Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
Published by: Advaita Ashrama
(Publication Department)
5 Dehi Enrally Road
Kolkatta 700 014.
vedAnta sara (essence of vedAnta) is a secondary Hindu scripture of Sri,Sadananda Yogeendra Saraswati who belonged to one of the ten distinguished monastic orders of SankarA school It is considered to be an expansion of the popular text tatva bodha and a manual of technical vedAnta words that is studied after the proper study of upanishad-s under a competent guru. The translation is by Swami NikhilAnanda is a sincere effort and is recommended as a reference book for spiritually inclined readers Typical of a Hindu scripture the author starts the text with the praise of the lord and his Guru in the first couple of verses. Written in prose format he then opens with an introduction of the subject that is the identity of the individual self and Brahman and the qualification required of the aspirant emphasizing the need of a Guru for such study.
The text is then elaborated through six chapters that contains the various topics in two hundred and twenty seven subtopics. In the second chapter called the super imposition,the exposition of the doctrine avidyA (ignorance) deals with universal and individual aspects. The world being the effect of this avidyA otherwise known as mAyA at cosmic level, an inquiry in to the origin and nature of the world is made where in the question of the distinction between body and soul is dealt with in detail
In The third chapter is considered as to how people of other philosophies like charvAka-s,budhdhists, mImAmsakA-s and sUnyavAdin-s variously super impose the inner most self. This is followed by the refutation of their views establishing the true nature of the self.
The fourth chapter deals with how the super imposition is removed through knowledge of the reality that is Brahman. Further it is explained how the gross universe is gradually resolved in to Brahman by reducing the effects in to their causes in reverse order of the creation. The chapter ends by describing the meaning of “I am Brahman”, expressive of intuitive experience
chapter five gives the steps to realization explaining the necessity for hearing, reflecting, meditation and absorption of the teaching through eight fold practices detailed later. It discusses the various obstacles to such practices and how to remove them.
The text ends with explaining who is a jeevan mukta and what are his characteristics, an often discussed subject in vedAntic circles. At the end is given the glossary of sanskrit words in common use and an index, A key to transliteration and pronunciation with list of abbreviations used is also given in the beginning.
The plus point of this translation is the foot notes that contains explanations of important words used in the translation and a number of very useful quotations from the upanishad-s in devanAgari script with transliterations. This book will serve as a hand book of vedAnta for many with just hundred and thirty three pages. The book has a simple attractive cover and printed in easily readable fonts on good quality paper.
