Cultural history of Bharat is full of scriptures that lie on the borderline of mythology and ancient history, and, as such, we cannot easily understand the details depicted in them, well. However, the subject matter dealt with is very important. Here is one interesting account of Ashtavakra Gita.
It all started with King Janaka who asks Sage Ashtavakra as to: "How to gain Knowledge?" King also asks the Sage as to how to get liberated ((moksha) and gain renunciation (vairagya). However, we do not know well, for certain, who is this Ashtavakra and the King Janaka. Janaka is a common name for all Kings here. But, the term 'ashtavakra' is a tricky one. We all have two arms, two hands, two thighs and two legs, together that make eight limbs! These became crooked because of a curse! This might have prompted to say a person of 'crooked-limbs' ('ashtavakra'); but, the term crooked or 'vakra' is not to be taken seriously here! Briefly, this word is used to address a great sage, a 'jataveda', a person who is born an 'all-knowing' person, 'jnyani', an atmajnyani, at that! What he imparted to King Janaka is an eye-opener. It makes us think about the reality of our existence in a transitory world, a world of fleeting objects!
It all started with King Janaka who asks Sage Ashtavakra as to: "How to gain Knowledge?" King also asks the Sage as to how to get liberated ((moksha) and gain renunciation (vairagya). However, we do not know well, for certain, who is this Ashtavakra and the King Janaka. Janaka is a common name for all Kings here. But, the term 'ashtavakra' is a tricky one. We all have two arms, two hands, two thighs and two legs, together that make eight limbs! These became crooked because of a curse! This might have prompted to say a person of 'crooked-limbs' ('ashtavakra'); but, the term crooked or 'vakra' is not to be taken seriously here! Briefly, this word is used to address a great sage, a 'jataveda', a person who is born an 'all-knowing' person, 'jnyani', an atmajnyani, at that! What he imparted to King Janaka is an eye-opener. It makes us think about the reality of our existence in a transitory world, a world of fleeting objects!
'Ashtavakra-Gita' is all about a the nature of a realized person. A person who has attained to his 'Self', (Atmajnyani) is happy and contented. He will not aspire for worldly things for he realizes the futility of all these objects, sensuous things, bound by limitations of time, space, and causality and their inability to satisfy the jiva and bring joy or happiness. Thus, the jnyani has realized the transient nature of this world and shows no more any interest in the objective world.
In the course of the study of the Ashtavakra-Gita one finds many interesting secrets, revelations! The jiva, for instance is just not an embodied soul. It is the very embodiment of jnyan! Jnyan only is manifest in all jivas, and each one of a certain level of understanding, at that? Similarly, Ashtavakra says, "What is it the jiva wants?" It has got everything. There is nothing it needs to strive for! It is the absence of knowledge that makes it groan, worry, search. It is like a person searching frantically for a gold chain that is there on his neck! Often, we search for a specks that is already there on the nose!
Ashtavakra further asserts that "I am not the body, nor an embodied soul, jiva. i am the pure consciousness, 'shuddha chaitanya'. The only bondage that i created for myself is the desire to experience the jiva as an embodied pure soul. In fact, i am an ocean of consciousness, 'chit-sagara'. It is the waves, 'chittavrutti', that create an illusory phenomenal objective world. I only am the 'truth' and all else a 'myth!.The illusory world disappears as soon as the vibration ceases! In fact I only create the world by my desire. Whatever i desire i get it. Whatever i think it happens. Whatever i see that comes into existence and whatever i remove from my mind disappears as soon as i shift my attention. This world is so fragile, that it does not exist without me!
It is hard to understand and much difficult to digest these sayings of the great sage Ashtavakra. But it is true! The entire Ashtavakra Gita is one of hard-hitting 'truth'. It is a revelation of the illusion, the illusory nature of the world. Those who realize the true nature of one's self, will be peaceful, happy.
(to be contd.)
In the course of the study of the Ashtavakra-Gita one finds many interesting secrets, revelations! The jiva, for instance is just not an embodied soul. It is the very embodiment of jnyan! Jnyan only is manifest in all jivas, and each one of a certain level of understanding, at that? Similarly, Ashtavakra says, "What is it the jiva wants?" It has got everything. There is nothing it needs to strive for! It is the absence of knowledge that makes it groan, worry, search. It is like a person searching frantically for a gold chain that is there on his neck! Often, we search for a specks that is already there on the nose!
Ashtavakra further asserts that "I am not the body, nor an embodied soul, jiva. i am the pure consciousness, 'shuddha chaitanya'. The only bondage that i created for myself is the desire to experience the jiva as an embodied pure soul. In fact, i am an ocean of consciousness, 'chit-sagara'. It is the waves, 'chittavrutti', that create an illusory phenomenal objective world. I only am the 'truth' and all else a 'myth!.The illusory world disappears as soon as the vibration ceases! In fact I only create the world by my desire. Whatever i desire i get it. Whatever i think it happens. Whatever i see that comes into existence and whatever i remove from my mind disappears as soon as i shift my attention. This world is so fragile, that it does not exist without me!
It is hard to understand and much difficult to digest these sayings of the great sage Ashtavakra. But it is true! The entire Ashtavakra Gita is one of hard-hitting 'truth'. It is a revelation of the illusion, the illusory nature of the world. Those who realize the true nature of one's self, will be peaceful, happy.
(to be contd.)
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