Yogavashista

''Vasishta Yoga Samhita'' (, IAST: '; also known as ''Mokṣopāya'' or ''Mokṣopāyaśāstra'', and as ''Maha-Ramayana'', ''Arsha Ramayana'', ''Vasiṣṭha Ramayana'', ''Yogavasistha-Ramayana'' and ''Jnanavasistha'', is a historically popular and influential syncretic philosophical text of Hinduism, dated to the 11th—14th century CE.

According to Mainkar, writing in 1977, the text started as an Upanishad, which developed into the ''Laghu Vasistha'', incorporating Buddhist ideas, and then, between 1150 and 1250, the ''Yoga Vasistha'', incorporating Shaivite Trika ideas. According to Slaje, writing in the 2000s, the ''Mokṣopāya'' was written in Kashmir in the 10th century. According to Hanneder and Slaje, the ''Mokṣopāya'' was later (11th to the 14th century) modified, showing influences from the Saivite Trika school, resulting in the ''Yogavāsiṣṭha'', which became an orthodox text in Advaita Vedanta.

The text is attributed to Maharishi Valmiki, but the real author is unknown. It is named after sage Vasistha who is mentioned and revered in the seventh book of the Rigveda. The complete text contains over 29,000 verses, while the short version of the text, called ''Laghu yogavāsiṣṭham'', contains 6,000 verses, translated into Persian by the 15th-century.

The text has a philosophical foundation similar to Advaita Vedanta, and expounds the principles of Maya and Brahman, as well as the principles of non-duality. and its discussion of Yoga. The text is structured as a discourse of sage Vasistha to Prince Rama, and consists of six books, describing the search for liberation through self-effort and meditation, and presenting cosmology and metaphysical teachings of existence embedded in stories and fables.

Text

Nomenclature

The long version of the text is called ''Brihat Yoga Vasistha'', wherein ''Brihat'' means "great or large". The longer version is also referred to simply as ''Yoga Vasistha'' and by numerous other names such as ''Vasiṣṭha Ramayana''. The short version of the text is called ''Laghu Yoga Vasishta'', wherein ''Laghu'' means "short or small". S. N. Dasgupta takes the ''Laghu-Yogavāsiṣṭha'' to be a later summary of the ''Yogavāsiṣṭha''.

The ''Yoga Vasistha Sara'', "The Essence of Yoga Vasishta," is a condensation of the Yoga Vasishta in 230 couplets.

The name Vasistha in the title of the text refers to Rishi Vasistha.KN Aiyer (1975), Laghu Yoga Vasishta, Theosophical Publishing House, Original Author: Abhinanda, , page 7 The term yoga in the text refers to the underlying yogic theme in its stories and dialogues, and the term is used in a generic sense to include all forms of yoga in the pursuit of liberation, in the style of Bhagavad Gita.

Dating and development

The Yoga Vasistha is traditionally attributed to Maharishi Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana. However, scholars are uncertain about the exact authorship and date of composition. Estimates range, states Chapple, writing in 1984, from "as early as the sixth or seventh century, to as late as the fourteenth century". It is likely that the text evolved over several centuries, reaching its current form between the 10th and 14th centuries, incorporating influences from various Indian philosophical traditions, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Kashmiri Shaivism."

References to contemporaries

The surviving text mentions Vijnanavada and Madhyamaka schools of Buddhism by name, suggesting that the corresponding sections were composed after those schools were established, or about 5th-century. The translation of a version of the text in 14th- to 15th-century into Persian, has been the basis of the other limit, among scholars such as Farquhar in 1922.

Atreya in 1935 suggested that the text must have preceded Gaudapada and Adi Shankara, because it does not use their terminology, but does mention many Buddhist terms. Dasgupta, a contemporary of Atreya, states that the text includes verses of earlier text, such as its III.16.50 is identical to one found in Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava, thus the text must be placed after the 5th-century. Dasgupta adds that the philosophy and ideas presented in Yoga Vasistha mirror those found in Advaita Vedanta of Adi Shankara, but neither mention the other, which probably means that the author(s) of Yoga Vasistha were scholars who lived in the same century as Shankara, placing the text in about 7th- to early 8th-century. The shorter summary version of the text is attributed to the Kashmiri scholar Abhinanda, who has been variously dated to have lived in 9th- or 10th-century.

