Author: Sri Sankaracharya
Several Contributors/
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): Alladi Mahadeva Sastry/Pranava Vartika/at al.
Publisher: Samata Books/Advaita
Year: 2001
Language: Bi-Lingual
Pages: 223
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8185208093
Description
A great poem in World Literature, Dakshinamurti Stotra reveals the Poet and the Mystic in Sri Sankaracharya in unison at the highest altitude of his being.
The four sons of Brahma born on his mind-MANASA PUTRAS-declined to continue the line of creation. Intent on returning to the Source they found themselves in the Presence of Siva as Janana-Dakshinamurti in a blissful inner state of "Knowledge by identity". The thin veil over their eyes dropped as they, along with other sages, gazed at the luminous Silence. The perfect teaching was given and received in Silence.
Sri Sankaracharya realised it in his own person and he gave utterance to that Silence of Compassionate Knowledge in these ten stanzas of winged words for the benefit of humanity.
Sri Suresvaracharya wrote a commentary Manasollasa-Briliant play of thought-on this hymn of his Master to enlighten those who needed further help.
Added to these texts are the ancient Dakshinamurti Upanishad and Suresvaracharya's Pranava Vartika in Nagari Script. The translation of these four texts into English is by Sri Alladi Mahadeva Sastri the well-known scholar whose masterly introductory essay : The Vedanta Doctine of Sankaracharya will help the reader immensely.
Contents
I. SANKARACHARYA'S DAKSHINAMURTI STOTRA AND SURESVARACHARYA'S MANASOLLASA WITH COMMENTS INTRODUCTION:
i. Love of God and Guru, the Keynote of All Revealed Religions
ii. Man's Highest End
iii. Man's Evolution as an Individual
iv. Necessity for Revelation
v. Devotion to Guru Necessary
vi. Vii. Karmakanda and Its Lesson
viii. Upasana-Kanda and Its Lessons
ix. Jnana-Kanda
x.xi. Devotion and Knowledge
xii. Origin and Growth of Philosophy
xiii. Rise of Materialism
xiv. Intellectual Speculation, Orthodox and Heterodox
xv. Orthodox Methods of Intellectual Speculation
xvi. The Tarkika's Tenets
xvii. The Sankhya Doctrine
xviii. Buddhistic Doctrine
xix. Doctrine of the Arhats
xx. Reaction Against Pure Intellectual Speculation
xxi. Right Method of Interpreting the Veda
xxii. The Mimamsa Doctrine
xxiii. The Vedanta and Its Several Schools
xxiv.xv. The Advaita Doctrine
xxvi. Absolute Unity of the Self and Brahman Taught in the Upanishads
xxvii. Distinction Between Jiva and Isvara is Due to Maya
xxviii. Jiva is One with F'svara
xxix. A'tman the Material Cause of the Universe
xxx. A'tman, the One Existence
xxxi. Maya and Vidya
xxxii. Maya Defined
xxxiii. Yoga Necessary for Self-Realisation
xxxiv.xxxv. Substantial Agreement Among Philosophers as to the Essential Nature of A'tman and the Unreality of the Universe
Conclusion
Chap. 1: A'TMAN AS THE EGO:
First Stanza of the Hymn-The Purpose of the Hymn the Fundamental Questions-The Universe Exists in the Self-The Universe Shines By the Light of the Self-Realisation of Non-Duality-A'tman as I'svara and Jiva-I'svara is the Self in All-I'svara's Consciousness is One and Self-Luminous-I'svara's Activity-I'svara and Jiva Differentiated By Upadhi-All Differentiation Due to Maya
Chap. 2: A'TMAN AS THE FIRST CAUSE:
Second Stanza of the Hymn-Vaiseshika's Atomic Theory-Vaiseshika's Threefold Cause -The Sankhya Theory-Refutation of the Atomic Theory the Theory of Illusion-Intelligence and Activity Inhere Only in the Sentient-The Vaiseshika's Categories-The Sankhya's Categories-The Twenty-Four Principles of the Theistic Sankhya the Twenty-Four Principles of the Atheistic Sankhya-The Thirty Principles of the Pa-Uranikas the Thirty-Six Principles of S'aivagama-Vedic Doctrine of Maya-I'svara is Not a Mere Efficient Cause
Chap. 3: UNITY OF A'TMAN:
Third Stanza of the Hymn-Absolute Unity of A'tman-Avidya, the Cause of Delusion-The Body Separates Jiva From I'svara Their Unity Taught in the S'ruti "That Thou Art"-The S'ruti Points to No Sort of Distinction Between Jiva and I'svara A'tman Identified With the Body, Etc, By Ignorance A'tman's Manifestation in the Five Kosas-Jiva and I'svara One in Essence-Realisation of A'tman's Unity Leads to Liberation
Chap 4: A'TMAN THE ONE EXISTENCE AND LIGHT:
Fourth Stanza of the Hymn-Objection to the Vedic Doctrine of the One Existence and Light External Objects Have No Existence and Light of Their Own I'svara Cognises and Acts Through Upadhi the Organ of Cognition-Nadis, the Vehicles of the Sense-Organs-Jagrat State-Svapna-Sushupti A'tman is Ever Sat-Chit-A'nanda-I'svara, the One Light and Existence-I'svara as the Ego.
