This book is an English translation of seven of the 12 articles written in Kannada by the Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha, the 35th pontiff of the Sri Sarada Peeta of Sringeri.
Though each article is self-contained and can be studied individually, having its own relevance and base, the seven articles together can be taken as forming one well-knit group. The topics treated are: Isvara, the relationship between Isvara and the world, worship of Isvara, Bhakti yoga, the need for Sastra, Direct knowledge of Atman and Adi Sankara.
The pontiff has expressed in simple and easily intelligible manner, complex matters dealing with philosophical precepts. The essays contain quotations from Brahma Sutra, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, Viveka Choodamani and the works of Appayya Dikshitar and Nilakanta Dikshitar, to elucidate the principles discussed.
The aim of all schools of Vedanta is to ascertain the essential nature of the triad – jiva, jagat and Jagadeeswara (Brahman), as also their interplay.
In the essay titled Isvara, the nature of Jagadeeswara is explained. The arguments of the yoga school of philosophy relating to the existence of Isvara have been expounded and the relevant yoga sutra quoted.
The duty of the jiva, as mentioned in chapters 7 to 12 of the Bhagavad Gita finds expansion in the articles ‘Worship of Isvara' and ‘Bhakti Yoga.' It is the practice of bhakti yoga that guides the mind to get rid of its turbulence in due course. This concept has been mentioned by Sankara in ‘Prabodha Sudhakara,' that mental purification also takes place through bhakti.
The ‘tat padartha' (Brahman) and the means to realise that it is non-different from the ‘tvam padartha' (Jiva) is described in the essay on the direct knowledge of the Brahman. The means to be adopted to get to know the inter-relationship among the triad is outlined in the essay ‘Demonstration of the Need for Sastra.'
The bond between jagadeeswara and jagat is discussed in the essay ‘Relationship between Isvara and the World.' The followers of the yoga school hold that the manifest universe evolves from the inert Prakriti, which is the primordial material cause. However, the advaitin does not admit this position. Since Prakriti is inert, the inspiration of Purusha is necessary, to activate it. This is what Adi Sankara also says, employing the epithet ‘Parameswaraaadhina', in relation to ‘Prakriti.'
Thus, in a short compass, the essence of Vedantic dialectics has been given in this handy publication. A facile and intelligible translation has been provided making it possible to grasp the essentials of Vedanta, by those who are not familiar with Kannada.
DIDACTIC TREATISES
Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal (published by Sri Vidyatheertha Foundation, Chennai; Pages 91; Price: Rs. 40)
