Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ashtavakra Gita
Ashtavakra Gita
Dating
In a conversation between Janaka and Ashtavakra, pertaining to the deformity of his crooked body, Ashtavakra
explains that the size of a Temple is not aected by how
it is shaped, and the shape of his own body does not affect himself (or Atman). The ignorant mans vision is
shrouded by names and forms but a wise man sees only
himself:[11][12]
Identication of Ashtavakra
You are really unbound and action-less,
self-illuminating and spotless already. The
cause of your bondage is that you are still
resorting to stilling the mind. (I.15)
3
3.1
Contents
Overview
3.2 Structure
Ashtavakra Gita is a dialogue between Ashtavakra and
Janaka on the nature of soul, reality and bondage.[9] It The book comprises 20 chapters:[14]
oers a radical version of non-dualistic philosophy. The
Gita insists on complete unreality of external world and
I Saksi - Vision of the Self as the All-pervading Witabsolute oneness of existence. It does not mention any
ness
morality or duties, and therefore is seen by commentators
II Ascaryam - Marvel of the Innite Self Beyond
as 'godless. It also dismisses names and forms as unreal
Nature
and a sign of ignorance.[10]
1
7
III Atmadvaita - Self in All and All in the Self
IV Sarvamatma - Knower and the Non-knower of
the Self
REFERENCES
6 Notes
[1] Janaka receives the teaching of the supreme Self from Yajnavalkya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.[8]
Appreciation
7 References
[1] Mukherjee 1971, p. i.
[2] s:Ashtavakra Gita#Translators Notes
[3] Mukherjee 1971, p. 4.
[4] Byrom, Thomas (1990). The Heart of Awareness: A
Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita. Shambhala Publications. Page xxiii.
[5] Brockington, J. L. (1990). Foreword to The Heart of
Awareness: A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita, trans.
Thomas Byrom. Shambhala Publications. Page xi.
[6] Puri, Sri Swami Shantananda (2001). The Quantum leap
into the Absolute (Essence of ASHTAVAKRA GITA) (PDF).
Bangalore: Parvathamma C.P. Subbaraju Setty Charitable
Trust.
[7] Mukherjee 1971, p. 1.
[8] Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Chapter Four
[9] Manuel Schoch (1 July 2007). Bitten by the Black Snake:
The Ancient Wisdom of Ashtavakra. Sentient Publications. ISBN 978-1-59181-060-5. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
[10] Ruth Vanita (2005). Gandhis Tiger and Sitas Smile:
Essays on Gender, Sexuality, and Culture. Yoda Press.
pp. 239. ISBN 978-81-902272-5-4. Retrieved 20 July
2012.
[11] Chinmayananda 1997:n.p.
The work was known, appreciated and quoted by [12] Vanita, Ruth. Full of God:Ashtavakra and ideas of JusRamakrishna and his disciple Vivekananda, as well as
tice in Hindu Text. Equinox Publishing Ltd.
Ramana Maharshi. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan refers to
[13] Astavakra Gita, Translation by John Richards. Retrieved
it with great respect.[15]
20 July 2012.
Nath (1907) opened the discourse of this Gita into the [16] Baij Nath (Lala.) (1907). The Ashtavakra Gita: being a
English language.[16] Mukerjee (18891968) continued
dialogue between King Janaka and Rishi Ashtavakra on
Vedanta. Oce of the Vaishya Hitkari.
the discourse into English with his posthumous work published in 1971.[17] Stroud (2004) wrote on the Astavakra
[17] Radhakamal Mukerjee (1971). The song of the self
Gita as a work of multivalent narrative.[18]
Swami Chinmayananda wrote a commentary on the Ashtavakra Gita, which has references to the Upanishads to
help convey the meaning of the text.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has given commentary on Ashtavakra Gita in Hindi and English Language.[19][20]
[18] Stroud, Scott R. (2004). Narrative as Argument in Indian Philosophy: The Astavakra Gita as Multivalent Narrative. Philosophy and Rhetoric - Volume 37, Number 1,
2004, ISSN 0031-8213, pp. 42-71
Commentaries on this work, have been also been provided by Osho [21]
[19] https://store.artofliving.org/in/product.aspx?id=1828
9.2
Translations
[20] Shankar, Sri Sri Ravi (2010). Ashtavakra Gita. Bangalore: Sri Sri Publications Trust. ISBN 9789380592831.
[21] Osho, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (1997). Enlightenment:
The Only Revolution. Pune, India: The Rebel Publishing
House Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 81-7261-070-X.
Sources
Mukerjee, Radhakaml (1971), Avakragt (the
Song of the Self Supreme): The Classical Text of tmdvaita by Avakra, Motilal Banarsidass Publ.,
ISBN 978-81-208-1367-0
External links
9.1
Original text
9.2
Translations
3
Swami Nityaswarupananda (1940). Ashtavakra
Samhita: [Sanskrit] text with word-for-word translation, English rendering and comments. Mayavati,
Almoral, Himalayas: Advaita Ashrama.
Translation by Ramana Maharshi (audiobook)
Asthavakra Gita - Awareness is Everything. Translation and Commentary by Mansoor (2010). ISBN
978-1-4467-1442-3
10
10
10.1
Ashtavakra Gita Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtavakra_Gita?oldid=698458571 Contributors: Bryan Derksen, Ronz, Maximus Rex, Topbanana, Carlossuarez46, Goethean, Wikibob, Mboverload, Bobert wi, Gadum, Andycjp, Alexf, Didactohedron, Dbachmann, PP Jewel, Tim Smith, Cjthellama, BD2412, TheRingess, Dseer, Cause of death, Bgwhite, Pigman, SmackBot, Imz, Edgar181,
Bluebot, Bazonka, Ne0Freedom, Lentower, AshokSrinath, Diviwadhwa, IAF, Mack2, Ekabhishek, Leolaursen, Alastair Haines, B9 hummingbird hovering, Redtigerxyz, Shrao, Billinghurst, Prodigyhk, Iddli, Wilson44691, Aravind V R, Hkarekar, Simon D M, SchreiberBike,
Manojkhurana, Indu, Cminard, Addbot, Vyom25, Vikram0311, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Ulric1313, RajeshUnuppally, Omnipaedista, Erezoni, Dave3457, FrescoBot, Silvanasono, Vkdasari~enwiki, Khamgatam, Brahmavid, EmausBot, John of Reading, ZroBot, Shrikanthv,
Chitarup, Helpful Pixie Bot, Joshua Jonathan, Amitrochates, Bronderz, Vinodkad, Carlos.Manuel.Saraiva, Kad.vinod, Gargram, Rasucha
and Anonymous: 67
10.2
Images
10.3
Content license