Enlightenment of Ashtavakra (From Tripura-Rahasya)

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The Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore has brought out numerous publications of great indological value ever since its inauguration in 1981. The present book is a chapter from Tripura Rahasya of considerable mystical significance. It is a contribution to the Advaita literature from the Tantrik angle. It deals with Jnana of Brahman with a literary and philosophical flourish.

Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao has helped the Kalpatharu Research Academy by preparing this work in its English original and with English Translation. The Academy acknowledges his help.

A The Academy is deeply grateful to the munificent blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharathitirtha—Mahaswamiji, the revered Jagadguru of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, who is also the chief patron of the Academy, and Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham who is also the Academy’s Chairman for his keen interest in the Academy’s research programmes.

The Academy is also grateful to the Authorities of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi and the Authorities of Ministry of Education Govt. of Karnataka, and to the M/s Omkar Offset Printers for their neat production of this book.

Introduction

Tripura-Rahasya (Mahatmya—Khanda) is a remarkable work, where advaitic experience of the highest order is taught in an engaging and absorbing style. It is in the nature of a dialogue between Dattatreya and Parasurama. It contains many episodes of mystical interest. One of them is how Janaka the saintly monarch of Mithila, teaches sage Ashtavakra the supreme wisdom concerning Brahman. The present publication is an excerpt from Tripura—Rahasya pertaining to this episode.

The author is indebted to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji, Chief Editor and Director of the Kalpatharu Research Academy for including this work in the research programme of the Academy. He is also grateful to the chief patron of the Academy, Sri Sri Sri Bharathitirtha Swamiji, of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, and to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, the Chairman of the Academy and the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham.

He acknowledges the cooperation and courtesy of the Omkar Offset Printers in the production of this work.

Back of the Book

The Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore is an Institution running with the benign blessings of His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamiji under the auspices of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, established in 1981. Kalpatharu Research Academy has strided across the horizon of Indological Research and Publications with giant steps, and today stands as an Institution known for its unique quality of Research work.

Kalpatharu Research Academy is dedicated to the cause of preservation of ancient heritage of India; it has encouraged Research inn the fields of Agama, Veda, Tantra, Jyoutisha, Mantra-Sastra, Vastu, Yoga, Silpa, Ayurveda etc.

Among its prestigious publications (numbering more than Hundred till now), are Six Volumes of Pratima-Kosha, Twelve Volumes of Agama-Kosha, Three Volumes of the Art and Architecture of Indian Temples, Vastushilpa Kosha in three volumes and several Koshas like Ganesha-Kosha, Lalita-Kosha and Navagraha-Kosha, Oshadhi-Kosha, Salagrama-Kosha, Gita-Kosha, Hanumat-Kosha etc.

The Academy has plans of undertaking intensive Research in the field of Veda and Vedanga, and intends publishing “Bharatiya-Samskriti-Sarvasva-Kosha” an encyclopaedic work in several volumes dealing with all aspects of Indian Tradition and Culture. It seeks to promote Education, Culture, Science, Art and learning in all its branches. The approach will be broad-based and multi-disciplinary.

An extensive, comprehensive and specialist reference library has been built up to assist the Research Workers in the Indological disciplines. A valuable collection of Palm-leaf manuscripts relating to Veda, Vedanta, Vedanga and allied subjects has already been made; the collection work is continuing.

Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham has been running a Guru-Kula type of Institution on traditional lines to impart Vedic Education at several places. Some of these Institutions are over 100 years old. It is the intention of Kalpatharu Research Academy to take an active part in continuing this age-old tradition and act as the Research & Publication wing for these Institutions.

Our ambition is to develop as a National Centre for higher learning in Veda, Vedanga and Shastras and facilitate the propagation of unique Sanskrit and Vedic Texts in the National and International arena.

This Publication is the 101st (One hundred and first) of its achievement in this field.