SAGEASHTAVAKRA-PART 2 Continuedfrom part1
Ashta vakra Gita Ashtavakra is credited as the author of the Ashtavakra Gita,which means "songof Ashtavakra". The text is also known as Ashtavakra Saṃhitā. The Ashtavakra Gita examines the metaphysical nature of existence and the meaning ofindividual freedom, presenting its thesis that there is only one SupremeReality (Brahman), the entirety of universe is oneness andmanifestation of this reality, everything is interconnected, all Self (Atman,soul) are part of that one, and that individual freedom is not the end pointbut a given, a starting point, innate. If you wish to be free, Know you are the Self, The witness of all these, The heart of awareness. Set your body aside.Sit in your own awareness. You will at once be happy, Forever still, Forever free. You are everywhere,Forever free. If you think you are free, You are free. If you think you are bound, you are bound. Meditate on the Self. One without two, Exalted awareness. — Ashtavakra Gita 1.4–14, Translator: Thomas Byrom According to American scholar Jessica Wilson, the Sanskritpoetics in Ashtavakra Gita is not driven by critical syllogism, but is rich inphilosophical premises, spiritual effectiveness and its resonant narrativebecause of "textual indeterminacy between the audience's disposition andthe foregrounded theme of non-individuation in the text. This tension...results in consistency building by the audience, which enables thetranscendence of these two viewpoints (reader and text)" According to Radhakamal Mukerjee, the Ashtavakra Gita was likely composed after theBhagavad Gita but before the start of the common era, and attributedto sage Ashtavakra out of reverence for his ideas. Ashta vakra duringTretayuga In the Treta Yuga, Sage Ashtavakra is primarily celebrated for his role as thespiritual preceptor to King Janaka of Mithila and for his presence in theevents surrounding the Ramayana. 1. Spiritual Preceptorto King Janaka The most significant event involving Ashtavakra during thisera is his visit to the court of King Janaka (the father of Sita), anenlightened ruler known as a Rajarshi. The Debate withVandin: As a teenager, Ashtavakra travelled to Mithila to challengeVandin, a scholar who had previously defeated and drowned manysages, including Ashtavakra's father, Kahoda. Ashtavakra won the debate, leading to the miraculous returnof his father and the other sages. The Ashtavakra Gita: Impressed by the young sage's wisdom, King Janaka became hisdisciple. Their dialogue on non-dualism (Advaita Vedanta) and self-realizationis recorded as the Ashtavakra Gita. Impact on the Court: Upon entering the court, Ashtavakra was initially ridiculedfor his eight physical deformities. He famously rebuked thecourtiers, stating they were "cobblers" who only saw skin and not thesoul. This forced the King to recognize that true knowledgetranscends the physical form. 2. Presence in theRamayana While not a central character in the main plot, Ashtavakraappears in the context of the Treta Yuga's primary epic: The Curse onKabandha: In the Adhyatma Ramayana, the demon Kabandha was originally a celestial Gandharvanamed Vishvavasu. He was cursed by Ashtavakra to become a monster after helaughed at the sage's appearance. Ashtavakra prophesied that Kabandha would be liberated from this curse byLord Rama during the Treta Yuga. Mention by KingDasharatha: In Valmiki’s Ramayana, after the war in Lanka, the spirit of King Dasharathamentions Ashtavakra’s story to Rama, comparing Rama's redemptiveactions to how Ashtavakra redeemed his father, Kahoda. Ashtavakra is referencedin verse 6.119.17 of Yuddha Kāṇḍa in Vālmikī's Rāmāyaṇa. When Daśaratha comesto see Rāma from heaven after the war of the Rāmāyaṇa, he tells Rāma O son! I have been conveyed across (redeemed) by you, who adeserving son and a great being; like the virtuous Brahmana Kahoḍa [wasredeemed] by [his son] Aṣṭāvakra. ॥ 6.119.17 ॥ In the Aranya Kanda ofAdhyatma Ramayana,the demon Kabandha narrates his story to Rama and Lakshmana, in which he saysthat he was a Gandharva earlier who was cursed by Ashtavakra to become a demonwhen he laughed on seeing him (Ashtavakra). When the Gandharva then bowed downto Ashtavakra, Ashtavakra said that he would be released from the curse by Rama in Treta Yuga. Ashta vakra during Dwaparayuga During the Dvapara Yuga, Sage Ashtavakra is primarily known through his legend asnarrated in the Mahabharata. While he lived during the Treta Yuga, his story serves as a vital sourceof spiritual guidance for the Pandavas during their exile. 