Suddha-Sankara-Prakriya-Bhaskara (Light on the Vedantic Method According to Sankara)

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Shri Satchidanandendra Saraswathi Swamiji (1880-1975 A.D) the founder of Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya Holenarsipur Hassan Dist. Karnataka a public charitable trust wrote and published more than 200 books in Kannada, English and Sanskrit with a view to propagate pristine pure Advaita Vedanta as expounded by Shri Gaudapada Shri Sankara Bhagavatpada and Shri Sureshwara in their famous extant works based on the three canonical Vedantic texts viz ten principal Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita and Vedanta Sutras (Popularly known as Brahma Sutras). The revered Swamiji carried out research for over six decades with a profound sense of dedication and missionary zeal so as to cleanse Advaita Vedanta of the dross and distortions that it has acquired in the post Sankara era. Although the Swamiji has authored nearly 20 odd books in English and over 25 books in Sanskrit many of his masterpieces were written in Kannada. In order to provide the benefit of these gems the Karyalaya has brought out several books in English which are faithful translations of the original texts in Kannada for the guidance and benefit of ardent students of Advaita Vedanta. He was not just a rare and accomplished individual but a mighty and magnificent institution.

The author was born in Karnataka in 1880, & assumed the name of Y. SubbaRao. He taught English in Bangalore as a house holder till retirement in 1935. Initiated for the study of S'ankara by the Jagadguru of Shringeri at about the age of 20, he devoted his life as layman and monk to the study and propagation of S'ankaras interpretation of the upanishads, in its theoretical & practical aspects.

All the booklets of the series printed during the First Edition its sold out and as there is a great & incessant demand from jignas us of English knowing people not only in India but also in foreign countries, the second (comprehensive) edition now is brought out. All the three booklets, which contain continuous matter of the title, have been now combined & published as one book. We hope that this will facilitate all the readers to obtain a clear thought of the subject in full.

Sri Subhana Saxena, an Indian settled in London, has held senior positions in a number of multinational companies. He has studied many books of Swamiji through the grace of his Gurus from Mattur village, in Shimoga, Karnataka. We hope through his mission Swamiji's message & works will find a place throughout foreign countries.

The Karayalaya owes a deep debt of gratitude to Shri Subhana Saxena, who has financed the entire cost of bringing out this comprehensive edition.

May we hope that the readers will give wide publicity to this: a comprensive edition dealing with pure pristine S'ankara's Vedanta.

Kindly go through the prefatory remarks attached by us to the first installment of the series of Sanskrit booklets of this name. This free translation of it is to help those that want to understand the Sanskrit original better. It is a companion to the original work and is intended for those who know English better, but would still like to assimilate Vedantic thoughts through that sacred language if only they could secure some assistance.

At our request Swamiji has effected a few additions and alterations in this English version which it is hoped will enhance the usefulness of the original contribution. A generous donor who prefers to do this piece of service incognito has laid us under a deep debt of inexpressible gratitude by financing the publication.

My we hope will give wide publicity to this new translation series of Vedantic booklets?

This booklet is a free translation of the Suddha Sankara Prakriya Bhaskara written by me in Sanskrit. The aim of the series of booklets of which this is the first installment may be learnt from the publisher’s prefatory remarks to the Sanskrit original. It is intended for readers who wish to have an outline of the thoughts contained in my Vedanta Prakriya Pratyabijna a Sanskrit work which contains a comparative study of all the important Vedantic systems available from the most ancient times up to the time of Sarvajnatma just to illustrate how all the post Sankara Vedantins up to that epoch no less than the ancient monists have failed to recognize the only method which holds the key to the right understanding of the Upanishadic teaching.

The present series is complete is itself and can be studied independently by those who wish to be acquainted with this Unique method of the Upanishads without taxing their brains at the very outset with all the details of the argument.

As it was felt that an English translation of the series might facilitate its study for those whose knowledge of Sanskrit is limited this first installment of the translation series has been placed before the public to see how far it serves the purpose. Whether the second installment should be undertaken at all depends on how my readers receive this one.

Any suggestions calculated to improve the translation series so as to make it more useful to those for whom it is intended will be thankfully received.

All rights of printing & publishing this brochure has been unconditionally made over to the Adhyatma Prakasha karyalaya Holenarasipur as in the case of all my previous writings.