The exact century of its completion is unknown, but has been estimated to be somewhere between 6thcentury. Brihat yoga vasistha and the smaller one, laghu yoga vasistha. The text, states david gordon white, has served as a reference on yoga for medieval era advaita vedanta scholars. Yoga vasistha is a philosophical text attributed to valmiki, although the real author is unknown. The yoga vasistha, he said, is the only book about the teachings of a yogi in which the original is preserved.
The short version of the text is called laghu yogavasistha and contains 6,000 verses. The book has been dated between the 5th and 14th century a. Sri madbhagavadgita is an universal treatise that teaches the human being at large the yoga of action and liberation from the bondage. Like most religionists, hindus are apt to pick and choose what are the more important injunctions given by a deity. As the name suggests, yoga means union with the truth, and vasistha was the sage who has imparted this knowledge. The yoga or contemplative philosophy of the hindus is rich, exuberant, grand and sublime, in as much as it comprehends within its ample sphere and deep recesses of meditation, all that is of the greatest value, best interest and highest importance to mankind as physical, moral, intellectual and spiritual beingsa knowledge of the.
Swami venkatesananda continues the long tradition of elaborating on and clarifying the teachings of the sage vasistha. The concise yoga vasistha a clear, provocative summary of one of the leading texts of hinduism. This atman eternal self is certainly different from the body, senses, mind, and prana. When swami venkatesananda was a young man he had the privilege to study a rare copy of one of the worlds greatest scriptures, the yoga vasistha. The yoga or contemplative philosophy of the hindus is rich. This page is about vedanta, the end part of vast vedas. The sixth book of the yoga vasistha contains portions on yoga practice as well as describes the state of enlightenment and bliss. The teachings explain the illusory nature of the universe and the principle of singularity of. Humble salutations to the great masters of all ages. Yoga vasistha is stories within stories within stories. It describes how ramas knowledge, wisdom and understanding evolved and progressed throughout the different stages of his life.
The following books are have been compiled by friends of swami venkatesananda, some from who lived at the sivananda ashrambeacon hill yoga centre western australia, where swami venkatesananda visited annually for many years, and by a few others, who also knew swami venkatesananda from his many years of traveling. Nitisara, or the nitisara of kamandaki, is a postmaurya treatise of the ancient indian subcontinent, dated before the 4th century bce, narrating the elements of polity. Hindi booksankshipt yoga vasistha by gita press embed for hosted blogs and item tags. This is a very nicelydone website and shopping for my ashtavakra gita a. This news was wafted over to his former country from which the courtiers therein repaired. For the specialist, this book makes available a handy guide to the original sanskrit without. Vasistha is because of this work emanating from rishi vasistha as will be seen later on. The laghuyogavasistha is an abridged version of the togavasistha.
The term brihat means great, while laghu signifies small. No knowledge is close to sage vasistha this book is the holy frail of all that is. Yoga vasishta maha ramayana read online yoga vasishta maha ramayana full text read online yoga vasistha. An introduction to the yoga vasistha at sutra journal by mary. This institution is the very image of the divine resolve which worked as the motivating force for its establishment.
There are very few translations of yoga vasistha, and this one is definitely. The brihat the great yoga vasishta or yoga vasishta maha ramayana is a free public domain pdf ebook and can be downloaded here in full length. The concise yoga vasistha provides a clear, provocative summary of one of the leading texts of hinduism. Yoga vasistha is a highly valuable book as it acts as a guidebook for spiritual awakening according to the teachings of the vedanta. There are, as at present known to us, two works by the name of yoga vasishta, the larger one going by the name of brihatyoga vasishta and the smaller one, laghuyogavasishta. Yoga vasistha is the essence of all the hindu philosophical texts bhagavad gita, vedas and upanishads. The greatest book of knowledge and metaphysics ever written period. Yoga vasishta maha ramayana free ebook on nonduality pdf. Whereas krsna teaches eighteen forms of yoga in the bhagavadgita in 700 verses, vasistha tells these stories over the course of more than 28,000 verses, one of the worlds most lengthy philosophical discourses. This article is from the book multiple reflections introduction to the yoga vasistha. This is swami venkatesanandas longer yoga vasistha. It captures the verve of the original text while eliminating needless repetition. An introduction to the concepts of the yoga vasistha. Yogavasiha is a philosophical text attributed to valmiki, although the real author is unknown.
