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. Radhakrishnan refers to it with great respect, while even Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has given a commentary on the scripture. 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 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 ostensible author of this text, 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, Buddha, 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. However, the worldy responsibilities must be carried on without any lethargy. So as to avoid any misinterpretation with this regard, it has been recommended that Ashtavakra Gita be pursued by only those who have already advanced on the spiritual path. Ashtavakra says that emotion, thought and even meditation are the causes for reincarnation and bondage.

External links

Original text

• At sanskrit.gde.to: अष्टावक्र गीता (html), (pdf), (ps) in Devanagari; ashhTaavakra giitaa (itx source), (html) in some kinds of transliteration.

Translations

• Ashtavakra Gita, translation at Wikisource by John Richards
• Ashtavakra Gita Online Translation by John Richards (an edition different from the one at the previous link, as retrieved on April 10, 2005—see Talk:Ashtavakra Gita#Different editions on this matter)

Commentaries

• Commentary by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is available from the Books & Tapes department of the Art of Living Foundation. Online Store

• Also, a modern commentary of the text is available at vedanta.org in the monthly article section under October 2005. This text is deceptively simple and, like most scripture, requires a commentary to clarify the details.

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Hindu texts