Ekam Sat 1

The Gita literature in Sanskrit is the spontaneous outpouring of the sages and seers that have realized the Self. It is the expression of their direct experience of the Divine-the Self, the Brahman, the Atman in whatever way IT is apprehended in their supreme consciousness. It is, therefore, no surprise that every Gita sets realization of the Self as its ideal. All of them point to one Truth, the only Truth-Ekam Sat. The Gita literature has been in the nature of solid support to the monistic Vedanta philosophy. The thrust of the Gita literature is an unfolding of the ultimate Truth which is the final objective of all philosophy, but which for ever eludes its grasp.

The book Ekam Sat 1 contains a detailed exposition of Monism followed by Astavakra-Gita and Avadhuta-Gita. The translation of each sloka (verse) of the two Gitas in Sanskrit is rendered against the corresponding serial number of the verse in each chapter of the Gita concerned. Explanatory paragraphs are added to each translated verse, wherever considered necessary, to elaborate the essence of the content of the verse from the point of view of Monism.

About the Series

Ekam Sat is the name of the series of Gita literature other than Bhagavad-Gita. Ekam Sat 1 is a compilation of two Gitas - Astavakra-Gita and Avadhuta-Gita.

Four more volumes - Ekam Sat 2, 3, 4 & 5 will be published containing another 17 Gitas.

About the Author

K.R. Paramahamsa was a retired civil servant in India borne on the Indian Administrative Service. He has created the website Sri Sathya Sai Veda Pratishtan at www.vedamu.org , a repository of all the Vedic literature available in India in Devanagari and Grantha scripts. Besides, the website hosts 415 hours of Vedic chanting of ten Veda sakhas in different modes in a representative way. He is Adjunct Faculty of the Hindu University of America in Florida. He is now a resident of the Ashram of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai at Prasanthi Nilayam-515134, India in pursuit of spiritual upliftment.

Table of Contents

MONISM

ASTAVAKRA-GITA

Introduction

1. Self - Witness in All

2. Joy of Self-Realization

3. Test of Self-Realization

4. Glory of Self-Realization

5. Four Ways to Dissolution of Ego

6. True Knowledge of the Self

7. Nature of Self-Realization

8. Bondage and Liberation

9. Detachment

10. Dispassion

11. Wisdom

12. Abiding in the Self

13. True Happiness

14. Tranquility

15. Knowledge of the Self

16. Special Instructions

17. The True Knower

18. Peace

19. Repose in the Self

20. Liberation in Life

AVADHUTA-GITA

Introduction

1. By Divine grace

2. Guru

3. Brahman

4. Supreme Beatitude

5. Aum

6. Srutis

7. Avadhuta

8. Sage