Uniqueness of Ashtavakra Gita ……………

Uniqueness of Astvakras teaching is that there no chanting of Mantra or japa or practice of neither Asanas nor Pranayam. He does not prescribe or post crib any rituals. He talks about self and remaining in साक्षीभावा of all that exist.

There no scope to add your own thoughts. There is neither philosophical discussion nor interpretation of scriptures. He talks about self, consciousness. He is true messenger of consciousness. His message is very clear ………….

His words are so simple and pure if these words touch you, transformation is instantaneous. This has happened with janaka this too shall happen with you.

After listening the Sega, Janaka says………………..

अहो, It’s amazing, बोधोsहं, I am pure consciousness, I am निरञ्जन; शान्तो flawless, serene. I am beyond matter or material world प्रकृति: पर: .I have been fooled, I lived in delusion since time immemorial एतावन्तं कालम .But now I am awake.

Ashtavakra is very fortunate to have disciple like janaka, who awaked with just hint to remain in witness of self? It is something Janaka was waiting to receive the divine and with Ashtavakra’s words it just happening happened.

Amazing,now through skill of (your) teaching having abandon/renounce the universe together with the body सशरीरंम विश्वं परित्जंम I see only supreme self परम्मात्मा  विलोक्त्ये.

This is called दर्शन! Was it attributed to any sadhana?  Or reading of scriptures, devotion? NO, no Janaka has used word कुतश्चित some कौशलात skill not specified how it has happened. I repeat this is not matter of experience but something called आत्मदर्शन or स्वरुप् दर्शन!

Janaka makes Very important declaration. I am one, I alone illumine this body and do I illumine universe too.प्रकाशयामि एकोदेहं, तथा जगत!  So, therefore either whole universe is mine or not.

I am light, light is my nature, प्रकाशोमे निजरूपं I am not separate from that.न अतिरिक्तः अहंम अस्मि when universe is illuminated it is illuminated by my light.

Certainly he is not referring here about the person janaka .He is not referring to his jiva nor his soul neither ego. That person has disappeared that individual wave is gone, only ocean remains. This ocean is everyone’s. Janaka’s declaration is not only about himself, it is also about you, me every one who have been and who will ever be. This is about whole existence.

There are 25 verses of Janaka in the chapter two. I have touch very few. Rest I will touch in next two to three blog. Actually it is not Janaka who is speaking, it being spoken through him.

My role is to convey the message in right earnest and aspirant himself should be ready to receive divine grace of masters.

Peace is with you, light of consciousness, through witness shall take you to self.

By Ajeet Bhide 

  

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Get introduce to Ashtavakra’s Gita ………

Get introduce to Ashtavakra’s Gita ………

“Gita Rahasya ‘is Lokmannya Tilak”s commentary on Bhagwat Gita .In it he has referred the names of various Gitas, just for your information, view and delete.

Names of Gitas are Pingle Gita Harith Gita, Shapang Gita, Vrita Gita, Parasher Gita, Hans Gita Other  than these there is Avadhut Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, Ishwer Gita, Uttar Gita, Kapil Gita, Pandav Gita, Udhav Gita, Ganesh Gita , Kak Gita number is beyond twenty five.

But my dear friends only two Gitas are Widely read, commented one is Bhagwat Gita Which is also an Upanishad and Ashtavakra Gita..

This Ashtavakra Gita is also called as Ashtavakra Samhita.

Tradition describe Ashtavakra Gita is credited to Sega Ashtavakra .Text contents dialogue  between Ashtavakra  and King Janak In the Vanaperva of Mahabharata  this treatise is mentioned. Let us first understand about Ashtavakra‘s background..

He was born to Kohor and Sujata .Somewhere Kohar is pronounce as Kahoda. 

Kohar was well versed in Vedas. While the child was in mother’s womb he used to hear the Vedas. One day suddenly the child from the mother’s womb said   ‘Oh my father I learned all Vedas through your recitation. Your recitation   of the mantras are faulty, Secondly, Scriptures alone shall not make you Enlightened. It may give you knowledge   

but that will not make you Enlighten'

The boy yet to be born is challenging me?’  

This made Kohar annoyed & out of rage he cursed the unborn boy ‘You shall born with eight deformities in your body.’ He was born with eight bends, eight twist in body. He was crippled, hunchback like camel, deformed limbs, hence called Ashtavakra.

Another   incidence took place prior to this Samhita or dialogue with King Janak. At the age of twelve, Ashtavakra went to Janaka’s court what happened in the court, one should be aware of; hence this incidence is quoted here.

There was debate going on Janaka’s court .On the matter of spirituality, all learned wise people were invited at the court. Ashtavakra a small boy only twelve year of age, was not known & not invited, still he entered the Janaka’s Court.

Looking at the entry of this boy with hunch back, eight bends in the body as if some fool, has entered in the meeting of wise gathering, the court started laughing at him. Even King Janaka could not resist, he too joined the mood of the people and stared laughing.

After some time laughing subsided.  Now this Boy Ashtavakra started laughing loud. People thought this boy must be fool.  King Janaka asked the twelve year boy that we were laughing at you, but what made you laugh.

The boy replied “I thought that this is the gathering of wise learned people and I entered your court, Janaka I am wrong, I entered wrong place, wrong time this is the gathering of Cobblers discussing outer appearance, they are concerned with Chamdi –Skin my outer appearance, what is within they cannot grasp, what is within me, behind this appearance. This made me laugh”

There was pin drop silence. Janaka understood his mistake and apologies him.  

By Ajeet Bhide

                                                                          
 Continued in next blog
                                           
 Post 1