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.

Advaita Vedanta

Advaita Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy that teaches the non-duality of the ultimate reality, Brahman, and the true self, Atman. It holds that the world of multiplicity is an illusion (maya) caused by ignorance (avidya) of the true nature of Brahman, which is pure existence, consciousness, and bliss (sat-chit-ananda). By removing this ignorance through knowledge (jnana), one can realize the identity of Atman and Brahman and attain liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (samsara).

Mahavakyas (Great Aphorisms)

Advaita Vedanta was not a new system of philosophy; its core doctrine had already been propounded in the Mahavakyas. The four principal Mahavakyas, or "Great Sayings", from the Upanishads are:

1. Prajñānam Brahma: 'Consciousness is Brahman (Aitareya Upanishad - Rig Veda).  

2. Tat Tvam Asi: 'That Thou Art.' (Chandogya Upanishad - Sama-Veda).  

3. Ahaṁ Brahma Asmi: 'I am Brahman.'   (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad - Yajur Veda).  

4. Ayaṁ Ᾱtmā Brahma: 'This Self is Brahman. (Mandukya Upanishad - Atharva Veda).  

Shankara’s Texts on Advaita Vedanta

Shankaracharya’s Vivekachudamani with 581 verses is a lengthy text expected to be studied by a serious student of Advaita Vedanta; but for an elementary understanding of the philosophy only three of his stotras with a total of thirty-seven shlokas may suffice – Nirvana Shatakam (6), Dasha Shloki (10), and Brahmajnanavalimala (21).

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 Nirvana Shatakam and Dasha Shloki 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.

(Adi Shankara (788-820), founder of Advaita Vedanta, with disciples, by Raja Ravi Varma (1904), Image Source: Wiki Commons)

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+avali+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-Chit-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, to the serious student, 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-Chit-Ananda;

I, alone, 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.

For those who may be interested, a detailed reading of this verse is provided in the end notes.

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, Brahma 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!

 

***

Resources

1.      Sankara: The Missionary, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai

2.      https://www.shankaracharya.org

3.      https://www.kamakoti.org

4.      Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker – Pavan K. Varma, Tranquebar Press, 2018

5.      The Hindu Way: An Introduction to Hinduism – Shashi Tharoor

6.      Bing AI

7. https://www.sankara.iitk.ac.in

8. https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_z_misc_general/parApUjA.html

9. https://www.shastras.com/adi-sankara/brahma-jnanavali-mala/

10.  Aggarwal, Ashwini Kumar. Brahma Jnanavali Mala of Adi Shankaracharya: Essence and Sanskrit Grammar

11. You Tube has many excellent renditions of Adi Shankara’s hymns and verses of which my favourites are those by Uma Mohan (Nirvana Shatakam), Swami Brahmanada (Brahmajnanavali)

***

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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-Chit-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.

***

Verse-2: A Detailed Reading

असङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहं पुनः पुनः । 

सच्चिदानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ २ ॥

asaṅgo'hamasaṅgo'hamasaṅgo'haṃ punaḥ punaḥ । saccidānandarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ ॥ 2 ॥ 

I am unattached, unbound, unconfined;

I am Sat-Chit-Ananda;

I am inexhaustible, undiminishing, eternal.

 

This translation may suffice for the common reader, but a learner needs to contemplate and meditate for this shloka to reveal its deeper meaning and significance. Shankara’s disciples believe that the Brahmajnanavalimala stotra or any of its shlokas may be used a tool for meditation by a seeker.

At its simplest, this verse makes the core pronouncement: Brahman is the Supreme Reality, Consciousness, and Pure Bliss. It is unattached, free, unbound, limitless, inexhaustible, ever-full, and always complete.

A detailed reading, attempted below, tells us much more than that.

अ-सङ्गः अहम् असङ्गः अहम् असङ्गः अहम् पुनः पुनः । 

सत्-चित्-आनन्द-रूपः अहम् अहम् एव अहम् अव्ययः ॥  

अ-सङ्गः – not together, not attached, unattached, detached, a name for the Supreme Soul

अहम् – I

पुनः पुनः – Again and again, repeatedly, once and for all

सत्- Truth, Supreme Reality

चित्- Pure Consciousness, Awareness

आनन्द – Bliss, Joy

सत्-चित्-आनन्द – Each of the three words is a synonym for the Supreme Soul; together, the reference is to the three defining aspects of Brahma

रूपः – Literally, it means ‘Form’; but in the following shlokas the Supreme Soul would declare its formlessness or nirakara Swaroopa, and that it is different from the legions of forms of the phenomenal world (nanaroopovyatitoham).

अहम् एव अहम् – Verily, I am myself. Brahman is constrained to mention this since there is none or nothing else like it. It is advitiya Swaroopa, there is no other, no second!

अव्ययः – Inexhaustible, undiminishing, eternal (purnamadah purnamidam); a synonym for Brahman

Asangoham Asangoham Asangoham

Why is Asangoham repeated thrice? Repetition, of course, is a favourite method to reiterate and highlight the importance of something stated. For a solemn oath, tri-vara Satya (swearing thrice), is made. AUM, the sacred syllable comprises of A-U-M, symbolising the trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh. The sacred Gayatri mantra begins with AUM, and the next three words - Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah – are a string of three mystic words referring to the three Lokas. In Shanti mantras ‘Shanti’ is repeated thrice to seek protection from tapa-traya, the three afflictions that torment us: from adhi-daivik or supernatural, adhibhoutik or those emanating from the phenomenal world, and adhyatmik or those rising from within our own body, mind, or soul.

In this song, the mystic number of three and associated concepts are invoked repeatedly (tapa-traya, deha-traya, Avastha-traya, etc.). The central theme is about Sat-Chit-Ananda, each of these separately in itself, and as a trinity, signify the Supreme Truth or Reality, the eternal, abiding principle of life.

After asserting that it is ‘unattached,’ why does Brahman repeats it again and again? Such is the overwhelming power of maya or samsara and the darkness of avidya (ignorance, delusion) that the seeker has to reiterate this essential truth and never lose sight of the Supreme Reality. Maybe, that is why a true devotee offers prayers thrice a day at tri-sandhya (three-cusp prayer).