that made him rise to the occasion by starting the monthly journal, the Aryamatha Samvardhini, with the encouragement and help given by the leading publishers of the day. This journal became a frontrunner in the dissemination of Vedic culture and was acclaimed for its catholicity.
Natesa Sastrigal.
During 1923-28 he published the Tamil translation of nine Vedic texts, six Upanishads, the Brahmasutra Bhashya with Sankara's commentary in four volumes, Srimad Bhagavatam in seven volumes, 12 books on astrology and 12 Stotra works. His monumental work was the publication of Narayaneeyam in Tamil in five volumes. It will not be an exaggeration to say that the popularity this condensation of the Bhagavata Purana in verse, composed by Narayana Bhatthiri at the Guruvayur temple, enjoys in the Tamil-speaking region is due to the translation of Pandit Natesa Iyer and the discourses on this work rendered by his eldest son-in-law Sengalipuram Anantarama Dikshitar at his instance.
Publication of rare texts of Vedic astrology in Tamil for the benefit of the laity was the other task he devoted as much attention. Among the numerous titles he published on this subject ``Varahamihira's Brihat Jataka" was the most significant. Abhinava Vyasa, Abhinava Varahamihira, Sukabrahma, Kulapati, Jyotisha Chakravarti and Vidya Vachaspati are some of the titles and honours conferred on him which bear eloquent testimony to his versatile scholarship.
Natesa Sastrigal's foresight made him equip his daughter, K. N. Saraswathy, to nurture the legacy he bequeathed on her — the Kadalangudi Publications and skill in astrological forecasting. He imparted traditional training in Sanskrit and Vedic astrology himself along with modern education she pursued. She has more than fulfilled her father's vision by earning worldwide reputation as an astrologer, counsellor and publisher. The Jaishankar Publications was an offshoot of the Kadalangudi Publications when she and her son M. A. Jaishankar ventured into diversifying the publishing activities in other areas like religion, self-improvement, biography and children's literature and also books in English. Together the Publications have over 125 titles to their credit and they have also undertaken republication of titles of some rare works of Natesa Iyer, which have been out of print.
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