Adi Shankaracharya: Advaita Vedanta

Ekatma Dham

On 21^st September, 2023 Adi Shankaracharya’s 108 ft idol was consecrated on Mandhata hills at Omkareshwar, as part of a 2400-crores project of the Government of Madhya Pradesh to establish Ekatma Dham, under which a museum and a Study-cum-Research Centre to disseminate Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta philosophy will also be established. 

I had shared my blog Adi Shankaracharya: Towering Philosopher-Poet on 17^th September, 2023. If you have not read it, here is the link:

https://pkdash-author.blogspot.com/2023/09/adi-shankaracharya-towering-philosopher.html

In my blog, I had given a brief introduction to Adi Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta with a few quotations from his Dasha Shloki and Nirvana Shatakam, both of which provide a crisp but clear summary of Advaita. Both are exquisite compositions, eloquent, lyrical, and among the most poetic of Shankara’s works.

Brahmajnanavalimala[i]

Brahmajnanavalimala is another such composition. In twenty-one verses, Shankaracharya gives a memorable and lovable song on an abstract theme – Brahman jnana (Knowledge of the Supreme Truth or Reality).

What is Brahmajnanavalimala? Sandhi vichhed gives us Brahman+jnana+avail+mala.

Meaning: Brahman – the Supreme, Ultimate Truth and Reality, jnana -Knowledge, avali - a range, series (as in Aravali, Granthavali, Haravali, Ratnavali, etc.), mala – garland. The song is a bunch of twenty-one garlands, each fragrant with the divine presence of Sat-Chid-Ananda.

How may it be appreciated? As recommended by Shankara in the opening verse, you may simply listen, and mindfully listen to this beautiful song. That suffices for you to comprehend the Absolute Knowledge and attain moksha.

Even if you are unfamiliar with Sanskrit, you would get the overall sense of what the Philosopher-Poet hoped to convey, and marvel at its brevity, great clarity, and lyricism. This song communicates at different levels – to the lay but curious person, and to the erudite scholar, too.

Swami Brahmananda of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust has chanted this stotra so beautifully that you would be mesmerized by it, and may be driven to listen to it again and again. Here is the link for the audio:

https://youtu.be/77qayI4_YB4?si=0GED7NNuDo43ukCI

Translation of Selected Verses

Of the twenty-one verses, my translation of four selected verses is given below. For those who may be interested, the full translation is at the end of the document.[ii]

Verse 2

I AM unattached, unbound, unconfined;

I AM Sat-Chid-Ananda;

I AM inexhaustible, undiminishing, Eternal.

 

Each of the subsequent verses reiterate, expand, and explicate this core pronouncement: Brahman is eternal, omnipresent, Resident-within and Witness (Sakshi) of all creation. It is the Supreme Reality, Consciousness, and Pure Bliss.

Verse 19

Just as

The same clay is present in

The pitcher and the mud-wall,

Brahman resides

In everything in the world.

This is what Vedanta proclaims.

Verse 20

Brahman is the Supreme Truth, the Absolute Reality,

The world is illusory,

The jiva (Self) is none other than Brahman;

This is the essence of all scriptures,

Proclaims Vedanta.

Verse 21

I AM

The inner light,

The outer light,

The light glowing within,

Brighter than the brightest,

The light of all lights,

The light of the Atman,

I AM Shiva.

Shlokardhena: In half-a-Shloka

Shankaracharya is believed to have once conveyed the essence of Vedanta in half-a-Shloka:

Shlokardhena pravakshyami yaduktam granthakotivih

Brahman satya jagat mithya jiva Brahmaivanaparah

Meaning: Here is the essence of all the scriptures: Brahman is the Supreme Reality, the world is illusory, jiva (the Self) is none other than Brahman.

This half-a-Shloka is a quote from Brahmajnanavalimala (Verse 20).

Adi Guru was pithy when needed, and expansive when he chose to explain at greater length. That is why he wrote extensive Bhasyas (Commentaries) on Bhagavat Geeta, Brahman Sutra, and ten major Upanishads. He composed Vakya Vritti, an exhaustive exposition in fifty-three verses, to explain the meaning and significance of one of the four mahavakyas: Tat Tvam Asi (That Thou Art). Fifty-three verses, i.e., 106 lines to explain those three words: Tat Tvam Asi!

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[i] Brahmajnanavalimala (Sanskrit Text)

