K. Narayanaswami Aiyer
K. Narayanaswami Aiyer (also spelled as "Narayanswami") was an author and translator of Sanskrit works, lecturer, and active member of the Indian Section at the turn of the twentieth century. He died in 1923.
Theosophical work
K. Narayanaswami Aiyer abandoned his legal profession to give his life to the Theosophical work. There is a reference in 1891 of him translating "Vasudeva Manam, an Adwaita Compendium," while being the Secretary of the Kumbaconam Branch.[1] In the late 1890s he became a "Lodge inspector" in India, reviving dormant Lodges and forming new ones, and a powerful Theosophical lecturer. In 1903 he was one of the organizers of Tamil Districts of the T.S. Federation, while acting as Provincial Secretary for South India. In 1907-08 he was joint General Secretary (President) of the Indian Section. To him is largely due the successful organization of the T.S. in Southern India.[2]
His work in the late 1890s was described by Bertram Keightley as follows:
On a par with Miss Edger's work, in its energy and devotion, stands that of our old and tried Brother Mr. K. Narayanswami Aiyer, on whose definitive addition to our staff of men devoting their whole lives to the work, we had to congratulate ourselves last year, and well indeed has he fulfilled the hopes then expressed.
In October 1897 he visited the Branch at Chingleput, in March 1898 that of Sholingur, and in July 1898 that of Tiruvalur, and revived them all three, for they had been practically quite dormant for several years.
He has also formed new Branches at Conjeeveram, Namakal, Tirupattur,Vaniyambadi, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Purasawalkam, Tiruppattur, Triplicane Tiruvallur, Poonamalle, Wallajahnagar, Tirupati, Patukota, Vedaranyam and Tiraturaipundi, fifteen in all; besides visiting and lecturing at Mylapur, Saidapet and Adyar, as well as accompanying Dr. Richardson to Chingleput and Conjeeveram and Miss Edger throughout her South Indian our. He has thus formed fifteen new Branches, revived three quite dormant ones, in addition to the other work mentioned, and I am sure that we all agree that this is a splendid record of work for anyone roan, and should serve as a lesson to us all in showing how much the energy and real devotion of one man even can accomplish for our movement.[3]
Writings
K. Narayanaswami was an author and translated into English many works from Sanskrit.
Original works
- Yoga: Lower and Higher
- The Thirty-two Vidyā-s
- The Purāṇas in the Light of Modern Science
- The permanent history of Bharata Varsha
- The Hindu God Universal
Translations
- Thirty Minor Upaniṣads
- Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha
- Laghu Upaniṣadaḥ. Minor Upanishads
- Vāsuḍevamana, the meditations of Vasudeva: a compendium of Aḍvaiṭa philosophy