Swami Venkatesananda

Swami Venkatesananda translated a number of celebrated scriptures from Sanskrit to English. Rather than presenting these translations as continuing narratives, he presented them as “Daily Readings,” taking the original text and dividing it into 366 sets of verses, together with his translation, or in the case of The Song of God, his own contemplations of these verses.

Why this format? Because he knew human nature—he was a practical sage. He knew that most well intentioned readers would enthusiastically pick up such a volume for a few sessions and then would add it to the pile of books awaiting attention. A scripture, no matter how transcendent, is daunting. But, if presented as a small bite of wisdom per day, it could readily be incorporated into even a demanding daily routine.

By studying a scripture in this manner, “By the grace of God and guru, you will receive more light from within, and greater, and ever greater, understanding of the spiritual truth revealed in the scripture” (from the Preface to The Song of God).

Swami Venkatesananda suggested these daily readings would enhance daily contemplation, and so, he would have us read them usually before and sometimes after sitting meditation each and every day, which many of us continue to do, adding to our appreciation of them each and every time.