mystical experiences of the Self
The method used to explain the concept is unique.
The Astavakra Gita is a unique text among the world’s contemplative classics dealing systematically with the mystical experiences of the Self on its way to transcendence, peace and bliss. There are few ancient treatises in East or West which evince such profound all lively concern with the Supreme Self as the ultimate reality, embodied in mystical insight and experience, and written with such spiritual imagination and poetic fervour.
The Classical text of Atmadvaita by Astavakra with an Introductory Essay, Sanskrit Text, English Translation, Annotation and Glossarial Index.
It all starts with King Janaka & his Queen asking ashatvakra to reveal them the secrets of their past life.
When the king realizes that the queen was his mother is past life, he’s left shocked ! and seeks wisdom from the sage ‘Ashtavakra‘.
It presents in twenty chapters the substance of Ashtavakra’s teaching in respect of the Cosmic Self in the form of his dialogue with Janaka, the seer-king of Videha. The teaching is based on the Upanisadic creed of Absolute monism (Advaitavada) that identifies the Self with the non-dual Ultimate Reality.
This text presents the substance of Ashtavakra’s teaching in respect to the Cosmic Self in the form of his dialogue with Janaka, the seer-king of Videha. His teaching identifies the Self with the non-dual Ultimate Reality, while introducing the emotional element of mystical feeling as the means to realizing the non-dual nature of the Self.