Chap. 5: FALSE PERSONATIONS OF A'TMAN:
Fifth Stanza of the Hymn A'tman Identified With the Physical Body-A'tman Identified With Prana-A'tman Identified With Sense-Organs the Body Etc. Cannot Be A'tman-Why the Body is Not A'tman Why the Sense-Organs Cannot Be A'tman Why Prana is Not A'tman Why Buddhi is Not A'tman-Why the Aggregate of the Body, Etc. is Not A'tman A'tman is All-Pervading-The Illusion.
Chap. 6: A'TMAN THE ETERNAL EXISTENCE:
Sixth Stanza of the Hymn-Buddhistic Nihilism (Sunyavada) Refutation of Nihilism-Refutation of the Doctrine of the Five Skandhas-Pratyabhijnu is No Illusion A'tman's Continuous Existence, A'tman's True-Nature.
Chap. 7: A'TMAN THE ETERNAL LIGHT:
Seventh Stanza of the Hymn-Authority of Pratyabhijna Questioned Pratyahhijnana Explained as a Proof of A'tman's Eternality-Adhyasa Or Illusion.
Chap. 8: MAYA:
Eighth Stanza of the Hymn What is Bondage, Liberation and Maya? All Experience is a Fiction-Meaning of "Mithya" Truth Taught Through Fiction Maya Nullified By Knowledge Maya Defined Moksha is the Eradication of Maya
Chap. 9: DEVOTION TO I'SVARA:
Ninth Stanza of the Hymn-Maya Ceases By Devotion Devotion to Isvara in His Visible Forms-Unity of Macrocosm and Microcosm-Devotion to I'svara in the Microcosm Leads to Unity With the Macrocosm-Correspondences Between Macrocosm and Microcosm, as to Earth, Water, Fire Or Light. Air, A'kasa, the Sun, the Moon and the Soul Samanaska-Yoga Leads to the Amanaska the Eight Steps of Yoga : (1) Yama, (2) Niyama, (3) A'sana, (4) Pranayama, (5) Pratyahara. (6) Dharana, (7) Dhyana, (8) Samadhi Yoga, Necessary for Steadiness of Manas and Prana-Lambika-Yoga Signs of Perfection in Yoga I'svara's Manifestation in Yoga Manifestation of Pranava in Yoga the Grace of God and Guru Necessary
Chap. 10: PERFECTION:
Tenth Stanza of the Hymn-The Highest End-The Eight Siddhis-Glory of the Divine Contemplation-Love of God and Guru Necessary for Wisdom.
II. SURESVARCHARYA'S PRANAVA VARTIKA:
Purpose of the Tract the Avyakrita-The Sutra Or Hiranyagarbha. the Three Aspects of Manifested Brahman Visva and His Unity With the Viraj-Taijasa and His Unity With the Hiranyagarbha-Prajna and His Unity With I'svara the One Reality Contemplation of A'tman By Pranava Jivan-Mukti-Conclusion.
III. DAKSHINAMURTI-UPANISHAD