The late pundit brindawana saraswati of benares had read the yoga vasishtha one hundred and sixtyfive times. The scripture contains a cosmology which is most modern. Books available for free download enlightened living the yoga sutra of patanjali full text of the yoga sutrathis little gem contains all of patanjalis yoga sutra, one of the most important texts on yoga and meditation. I sincerely request gita press management to publish this full text of 36,000 verses of yogavasishta with commentary may be in five to ten volumes in digital first. Oct 04, 2018 the brihat the great yoga vasishta or yoga vasishta maha ramayana as it is also called, is a work of about 32,000 sanskrit couplets, traditionally attributed to valmiki, the author of srimad ramayana. The text is structured as a discourse of sage vasistha to prince rama. It is divided into six books comprised of more than 29,000 scriptures that contain a dialogue between and stories of vasistha, a hindu sage, and rama, the seventh incarnation of the hindu god, vishnu. This book will help people seeking spiritual enlightenment in understanding the basic truths and principles of human life. Jul 23, 2018 the bhagavad gita is a unique scripture in that it is considered both shruti divine revelation and smriti ancient stories. The name vasistha in the title of the text refers to rishi vasistha. These are some of the questions that the yogavasiha yv explores.
Solid content and requires great deal of contemplation on the context. Shivabalayogi explained that the yoga vasishta was written down by sage valmiki. The yoga or contemplative philosophy of the hindus is rich, exuberant, grand and sublime, in as much as it comprehends within its ample sphere and deep recesses of mediation, all that is of the greatest value, best interest and highest importance to mankind as physical, moral, intellectual and spiritual beings a knowledge of the cosmos of the physical and intellectual worlds. Yoga vasistha maharamayana read the yoga vasishta, swamiji would say. Yoga vasistha is a compilation of dialogues between sage vasistha and lord rama that touches upon various dimensions of human life. There is nothing except brahman and its energy the yoga vasistha uses many names for brahman infinite consciousness, the self, the inner reality, witness consciousness, the homogeneity, the absolute, the eternal, the indivisible, cid sanskrit. Though the book is dubbed with the appellation, yoga vasistha, it treats of jnana only. The entire book is a story valmiki telling his student, bharadwaja, what vasistha told rama within a story valmiki repeating the story to king arishtanemi, within a story the divine messenger telling the story to a celestial nymph named. The gita is the sixth book of the mahabharata, one of indias most famous epic poems.
It is certainly far and away the best thing available on this text, a text that never should have been neglected as it has been and never would. May 29, 2017 the late pundit brindawana saraswati of benares had read the yoga vasishtha one hundred and sixtyfive times. Its purpose is to provide a means to eliminate psychological conditioning and to attain liberation. Vasistha is so poetic i only wish i had incarnated in his time to hear him.
It was authored by kamandaka, also known as kamandaki or kamandakiya, who was a disciple of chanakya. The gita serves as both an ancient story of krishna leading arjuna into battle and a spiritual text on the inner struggle for selfmastery and the attainment of happiness through yoga. Yoga vasistha discourse7 summary of teachings youtube. The yoga vasistha has been a favourite book of spiritual seekers in india these several. The yoga vasistha has been a favourite book of spiritual seekers in india these several centuries. The term yoga in the text refers to the underlying yogic theme in its stories and dialogues, and the term is used in a generic sense to include all forms of yoga in the pursuit of liberation, in the style of bhagavad gita. Salutations to that reality which inheres as the self in all, from which all the creations are projected, in which they have their. It includes most of the things that i like best in the yoga vasistha leaves out most of what i like least. Water in the mirage does not come into being and go. Swami venkatesanandas most popular book is the yoga sutras of patanjali. Beauty of this book is each spiritual principle is stated in the beginning with a great story simifiying the concept thru demonstration. Atreyas work primarily deals with the philosophy of the vasistha ramayana and is in the main comparative in outlook and treatment. There are, as at present known to us, two works by the name of yoga vasishta, the larger one going by the name of brihat yoga vasishta and the smaller one, laghu yoga vasishta. Mar 31, 2010 the concise yoga vasistha a clear, provocative summary of one of the leading texts of hinduism.
