Joseph Constantius Beschi, SJ (Veeramamunivar) (1680-1747)

Bibliography supplied by James Chithambaram and modified by Ivo Coelho

1. Primary Sources

• A Grammar of the Common Dialect of the Tamil Language called Koduntamil (a work on Tamil grammar). Translated from the original Latin by George William Mahon. Thanjavur: Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal Library, 1971.
• A Grammar of the High Dialect of the Tamil Language Called Sentamil (a grammatical work for foreign students of Tamil). Translated from the original Latin by Benjamin Guy Babington. Thanjavur: Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal Library, 1974.
• Kuruvin Kathai: A Humorous Tale in the Tamil Language. Fourth Edition. Madurai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 1999.
• First Canto. Edited and Commented by V. Maria Anthony. Palayamkottai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 1980.
• Tēmbāvani. Second Canto. Ed. V. Maria Anthony. Palayamkottai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 1980.
• Tēmbāvani. Third Canto. Ed. V. Maria Anthony. Palayamkottai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 1980.
• Tirukkavalur Kalampakam: Mulamum Uraiyum (A Poem in Honour of Our Lady). Tiruchirappalli: Tamizh Ilakkiyak Kazhagam, 1985.
• Tirukkural: Viramâmunivar (Latin) Mozhipayerbu (Moral Sayings of the Tamil Poet Thiruvalluvar). Translated in Tamil by V.M. Gnanapragasam. Madurai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 2004.
• Viramâmunivar Aruliya Saduragaradi (a four-fold Tamil dictionary). Palayamkottai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 1979.
• Viramâmunivar Iyatriya Citteriyammal Ammanai (a poem composed on Our Lady of
• Refuge). Tirunelveli: Tirunelveli Thenninthiya Caiva Ciththantha Nurpatippuk Kazhagam, 1977.
• Vedier Olukam (The Catechist's Rule of Life). Appendix: Gnana Kannadi (Spiritual Mirror). See 'corrected edition' by Protestants, 1848. (Cited in De Smet, "The Exercises in India: An Early Ignatian Revival." Ignis 20 [1991] 197.)
• Vaetha Vilakam. (Explanation of Religion). Pondicherry, 1936. 4th ed. 375 pp. [On the Catholic Church, its doctrines and sacraments, with a refutation of paganism and Protestantism.] [JC]
• Gnana Unartudel (Spiritual Instruction). (Cited in De Smet, "The Exercises in India: An Early Ignatian Revival." Ignis 20 [1991] 197.)
• Gnanabodhanmu (Spiritual Instruction). [Telugu; Translation from Tamil.] Nellore: John's Press, 1953. 66 pp. [JH]

2. Secondary Sources

A. Books

1. Adaikalasamy, M.R. Viramâmunivar Aruliya Tēmbāvani: Mulamum Thelivuraiyum (an explanation prose form for First Canto). Chennai: Varthamanan Pathipagam, 1992.
2. Adigal, Amuthan. Ittali Nattu Vitthagath Tamilar (the life and works of Joseph Beschi).Tiruchy: Vidiyal Pathipagam, 1995.
3. Aiyangar, Srinivasa. Tamil Studies, or Essays of the History of the Tamil People, Language, Religion and Literature. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1982.
4. Anthony, V. Maria. Viramâmunivar Iyatriya Tēmbāvani (a short description of all three Cantos). Tutikurin: Tamil Ilakkiya Kalzhagam, 1960.
5. Besse, Leon. Fr. Beschi: His Times and His Writings. Trichinopoly: St. Joseph Industrial School Press, 1918.
6. Cutler, N. Songs of Experience, The Poetics of Tamil Devotion. Indiana University Press,1987.
7. Gnanapragasam, V.M. Contribution of Fr. Beschi to Tamil. (Ph.D. Dissertation), Madras: University of Madras, 1965.
8. Houper, J. Constantius Joseph Beschi S.J., Popularly Known as Veeramamunivar. Tiruchy: 1980.
9. Houpert, Joseph C. Constantius Beschi, S.J., Missioner & Scholar, 1680-1747. I.C.T.S.Publications.
10. Innasi, S. Viramâmunivar- Monograph in Tamil. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 2001.
11. Lesser, R.H. Fr. Joseph Beschi – ‘The Italian Who Wrote Masterpieces in Tamil’, Saints and Sages in India. Anand: Gujarat Sahitya Prakash.
12. Nambiyar, Pandaram. Tamil Valartha Dhairiyanathar Ennum Viramâmunivar (the life and works of Joseph Beschi). Madurai: Pumagal Pathipagam, 1970.
13. Patrizia, Granziera. Christianity and Tamil Culture: Father Joseph Beschi and the Image of the Virgin Mary.
14. Pillai, Aragyaswami. The Essence of Thembavany or the Glorious Life of St. Joseph. Trichy: St. Joseph’s Industrial School Press, 1912.
15. Pillai, Muttusami A. Brief Sketch of the Life and Writings of Father C.J. Beschi Or Vira-mamuni: Translated from the Original Tamil. Madras: J.B. Pharoah, 1840.
16. Rajamanickam, S. The Poem Thembavani by Joseph Beschi, S.J.: A Tamil Epic on St. Joseph. Montreal: Centre de Recherche et de Documentation, 1994.
17. Rajamanickam, S. Viramâmunivar: Thondum Pullamaiyum. Chennai: De Nobili Research Institute, 1998.
18. Sindha, Shek. Tēmbāvaniyil Uyirinakalum Payirinakalum (animals and plants in Tēmbāvani). Tirunelveli: Kadhiravan Pathipagam, 2004.
19. Sundaramurthi, Durai. Viramâmunivar Kalampakam. Tiruchy: Tamil Ilakkiya Kazhagam, 1977.
20. Sundararasan, S. Tēmbāvani: Urainadai (a Tamil Prose form Translation of Tēmbāvani).
21. Chennai: Mullai Nilayam, 2004.
22. Viramâmunivar Aruliya Tirukkavalur Kalampakam: Mulamum Polipuraiyum (a secondary work on Beschi’s Tirukkavalur Kalampakam). Eds. Arockiasamy, Diraviyam, and Mariadasu.Tiruchy: Vedanayagar Ilakkiya Mandram, 1976.

B. Articles

1. Fernando, Leonard. "Italian Renaissance and Tamil Christian Bhakti Movement. Constant Joseph Beschi as Bridge." Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Studies 80/3 (2016) 203-212.
2. Gnanapragasam, V.M. “Beschi and Inculturation.” Jesuit Presence in Indian History. Ed. Anand Amaladas. Anand: Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, 1988.
3.  -----. “Father Beschi, the Missionary.” Studia Missionalia, Vol. 13. Rome: 1963.
4. -----. Puthiya Nuttrandil Tēmbāvani (collection of articles on Tēmbāvani). Madurai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 2000.
5. -----. Tēmbāvani: Oppiyal Nokku (collection of articles on Tēmbāvani). Madurai: Viramâmunivar Ayvuk Kazhagam, 2008.
6. Srinivasan, Thomas. “Beschi, the Tamil Scholar and Poet.” Tamil Culture, Vol. 3. Madras: 1954.
7. -----. “Aristocratic Analogies and Demotic Descriptions in the Seventeenth Century Madurai Mission.” Representations, no. 41, 1993.
8. -----. “Constanzo Giuseppe Beschi.” Catholic Encyclopaedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1913.