This book The Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff, so carefully translated from the Tamil originals, covers a dazzling range of lofty topics, from Visishtadvaita Vedanta, spiritualism, philosophy, to social ethics, human psychology and personality development all of which truly define Sri Vaishnavism, one of the oldest and most revered living traditions of India, propounded by the great Sri Ramanujacharya in the 11th Century CE . Thanks to these 21 priceless English translations, readers will be able to easily partake of the timeless wisdom and dip into the vast ocean of Vedantic knowledge that this Acharya, the 44th pontiff of Sri Ahobila Mutt was renowned for in his lifetime. This book is sure to appeal to all persons who wish to acquire a deeper experience and authentic understanding of India’s Vedantic Philosophy….”

This book is an expansive outline of history which, at the same time, is also a very comprehensive history of the Sri Vaishnava community of Tamil Nadu, India. It spans a period of 1000 years — from the 11th century CE to the present day. It is The historical narrative is woven around a “tale of two cities” i.e. Sri Rangam and Kanchipuram, the two towns in South India from where a titanic struggle for ownership, power, legitimacy and control over not only temples but also for the very self-identity of the Sri Vaishnava identity was waged for over seven centuries by two major sects, the Tenkalais and Vadakalais. The struggle continues to this day, having been dragged deeply into and getting increasingly embroiled in the larger issues and dynamics of the Tamil State socio-politics viz. language, ethnology, demography and culture. The “tale of two cities” is a historical narrative about grievous loss of religious legacy, debility of cultural identity and decline of economic prosperity arising from social alienation… This book is an absorbing tale of human frailties.... of ambition, greed, deceit, envy, malice and betrayal.

Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405-1464, elected Pope Pius II in 1458) was an important and enigmatic figure of the Renaissance as well as one of the most prolific writers and gifted stylists ever to occupy the papacy