Five Works Of Shankaracharya

This book is a translation of five works of Sri Shankaracharya, the guru who not only united Vedic philosophies but also the people of undivided India. With more than 250 works, which are all equally profound, his impact on Indian psyche still reigns supreme. A brief and easy to understand introduction of 'Advait Vedanta' is also provided in the beginning. The basic organisation of the book is as below: 0. Intoduction to Advait - Gives an outline of the basic principles of non-dualism. 1. Dakshinamurti Stotram - A prayer to all-pervading Lord Shiva who is the ultimate destination of any spiritual enquiry. 2. Manisha Panchakam - Lord Shiva tests Shankaracharya on his conviction about the absolute. 3. Dasha Shloki - Shankaracharya's famous answer of "Who Am I" to his guru during their first meeting. 4. Drig Drashya Viveka - Builds the logic to distinguish the ultimate seer from its objects of observation. 5. Brahmanuchintanam - Pondering over Absolute Reality which takes us to it.

This book is a translation of seven works of Sri Shankaracharya, the most notable non-dualistic philosopher and saint. His philosophy continues to ignite, shape and bless the thinking of human minds ever since he adorned the earth. A basic outline of the book is as below:1.Bhaja Govindam - Devotion to Lord Krishna is the only refuge in this world, afflicted with diseases, pain and death.2.Hastamalakam - Insightful description of 'self' by an enlightened boy, assumed to be dumb by everyone.3.Sadhan Panchakam - Dos and don'ts for a spiritual aspirant, willing to achieve unfailing progress.4.Dhanyashtakam - Description of blessed persons and their qualities we should aspire for.5.Nirvan Shatkam - Illustration of what we are not to make us understand what we are.6.Prashnottar Manimala - Collection of various important questions and their succinct answers.7.Para Puja - A new perspective to worship the non-dual, all pervading Absolute.

One of the foremost proponents of non-dual reality, Shankaracharya has charmed the philosophers, saints, and the learned people all over undivided India. In a short life-span of 32 years, he has laid a solid foundation for Vedic Philosophies which is intact even today and for the times to come. Even his critics use and refute his work copiously to strengthen their viewpoints. This short book is a translation of his four works on non-duality. The basic structure of the book is as below:1. Nirvana Manjari - Elaborates the distinctive knowledge of real and non-real self as a means of enlightenment.2. Panjikaranam - Explains the five-fold creation of this world and the human body. 3. Svaroopa Anusandhana Ashtakam - What are the means to know our real identity and what this reality is like?4. Prashnottari - Collection of some thought-provoking and fundamental questions and their answers.

This book is a translation of seven works of Sri Shankaracharya, the most notable non-dualistic philosopher and saint. His philosophy continues to ignite, shape and bless the thinking of human minds ever since he adorned the earth. A basic outline of the book is as below: 1.Bhaja Govindam - Devotion to Lord Krishna is the only refuge in this world, afflicted with diseases, pain and death. 2.Hastamalakam - Insightful description of 'self' by an enlightened boy, assumed to be dumb by everyone. 3.Sadhan Panchakam - Dos and don'ts for a spiritual aspirant, willing to achieve unfailing progress. 4.Dhanyashtakam - Description of blessed persons and their qualities we should aspire for. 5.Nirvan Shatkam - Illustration of what we are not to make us understand what we are. 6.Prashnottar Manimala - Collection of various important questions and their succinct answers. 7.Para Puja - A new perspective to worship the non-dual, all pervading Absolute.

In this short book, Shankaracharya has explained the fundamental building blocks of all the entities as outlined in Vedic philosophy. This diverse world which consists of innumerable living and non-living entities, is nothing but an aggregate of these building blocks. Same observation holds for our bodies and its parts. He discusses the creation, composition and characteristics of our mind, intellect, memory and ego. He talks about the three different type of bodies we possess during waking, dreams and sound sleep. Along the way, he shows that which is not created is what we actually are. Our reality is beyond is beyond all bodies and definitions. Why we are not able to identify with this unborn and timeless reality now and how can we know it is the next set of important questions which he answers. And, then he answers the questions like what happens when we know the reality ourselves and how is it intrinsically different from the perception of reality of an ordinary person. It can serve as a concise, excellent and essential reference on Vedic philosophy which can help in understanding other Vedic texts. Clarity of basic concepts leads to swift and sound progress towards our non-dual reality. In this eternal oneness, there is no distress and delusion but the bliss and knowledge abound. We are this reality now but unaware of it due to our lack of focus. Once we understand it, it shines forth as if the sun has just come out of dark clouds of ignorance.

The Bhagavad-Gita, with the commentary of Sri Sankaracharya

Traditionally, 'Who am I?' has been the central quest of Vedic texts. Knowing 'I' without any external attributes such as body, mind, age, etc. is termed as self-knowledge. Or, we can say that knowing 'what we are' and 'what we are not' constitutes the complete answer. For example, a transparent crystal placed near a hibiscus flower appears to be red. Until we see it without the flower, we'll not know that it is transparent and not red. Similarly, if our notion about ourselves is mixed with some external attributes, which are different from us, we'll perceive our reality differently. This wrong perception will give rise to various conflicts like death, pain, and anxiety. So, it looks imperative to know our fundamental reality to destroy the pain and taste the immortal bliss within. Once we accept that there is something we need to know, we talk about the ways in which the correct understanding can be reached. We find ways to test our understanding. And, we also want to know how this reality looks like. In this short, original, and profound work, Shankaracharya has answered these questions and shared his insight about non-dual reality.

Shankara Bhagavatpada (~788 - 820 CE) was a true master of the highest caliber who expounded the ancient teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Principal Upanishads, and the Brahma Sutras, usually known as Prasthanatraya in an ingenious way. This anthology of nearly 1900 selections arranged in 160 topics from different English translations of the Prasthanatraya and other sources should assist any serious seeker regarding modern Vedantic exegesis.