Ashtavakra Gita: A Pure Masterpiece of Hindu Philosophy

Introduction

The Ashtavakra Gita is a spiritual masterpiece of the Advaita Vedanta, the most influential of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. The scripture, considered one of the purest expressions of nondual wisdom, takes the form of a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka, the father of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The conversation between Ashtavakra and King Janaka is said to have taken place in the court of King Janaka.

The Ashtavakra Gita elucidates fundamental concepts of Hindu philosophy, such as the nature of the Self, reality and bondage. It offers a radical version of non-dualist philosophy, insisting on the complete unreality of the external world and the absolute oneness of existence. Moreover, it also dismisses names and forms as unreal and a sign of ignorance. In essence, the Ashtavakra Gita challenges the conventional boundaries of perception. It urges a profound introspection into the true nature of the self and the universe.

The name “Ashtavakra” comes from the legend that the sage was born with eight physical deformities or bends in his body (from the Sanskrit hence “Ashta” meaning eight and “Vakra” meaning bent). However, despite his physical appearance, Ashtavakra was a realized sage with profound spiritual insight.

^{Featured Image: Upadhyay Ashutosh, Ashtavkra and Janaka, CC BY-SA 4.0}

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Introduction
Historical Origins of the Ashtavakra Gita
The Key Themes of the Ashtavakra Gita
The Essence of the Ashtavakra Gita
The Story of the Sage Ashtavakra
Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Historical Origins of the Ashtavakra Gita

The Ashtavakra Gita is a sacred spiritual text, believed to have been composed between 500-400BC, though, there are assertions suggesting it was written much later. Some scholars claim it was authored either in the eighth century by a follower of Adi Shankara, or even as late as the fourteenth century during a resurgence of Shankara’s teachings.

The great scholar and author, Sri Swami Shantananda Puri posits that due to the presence of certain foundational concepts developed at a later time, the text is composed in a period prior to Shankara.

Among the various translations of the ancient Indian text in English, the book “The Heart of Awareness” by Thomas Byrom, is highly regarded for its simplicity, clarity, and accessibility to modern readers.

The Key Themes of the Ashtavakra Gita

The Ashtavakra Gita consists of twenty chapters, each of which deals with various aspects of spiritual knowledge and self-realization. It emphasizes the essential teaching of Advaita Vedanta, which asserts the oneness of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman).

The text encourages the seeker to transcend dualities, illusions, and attachments to realize their true nature, which is beyond the limitations of the mind and body. Key themes in the Ashtavakra Gita include:

Nonduality (Advaita): The text repeatedly emphasizes that the true Self (Atman) is beyond all dualities and distinctions, including good and bad, pleasure and pain, birth and death, etc.
Detachment: Ashtavakra advises King Janaka to remain detached from the world of appearances and not to identify with the transient aspects of life.
Self-Realization: The ultimate aim of life, according to the Ashtavakra Gita, is the realization of one’s true nature, which is pure consciousness beyond the ego-mind.
Freedom from Ignorance (Maya): The text discusses the illusory nature of the world (Maya) and encourages the seeker to transcend ignorance through self-inquiry and self-realization.
Guru-Disciple Relationship: Ashtavakra serves as the guru or spiritual teacher to King Janaka, illustrating the importance of guidance from a realized master on the spiritual path.

The Essence of the Ashtavakra Gita

Our self-centeredness creates the material world, which, in our unawareness, we strive tirelessly to sustain. We spend our lives under the sway of a deceptive sense of purpose and worth. It is this “I”, the ego, that keeps us bound into the unreality of the external world and prevents us from seeing the truth. This “I” creates a false illusion of separateness keeping us away from the absolute oneness.

In essence, only the Self exists as truth while everything else is mere appearance. The erroneous identification of the Self with the non-Self is what leads to bondage. Consequently, liberation comes with the dissolution of this ignorance upon the realization of the self. As long as the mind perceives a separate self, one remains in bondage.

True freedom lies in seeing the Self in all things. The Self, identified as Brahman, represents undivided and undifferentiated consciousness and is distinct from the ego. Most individuals mistakenly believe that self-realization lies in something external; something they need to go out and get. There is nothing outside. According to the teachings of the Gita, every person is already pure and perfect. Moreover, it posits that the Self is always free and not bound by anything.

The Story of the Sage Ashtavakra

The story of the sage Ashtavakra is one steeped in ancient Indian mythology and is recounted in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. Ashtavakra’s tale is one of resilience, wisdom, and spiritual liberation.

Ashtavakra was born with a physical deformity that caused his body to be bent in eight places (hence the name “Ashtavakra,” meaning “eight bends”). Despite his physical appearance, he was a prodigious intellect and a sage of great spiritual depth.

The Curse

The story begins with Ashtavakra’s father, Kahoda, a revered sage known for his knowledge. One night, while Kahola was reciting the Vedas, the unborn Ashtavakra corrected him eight times. This infuriated Kahola who cursed his son to be born with deformities in eight places. Consequently, when the child was born it had a crooked body.

According to another version of the story, Kahola was engaged in a debate with another sage named Bandi. In the heat of the debate, Kahoda uttered a statement that was not entirely true, and as a result, Bandi cursed him to bear a deformed child.

Ashtavakra Becomes the Teacher of King Janaka

Following this curse, Kahoda’s wife, Sujata, gave birth to Ashtavakra. Despite his deformity, Ashtavakra grew up to be a brilliant scholar. One day, King Janaka of Mithila, organized a grand assembly of scholars and sages to engage in philosophical discussions. Ashtavakra, despite his young age, was invited to participate.

When Ashtavakra arrived at the assembly, many were taken aback by his appearance, but his presence commanded respect. As the debates commenced, Ashtavakra astounded everyone with his profound wisdom. He effortlessly refuted the arguments of the most learned scholars present. Among the attendees was King Janaka’s court scholar, the sage Vandin, renowned for his intellect and arrogance. Vandin, unable to tolerate Ashtavakra’s brilliance, challenged him to a debate. Ashtavakra accepted the challenge. In the debate that ensued, Ashtavakra emerged victorious, dismantling Vandin’s arguments with ease.

Impressed by Ashtavakra’s wisdom, King Janaka invited him to become his spiritual teacher. Ashtavakra accepted the invitation and became Janaka’s guru, guiding him on the path of spiritual realization.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

The Ashtavakra Gita is a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka of Mithila. Its compelling narrative transcends the mere philosophical to touch the core of the human experience. In its essence, the Ashtavakra Gita is a call to awaken from the dream of duality and to embrace the singular reality of Brahman, in which all distinctions between the self and the universe dissolve.

Unlike many other spiritual texts, its directness not only simplifies the journey of enlightenment but also underscores the immediate presence of the divine within each individual. The Ashtavakra Gita has always been revered by all true seekers of spiritual wisdom. Well known spiritual teachers such as Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramana Maharshi, often quoted and referred to the Gita with great respect. Its profound teachings continue to be studied by present day spiritual practitioners across various traditions such as Vedanta, Yoga and Buddhism.

The timeless scripture invites every seeker to step beyond the confines of ego and experience the boundless freedom and bliss that is our natural state. It offers not just a philosophical framework, but a practical guide to living in profound harmony with the cosmos.