Ashtavakra Gita, Aṣṭāvakragītā, Aṣṭāvakra Gīta: 3 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Vedanta
2. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Ashtavakra Gita means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit terms Aṣṭāvakragītā and Aṣṭāvakra Gīta can be transliterated into English as Astavakragita or Ashtavakragita or Astavakra Gita or Ashtavakra Gita, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Vedanta (school of philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Siva Gita A Critical Study

Aṣṭāvakragītā (अष्टावक्रगीता) or simply Aṣṭāvakra refers to one of the sixty-four Gītās commonly referred to in Hindu scriptures.—Gītā is the name given to certain sacred writings in verse (often in the form of a dialogue) which are devoted to the exposition of particular religious and theosophical doctrines. Most of these Gītās [i.e., Aṣṭāvakragītā] originate from the Mahābhārata or the various Purāṇas.

context information

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

The Ashtavakra Gita (Sanskrit in Devanagari: अष्टावक्रगीता; IAST: aṣṭāvakragītā) or the Song of Ashtavakra is a classical Advaita Vedanta scripture.

The Ashtavakra Samhita documents a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and Janaka, king of Mithila. Ashtavakra is probably identical to the holy sage with the same name who appears in Mahabharata, though the connection is not clearly stated in any of the texts. Mukherjee identifies Janaka as the father of Sita and disciple of the sage Yajnavalkya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.Janaka is also depicted as a king who has attained perfection in the Bhagavad Gita (III,20,25).

Radhakamal Mukerjee, an Indian social scientist, dates the book to the period immediately after the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita (c. 500–400 BCE).

Ashtavakra Gita is a dialogue between Ashtavakra and Janaka on the nature of soul, reality and bondage. It offers an extremely radical version of non-dualistic philosophy. The Gita insists on complete unreality of external world and absolute oneness of existence. It does not mention any morality or duties and therefore, is seen by commentators as 'godless'. It also dismisses names and forms as unreal and a sign of ignorance.

The books comprises 20 chapters:

Saksi - Vision of the Self as the All-pervading Witness
Ascaryam - Marvel of the Infinite Self Beyond Nature
Atmadvaita - Self in All and All in the Self
Sarvamatma - Knower and the Non-knower of the Self
Laya - Stages of Dissolution of Consciousness
Prakrteh Parah - Irrelevance of Dissolution of Consciousness
Santa - Tranquil and Boundless Ocean of the Self
Moksa - Bondage and Freedom
Nirveda - Indifference
Vairagya - Dispassion
Cidrupa - Self as Pure and Radiant Intelligence
Svabhava - Ascent of Contemplation
Yathasukham - Transcendent Bliss
Isvara - Natural Dissolution of the Mind
Tattvam - Unborn Self or Brahman
Svasthya - Self-Abidance through Obliteration of the World
Kaivalya - Absolute Aloneness of the Self
Jivanmukti - Way and Goal of Natural Samadhi
Svamahima - Majesty of the Self
Akincanabhava - Transcendence of the Self

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Aṣṭāvakragītā (अष्टावक्रगीता) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—vedānta. Pet. 729. Io. 100. 2202. Oxf. 227^b. Paris. (D 59 d). Hall. p. 125. B. 4, 42 (and—[commentary]). Ben. 68. 69. Tu7b. 8. Rādh. 5. NW. 298. 324. Np. V, 170 (and—[commentary]). Burnell. 96^a. P. 12. 19. Bhk. 30. Poona. 442 (and—[commentary]). H. 226. Proceed. Asb. 1865, 139. Oppert. 6867. Ii, 8004. Rice. 134. Peters. 2, 191. 3, 391.
—[commentary] Hall. p. 125. Oppert. Ii, 8005.
—[commentary] by Pūrṇānandatīrtha. NW. 326.
—[commentary] by Bhāsurānanda. NW. 310.
—[commentary] by Mukunda Muni. B. 4, 42.
—[commentary] Adhyātmapradīpa by Viśveśvara. [Mackenzie Collection] 11. Io. 100. 2202. Hall. p. 123. L. 2493. Khn. 54. B. 4, 42. Ben. 69. Oudh. Ix, 10. 16. (Ātmānubhava). Xiii, 90. H. 226. Peters. 3, 391.
—[commentary] by Vijñāneśvara (?). B. 4, 42.

Aṣṭāvakragītā has the following synonyms: Avadhūtānubhūti, Adhyātmaśāstra.

2) Aṣṭāvakragītā (अष्टावक्रगीता):—add K. 34. delete NW. 298.
—[commentary] by Viśveśvara. add K. 34. NW. 298. P. 12. 19. Bhk. 30. read Hall. p. 125, and delete Oudh. Ix, 10.

3) Aṣṭāvakragītā (अष्टावक्रगीता):—Fl. 234. 235. Io. 100. 1250. 1617. 2202. 2629. 3069. Peters. 4, 20. Stein 118.
—[commentary] Adhyātmapradīpa by Viśveśvara. Fl. 234. 235. Io. 100. 1250. 2202. 2629. Peters. 4, 20. Stein 118.

Aṣṭāvakragītā has the following synonyms: Abadhūtānubhūti.

4) Aṣṭāvakragītā (अष्टावक्रगीता):—Ulwar 493.
—[commentary] Adhyātmapradīpa by Viśveśvara. ibid.

5) Aṣṭāvakragītā (अष्टावक्रगीता):—As p. 16 (4 Mss.). Bd. 641. 679. Cs 3, 36. Hpr. 1, 13. L.. 896-898. Peters. 5, 250. Tb. 105. 224. C. by Gopālacaitanya. Io. 100. Tb. 105. C. Adhyātmapradīpikā by Viśveśvara. Ak 743. As p. 16. Bd. 641. 679. L.. 897. 898. Tb. 224.

Aṣṭāvakragītā has the following synonyms: Avadhūtānubhūti.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Search found 5 books and stories containing Ashtavakra Gita, Aṣṭāvakragītā, Aṣṭāvakra gīta, Ashtavakragita, Astavakragita, Astavakra gita, Aṣṭāvakra-gītā, Astavakra-gita; (plurals include: Ashtavakra Gitas, Aṣṭāvakragītās, Aṣṭāvakra gītas, Ashtavakragitas, Astavakragitas, Astavakra gitas, gītās, gitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Appendix 1 - The Pre-eminence of Śiva Gītā over Other Gītās

Appendix 9 - Conclusion

Appendix 2 - Śiva Gītā vis-a-vis Bhagavad Gītā and Upaniṣads

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Introduction

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Part 4 - Etic and Emic Approach < [Conclusion]

Preamble

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Chapter 1 - Introductory

Chapter 5 - The Consideration of Happiness and Unhappiness

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