Author: George Victor
Publisher: D K Printworld
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 172
ISBN/UPC (if available): 81-246-0194-1
Description
Vedanta is recognized as the leading philosophy of the Vedic tradition. A major proponent of Vedanta was Sankaracarya who laid the basis for the propagation of Vedanta before the beginning of the Middle ages. His contribution has been so immense and significant that often Vedanta has been interpreted as synonymous with Advaita Vedanta of Sankara.
Here Dr. George Victor attempts to study comprehensively Sankaracarya's teachings on Vedanta - his view on scripture, perception and inference as pramanas or standard of knowledges; his explanations of the relation between Brahman and Atman, Brahman and Isvara, Maya and the world; and his concepts of Jnana Marga, Karma Marga, and Moksa, among others.
This work takes a close look at the date of Sankara and his life and times before plunging into a penetrative study of Sankara's commentaries on the triple texts, the Upanishads, the Brahmasutra and the Bhagavad Gita - the foundations of Vedantic thought. With constant references to Sankara's major and minor works and hymns, and using a simple language that reflects a unique clarity in understanding Sankara's philosophy, it also examines his methodology of philosophical interpretations and how academicians have estimated Sankara in the past.
Authored by a scholar who has for long been associated with research and teaching of Sankara's philosophy, the book will be of interest to scholars of Indian philosophy as well as general readers.
Contents
Preface
Introduction to Vedanta
Gaudapada, the Propounder
The Date of Sankaracarya
The Times of Sankaracarya
The Life of Sankaracarya
The Works of Sankaracarya
Sankaracarya on the Upanisads
Sankaracarya on the Bhagvad Gita
Sankaracarya on the Brahma-Sutra
Minor Works and Hymns of Sankaracarya
Teachings of Sankaracarya
Methodology of Sankaracarya
Social Philosophy of Sankaracarya
Interpretations on Sankaracarya
Glossary
Bibliography
Index