ब्रह्मज्ञानावलीमाला

सकृच्छ्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्मज्ञानं यतो भवेत् ।

ब्रह्मज्ञानावलीमाला सर्वेषां मोक्षसिद्धये ॥ १॥

असङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहं पुनः पुनः ।

सच्चिदानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ २॥

नित्यशुद्धविमुक्तोऽहं निराकारोऽहमव्ययः ।

भूमानन्दस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ३॥

नित्योऽहं निरवद्योऽहं निराकारोऽहमुच्यते ।

परमानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ४॥

शुद्धचैतन्यरूपोऽहमात्मारामोऽहमेव च ।

अखण्डानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ५॥

प्रत्यक्चैतन्यरूपोऽहं शान्तोऽहं प्रकृतेः परः ।

शाश्वतानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ६॥

तत्त्वातीतः परात्माहं मध्यातीतः परः शिवः ।

मायातीतः परंज्योतिरहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ७॥

नानारूपव्यतीतोऽहं चिदाकारोऽहमच्युतः ।

सुखरूपस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ८॥

मायातत्कार्यदेहादि मम नास्त्येव सर्वदा ।

स्वप्रकाशैकरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ९॥

गुणत्रयव्यतीतोऽहं ब्रह्मादीनां च साक्ष्यहम् ।

अनन्तानन्तरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १०॥

अन्तर्यामिस्वरूपोऽहं कूटस्थः सर्वगोऽस्म्यहम् ।

परमात्मस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ११॥

निष्कलोऽहं निष्क्रियोऽहं सर्वात्माद्यः सनातनः ।

अपरोक्षस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १२॥

द्वन्द्वादिसाक्षिरूपोऽहमचलोऽहं सनातनः ।

सर्वसाक्षिस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १३॥

प्रज्ञानघन एवाहं विज्ञानघन एव च ।

अकर्ताहमभोक्ताहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १४॥

निराधारस्वरूपोऽहं सर्वाधारोऽहमेव च ।

आप्तकामस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १५॥

तापत्रयविनिर्मुक्तो देहत्रयविलक्षणः ।

अवस्थात्रयसाक्ष्यस्मि चाहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १६॥

दृग्दृश्यौ द्वौ पदार्थौ स्तः परस्परविलक्षणौ ।

दृग्ब्रह्म दृश्यं मायेति सर्ववेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ १७॥

अहं साक्षीति यो विद्याद्विविच्यैवं पुनः पुनः ।

स एव मुक्तः सो विद्वानिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ १८॥

घटकुड्यादिकं सर्वं मृत्तिकामात्रमेव च ।

तद्वद्ब्रह्म जगत्सर्वमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ १९॥

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः ।

अनेन वेद्यं सच्छास्त्रमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ २०॥

अन्तर्ज्योतिर्बहिर्ज्योतिः प्रत्यग्ज्योतिः परात्परः ।

ज्योतिर्ज्योतिः स्वयंज्योतिरात्मज्योतिः शिवोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ २१॥

 

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य

श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य

श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ

ब्रह्मज्ञानावलीमाला सम्पूर्णा ॥

***

 

[ii] Brahmajnanavalimala: Translation by Prasanna Dash

Verse 1

Listen mindfully, O seeker,

For Brahmajnanavalimala enables you

To comprehend the Supreme Truth,

The Absolute Reality,

To attain mukti –

Deliverance from the bondage of life.

Verse 2

I am unattached, unbound, unconfined;

I am Sat-Chid-Ananda;

I, alone, am inexhaustible, undiminishing, eternal.

Verse 3

I am eternal, pure, unsullied,

Unbound, unconfined, limitless,

I am formless,

I am bliss in existence,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 4

I am eternal,

I am free from blemish,

Formless, unwavering am I,

I am the ultimate bliss,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 5

Pure awareness am I,

Revelling in my own self,

Indivisible, endless bliss am I,

Inexhaustible, ever-full, complete am I, alone.

Verse 6

I am the indwelling consciousness,

Calm and unperturbed,

Beyond the creation,

I am eternal bliss,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 7

I am the Supreme Soul,

Beyond all constituents and categories,

I am the Eternal One,

Beyond those in the middle,

I am the Supreme Effulgence,

Beyond the darkness of illusion,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 8

I am pure consciousness,

Different from the legion diverse forms,

I am unwavering,

I am sheer joy and bliss,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 9

Never am I subject

To the unreal, transient world of maya,

I am illumined by my own light,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 10

I am beyond the three gunas –

Satva, rajas, and tamas,

I am the Witness

To the birth of

Brahma and all others,

I am infinite, and beyond infinite,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 11

I am the Omniscient within,

Omnipresent everywhere,

I am the Supreme Soul,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

 

Verse 12

I am undivided, without parts, the Whole,

I am actionless,

I am eternal,

At the beginning of creation,

Verily, I am the Supreme Energy,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 13

I am the eternal witness

To the vagaries and flux of the world,

I am Witness to everything, always,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 14

I am the ultimate awareness and consciousness,

I am not the doer,

I am not the enjoyer,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 15

I am the base

Holding everything,

But I need no support,

I am the Supreme Soul,

Beyond the craving for fulfilment of desires,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 16

I am free from the three afflictions –

Adhidaivik, adhibhoutik, and adhyatmik,

I am beyond the three bodies –

Gross, subtle, and causal,

I am the witness of the three states –

Jagrata, Svapna, and sushupti,

I, alone, am inexhaustible, ever-full, complete.

Verse 17

The seer and the seen

Are different from each other,

The seer is the Supreme Soul - Brahman,

The seen is the mutable, illusory world of maya,

Thus proclaims Vedanta.

Verse 18

‘I am the Witness,’

Whosoever realises this truth,

After deep contemplation,

Once and for all,

Becomes wise, and

Attains liberation,

Thus proclaims Vedanta.

Verse 19

Just as

The same clay is present in

The pitcher and the mud-wall,

Brahman resides

In everything in the world.

This is what Vedanta proclaims.

Verse 20

Brahman is the Supreme Truth, the Absolute Reality,

The world is illusory,

The jiva (Self) is none other than Brahman;

This is the essence of all scriptures,

Proclaims Vedanta.

Verse 21

I AM

The inner light,

The outer light,

The light glowing within,

Brighter than the brightest,

The light of all lights,

The light of the Atman,

I AM Shiva.

***