The gita serves as both an ancient story of krishna leading arjuna into battle and a spiritual text on the inner struggle for self. Swami venkatesananda wants us to be aware, right from the start, before we even open his translation that the yoga sutra provides insight into the very nature of yoga, and. The yoga vasistha, adds white, was one of the popular texts on yoga that dominated the indian yoga culture scene before the 12thcentury. An online knowledge series, yoga vasistha will bring to you weekly spiritual nuggets with nakul dhawan, a senior art of living faculty. The quotes have been taken by the book, yoga vasistha, the supreme. This book should be taught throughout every epoch and time everywhere. Buy sankshipt yogvasishtha book online at low prices in india. Yoga vasistha, written by sage valmiki, is the spiritual teaching imparted by sage vasistha to sri rama. Its special appeal lies in its thoroughly rational approach, and in its presentation of vedanta as a philosophy to bridge the gulf between the secular and the sacred, action and contemplation, in human life, through a comprehensive and lofty. It had last been translated about 1900 and was no longer available to the public.
For aspirants of the highest beatitude, the yoga vasistha is like nectar. Swami muktananda this is swami venkatesanandas longer yoga vasistha. Yoga vasistha is considered one of the most important texts of the vedantic philosophy. An introduction to the yoga vasistha st sutra journal by mary hicks. The work was dedicated to chandragupta of pataliputra.
The yoga vasistha is a scripture of great importance but it is perhaps not as well known in the world as, for instance, the bhagavad gita may be. Why is yoga vasistha of valmiki not as popular as srimad. It is really quite a readable translation, and a good abridgement of an extremely long text. What is wrong if iskcon is presenting the gita in such a way. Sri y h rama krishna produced the most of his literary works like translating complete yoga vasishta around 32,000 slokas in telugu colloquial prose, writing interpretative commentaries on bhagawad gita and uddhava gita in telugu prose, and so forth, with his hard work of about 20 years while being in service in andhra bank. May 27, 2017 this article is from the book multiple reflections introduction to the yoga vasistha.
Gita press book shop gita press this name in itself is its complete introduction. This little gem contains all of patanjalis yoga sutra, one of the most important texts on yoga and meditation. Swamijis philosophy is fully expounded in that scripture. Though the book is called yoga vasishtha, it treats of jnana only. Of course the analysis can not be an exhaustive one, as it will have then to run through many pages and form a book of its own. Books available for free download swami venkatesananda. Books by swami venkatesananda author of vasisthas yoga. The first book presents ramas frustration with the nature of life, human suffering and. However would require some exposure to vedantic philosophical concepts prior to reading of this book. Yoga vasistha is also known as the maha ramayana, the uttar ramayana and the vasistha ramayana.
The yogavasistha published from nirnaya sagar press bombay contains 27687 slokas. It is certainly far and away the best thing available on this text, a text that never should have been neglected as it has been and never would have, had a translation as good as this been available. Its unclear exactly when the gita was composedestimates vary widely, but a number of scholars suggest it was completed around 200 ce and then inserted into the larger work. The collection of hymns dedicated to lakshmi composed by gods themselves enhances the importance of this book. It is a comprehensive, deep, systematic and literary philosophical work of ancient india. Full text of yoga vasishta of valmiki valmiki see other formats. The bhagavad gita is a unique scripture in that it is considered both shruti divine revelation and smriti ancient stories. The brihat the great yoga vasishta or yoga vasishta maha ramayana as it is also called, is a work of about 32,000 sanskrit couplets, traditionally attributed to valmiki, the author of srimad ramayana. Swami venkatesananda has 23 books on goodreads with 2062 ratings. The book known as the moksopaya or the yogavasistha consists of more than sixty stories told by vasistha to rama to help stabilize his mind and eventually prepare him for adult responsibilities.
Swami venkatesananda wants us to be aware, right from the start, before we even open his translation that the yoga sutra provides insight into the very nature of yoga, and so. Vasisthas yoga by swami venkatesananda, published by suny press. His two volume book is here offered between two covers. Yogavasiha is a hindu text attributed to valmiki, but the real author is unknown. Swami ramsukhdas has presented in a very interesting way the deepest secrets of gita in a dialogue form in this book. An introduction to the yoga vasistha at sutra journal by. The brihat the great yoga vasishta or yoga vasishta maha ramayana is a free public domain pdf e book and can be downloaded here in full length. Spreading vasudhaiva kutumbakam from our shastas a mystical adage of our rishis. Yoga vasistha discourse7 summary of teachings by swami bodhatmananda resident acharya of the residential vedanta course at sandeepany sadhanalaya, mumbai, india. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Apr 05, 2020 the yoga vasistha is a scripture of great importance but it is perhaps not as well known in the world as, for instance, the bhagavad gita may be. It is believed by some hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the.
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