Slaje and Hanneder

According to Slaje, the ''Mokṣopāya'' was written on the Pradyumna hill in Śrīnagar, Kashmir, in the 10th century. a dating also accepted by Leslie. According to Hanneder and Slaje, the ''Mokṣopāya'' was later (11th to the 14th century) modified, showing influences from the Saivite Trika school, resulting in the ''Yogavāsiṣṭha'', which became an orthodox text in Advaita Vedanta.

Mainkar's evolving text theory

Mainkar, writing in 1977, argues that Yoga Vasistha probably evolved over time. The first work, states Mainkar, was the original ancient work of Vasistha that was an Upanishad with Brahamanical ideas, a work that is lost. This text, suggests Mainkar, was expanded into ''the Laghu Vasistha''. The ''Laghu'' (shorter) version was then expanded into the full editions. The syncretic incorporation of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism ideas happened in the ''Laghu-Yogavasistha'' edition, states Mainkar, while ideas from Kashmiri Shaivism, particularly the Trika school, were added to the growing version by the 12th-century. Similar serial expansion, revisions and interpolation is typical in Indian literature. Peter Thomi has published additional evidence in support Mainkar's theory on Yoga Vasistha's chronology.Peter Thomi (1983), The Yogavasistha in its longer and shorter version, Journal of Indian philosophy, volume 11, number 1, pages 107-116.

Composition

Number of verses

The text exists in many editions of manuscripts with varying number of verses, but similar message. The full editions contain over 29,000, to a few with 32,000 verses, and in some editions about 36,000 verses.KN Aiyer (1975), Laghu Yoga Vasishta, Theosophical Publishing House, Original Author: Abhinanda, , page 8 with footnote The Nirnaya Sagar version of Yoga Vasistha manuscript has 1146 verses in the first Book, 807 in second, 6304 verses in third, 2414 verses in the fourth book, 4322 in the fifth, while the last is longest with 14,296 verses, for a cumulative total of 29,289 verses. An abridged version by Abhinanda of Kashmir (son of Jayanta Bhatta) is ''Laghu'' ("Little") ''Yogavasistha'' and contains 6,000 verses.

Structure

The verses of Yoga Vasistha are structured in the genre of ancient Indian literature, called ''Grantha''. In this genre, each Shloka (verse) in the text is designed to equal 32 syllables, while conveying its message. A Grantha can be sung and depending on its meter, set to specific Raga music. This genre is found in Bhakti movement literature, and Yoga Vasistha's Advaita theories and monism influenced the Grantha literature of Sikhism, whose primary scripture is called ''Guru Granth Sahib''.

Content

This is one of the longest Hindu texts in Sanskrit after the ''Mahabharata'', and an important text of Yoga. It consists of numerous short stories and anecdotes used to help illustrate its ideas and message. In terms of Hindu mythology, the conversation in the Yoga Vasishta is placed chronologically before the ''Ramayana''.

The traditional belief is that reading this book leads to spiritual liberation. The conversation between Vasistha and Prince Rama is that between a great, enlightened sage and a seeker of liberation. The text discusses consciousness, cosmology, nature of the universe and consciousness, the ultimate dissolution of body, the liberation of the soul and the non-dual nature of existence.

Books

The text consists of six books:
*Vairagya-prakaranam (Dispassion): This book introduces Prince Rama's existential crisis, highlighting the transient nature of life and human suffering.
*Mumukshuvayahara-prakaranam (Behavior of the Seeker): It focuses on the qualities required for spiritual liberation, emphasizing self-effort and the desire for moksha (liberation).
*Utpatti-prakaranam (Arising and Birth): This section delves into cosmology and the spiritual awakening of Rama, exploring the origins of the universe and consciousness.
*Sthiti-prakaranam (Existence and Settling): The text discusses the nature of existence, free will, and human creativity, presenting numerous stories to illustrate these concepts.
*Upashama-prakaranam (Tranquility): This book explores the practice of meditation and the dissolution of dualistic thought, guiding the seeker toward inner peace.
*Nirvana-prakaranam (Liberation): The final book describes the state of enlightenment achieved by Rama, offering insights into the experience of nirvana and the nature of ultimate reality.

Influences

The ''Yoga Vasistha'' is a syncretic work, containing elements of Advaita Vedanta, Yoga, Samkhya, Jainism, Pratyabhijña, Saivite Trika, and Mahayana Buddhism, thus making it, according to Chapple, "a Hindu text ''par excellence'', including, as does Hinduism, a mosaic-style amalgam of diverse and sometimes opposing traditions".

On Human Intellect

The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha states the following on the credibility of the provider and seeker of knowledge through these words.