1. Narration in theVana Parva In the Mahabharata, the sage Lomasha narrates Ashtavakra's life toYudhisthira and the other Pandavas during their twelve-year exile. Pilgrimage to Samanga: Lomasha takes the Pandavas to the Samanga River, whereAshtavakra was famously cured of his eight physical deformities. Purpose of the Story: The legend was shared to inspire the Pandavas with the ideathat wisdom and determination can overcome even the most severe physical andsituational hardships. Lessons on Wisdom: Yudhisthira is taught throughAshtavakra's words that "a grey head does not make an elder" and thattrue greatness comes from spiritual learning rather than age or physicalappearance. Meeting with Lord Krishna According to some Puranic accounts and regional traditions,Ashtavakra met Lord Krishna during this era. Spiritual Recognition: Krishna, hearing of Ashtavakra’s exceptional knowledge ofAdvaita (non-dualism), reportedly sought him out. Upon meeting, thetwo enlightened beings recognized each other's divinity. Final Moments ofAshtavakra: One tradition suggests that Ashtavakra visited Dwarka, where he eventually left his mortal body in the presence of Krishna. Philosophical Legacy While the Bhagavad Gita is the central dialogue of theDvapara Yuga, scholars often compare it with the Ashtavakra Gita narrated inthe previous age. Direct Truth: In Dvapara Yuga contexts,Ashtavakra’s teachings are seen as a more direct, "un-sugar coated"version of the spiritual truths that Krishna later provided to Arjuna. The Law of Octaves: Some interpretations of his storyin the Mahabharata link the eight bends in his body to the"Law of Octaves," symbolizing the complex forces that govern humanexistence. Story of Ashta Vakra toldin detail in the epic Mahābhārata- In the Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata, the legend ofAshtavakra is described in greater detail. On losing the game of dicewith the Kauravas, the five Pāṇḍava princes and Draupadi are exiled fortwelve years. On their pilgrimage, they meet the sage Lomaśa, and he narrates to the Pāṇḍavaprinces the legend of Ashtavakra, over three chapters of Vana Parvaof the Mahābhārata. Ashtavakra's wisdom on various aspects of human existence isrecited in the Mahābhārata. For example: A grey head does not make an elder,Not by years, not by greyhairs, not by riches nor by relations did the seers make the Law, He who is great to us, is onewho has learning.— Ashtavakra, Vana Parva,Mahabharata Book iii[13] Puranas Ashtavakra andŚvetaketu made his way to Janaka's palace. Ashtavakra first faced the gatekeeper who tried tokeep the young boy out. On convincing the gatekeeper that he was well versed inthe scriptures and hence old, he was let in. Then Janaka tested Ashtavakra with cryptic questions whichAshtavakra answered with ease. Janaka decided to letAshtavakra face Vandin.Vandin and Ashtavakra began the debate, with Vandin starting. They alternatelycomposed six extempore verses on the numbers one to twelve. Then Vandin could only compose the first half of a verse on the numberthirteen. Ashtavakra completed the verse by composing the second halfand thus won the argument against Vandin. This unique debate is full of enigmasand latent meanings which lie under the simple counts of the numbers one tothirteen. Ashta Vakra In arts Ashtavakra is one of the characters in the First Act of theSanskrit play Uttara-Rāmacaritamcomposed by Bhavabhuti in the 8th century. The 571st volume of the Amar Chitra Katha, first published in1976, is titled Dhruva and Ashtavakra.][16] The second half of the volumepresents the narrative of Ashtavakra.A puppet play on Ashtavakra was staged bythe Dhaatu Artist group in Ranga Shankara in Bangalore in 2010.[17] Ashtavakra Gita becamevery popular after Indian Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gave acommentary in Bangalore in 1991. End of posting. Compiled from websites andQA in Google search.R Gopalakrishnan, (formerITS) Dated 10-05-2026 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/9502751.48501.1778384615523%40mail.yahoo.com.
