Ashtavakra Gita: Encyclopedia - Ashtavakra Gita

Ashtavakra Gita

Shruti

• Vedas
  • Rig Veda
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  • Atharva Veda
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Smriti

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  • Mahābhārata
    • Bhagavad Gītā
  • Ramayana
  • Puranas (List)
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• Stotras
• Ashtavakra Gita
• Gita Govinda
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika

The Ashtavakra Gita (Song of Ashtavakra) also known by the name Ashtavakra Samhita is an influential nondualist Hindu text traditionally said to have been written by the Sage Ashtavakra, though its authorship is not known with certainty.

There is little doubt though that it is very old, probably dating back to the days of the classic Vedanta period. The Sanskrit style and the doctrine expressed would seem to warrant this assessment.

The work was known, appreciated and quoted by Ramakrishna and his disciple Vivekananda, as well as by Ramana Maharshi, while Radhakrishnan always refers to it with great respect. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh commented, "Man has many scriptures, but none are comparable to the Gita of Ashtavakra. Before it the Vedas pale, the Upanishads are a mere whisper. Even the Bhagavadgita does not have the majesty found in the Ashtavakra Samhita -- it is simply unparalleled". Apart from that, the work speaks for itself. It presents the traditional teachings of Advaita Vedanta with a clarity and power very rarely matched.

The Ashtavakra Gita can be considered the only true Universal religious text for it does not date itself or brand itself to any region, culture, or peoples. The essence of the Ashtavakra Gita is that there is no such thing as existence or non existence, right or wrong, or moral or immoral. In the eyes of the Sage Ashtavakra who is the author of this Gita, one's true identity can be found by simply recognizing oneself as Pure Existence and that as individuals we are the Awareness of all things.

Of all the world's religious texts the Ashtavakra Gita is the least referenced because it does not allow anyone to manipulate it. While the words of Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Buddah, and Krishna have been used to enspire nationalism, holy wars, and spirituality, the Ashtavakra Gita simply says one is already free and needs to do nothing to attain enlightenment, and that to free oneself from the unending wheel of life and death in reincarnation that they should withdraw from all Earthly desires and worries and cares to avoid any more wasted time. Ashtavakra says that emotion, thought and even meditation are the causes for reincarnation and bondage.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Ashtavakra Gita", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki