Vedas 16 - Sankara's Advaita Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Vedas 16 - Sankara's Advaita
Advaita means Non-dual
The One without a second.
This non-dualism treats
Brahman as the sole Reality!
The great Mahaavaakya of Sankara-
"Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Parah"
Treats the world only as an appearance and
‘Jeeva' -the living being, as not different from Brahman.
The world which includes Nature and the ‘Jeevas',
Insentient and sentient beings are
Unreal or false- ‘Mithya' - in other words,
Only an appearance - ‘Vivarta'.
Just as we mistake a rope for a snake
Due to ignorance or ‘avidya',
The body is taken as real
While the spirit-the essence is ignored.
Brahman or Self alone is Real
The individuals identify
Their body, mind, intellect with Reality,
Due to ‘Ajnana' or lack of true knowledge.
Wisdom dawns only through rigorous discipline,
Practised under the guidance of a ‘Guru'.
Self-realisation releases one from all miseries.
To know Brahman is to be Brahman!
Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Parah is truly a reflection of Adi Shankaracharya's Advaita philosophy. Mithya, Vivarta, Avidya and Agyan which obstruct Jeevas' quest for knowledge and Self-realisation which in turn releases one from all miseries. The ultimate truth is to know Brahman. Thanks, Geeta ji. Brahman or Self alone is Real To know Brahman is to be Brahman!
Beautiful poem imparting the knowledge of Advaita. The world is to be treated as Maya, the illusion, though for common man it is difficult to accept may be because of agayaana. Loved the topic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
I am happy you liked the poem and the subject of the poem, Geetha. Thank you so much.
Thank you Robert for reading this Vedic poem and your comment.
This non-dualism treats but sole reality is amazingly understood. The world which includes Nature and lives is really very mysterious but interesting. Sou is real and God is real. Every material things in Earth changes. A nice scriptural and philosophical poem is beautifully and brilliantly penned here is excellent one...10
Thank you Kumarmani ji for your interesting comment and sharing your thoughts on it.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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6/25/2025 11:27:46 PM # 1.0.0
The first two stanzas, Geeta, remind me of the most important declaration in the Jewish biblical tradition typically translated Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. The shared idea of one-ness is interesting to me. Do you think that non-dualism extends to our concepts of good and evil? If not, in what ways, to what extent, do you think the reality of one-ness applies? -Glen