'''Even a young boy's words are to be accepted if they are words of wisdom, else, reject it like straw even if uttered by Brahmā the creator.

On who is ready for spiritual knowledge

The Yoga Vasistha states that there are four characteristics that mark someone ready for spiritual journey who:

#Senses the difference between atman (soul) and non-atman
#Is past cravings for anyone or anything, is indifferent to the enjoyments of objects in this world or after
#Is virtuous and ethical with ''Sama'' (equality), '' Dama'' (self-restraint, temperance), ''Uparati'' (quietism), ''Titiksha'' (patience, endurance), ''Sandhana'' (uniting, peace) and ''Sraddha'' (faith, trust)
#Has ''Mumukshatva'', that is longing for meaning in life and liberation

On the process of spiritual knowledge

''Yoga Vasistha'' teachings are divided into six parts: dispassion, qualifications of the seeker, creation, existence, dissolution and liberation. It sums up the spiritual process in the seven ''Bhoomikas'':
# ''Śubhecchā'' (longing for the Truth): The yogi (or ''sādhaka'') rightly distinguishes between permanent and impermanent; cultivates dislike for worldly pleasures; acquires mastery over his physical and mental faculties; and feels a deep yearning to be free from ''Saṃsāra''.
# ''Vicāraṇa'' (right inquiry): The yogi has pondered over what he or she has read and heard, and has realized it in his or her life.
# ''Tanumānasa'' (attenuation – or thinning out – of mental activities): The mind abandons the many, and remains fixed on the One.
# ''Sattvāpatti'' (attainment of ''sattva'', "reality"): The Yogi, at this stage, is called ''Brahmavid'' ("knower of Brahman"). In the previous four stages, the yogi is subject to ''sañcita'', ''Prārabdha'' and ''Āgamī'' forms of karma. He or she has been practicing ''Samprajñāta Samādhi'' (contemplation), in which the consciousness of duality still exists.
# ''Asaṃsakti'' (unaffected by anything): The yogi (now called ''Brahmavidvara'') performs his or her necessary duties, without a sense of involvement.
# ''Padārtha abhāvana'' (sees Brahman everywhere): External things do not appear to exist to the yogi (now called ''Brahmavidvarīyas''); in essence there is a non-cognition of 'objects' as the separation between subject and a distinct object is dissolved; and tasks get performed without any sense of agency (doership). ''Sañcita'' and ''Āgamī'' karma are now destroyed; only a small amount of ''Prārabdha'' karma remains.
# ''Turīya'' (perpetual ''samādhi''): The yogi is known as ''Brahmavidvariṣṭha'' and does not perform activities, either by his will or the promptings of others.

On liberation

In Chapter 2 of Book VI, titled as ''The story of Iksvaku'', the text explains the state of nirvana (liberation) as follows, "Liberation is peace. Liberation is extinction of all conditioning. Liberation is freedom from every kind of physical, psychological and psychic distress. This world is not seen by the ignorant and the wise in the same light. To one who has attained self-knowledge, this world does not appear as samsara, but as the one infinite and indivisible consciousness".

On Jivanmukta

The Yoga Vasistha describes the ''Jivanmukta'', or liberated person, as follows (abridged from the 1896 translation by KN Aiyer):
* He associates with the wise. He has reached the state of mind, which sees happiness everywhere. To him, neither sacrificial fires, nor Tapas, nor bounteous gifts nor holy waters have any meaning. He is replete with wisdom and friendly to all.
* He is desireless and in his eyes there is nothing supernatural. His state is indescribable and yet he will move in the world like anybody else. His mind will not be bound by any longings after Karmas. He will be indifferent to joy or pains arising from good or bad results. He will preserve a pleasant position in the happy enjoyment of whatever he obtains.KN Aiyer (1975), Laghu Yoga Vasishta, Theosophical Publishing House, Original Author: Abhinanda, , pages 110-111, 129-130
* He is never affected by anything, whether he is in a state of Jiva consciousness or state of Shiva devoid of the Jiva consciousness.
* He is same whether he moves in a family or is a solitary recluse.
* He feels unbound by the delusions of Srutis and Smritis.
* Nothing matters to him, he is unaffected by griefs or pleasures. He is distant, he is close, he in the one Reality of Atman. He is neither clingy nor arrogant.
* He has no fear of anyone, no anger against anyone.KN Aiyer (1975), Laghu Yoga Vasishta, Theosophical Publishing House, Original Author: Abhinanda, , pages 349-350, 701-703
* When the attraction towards external objects ceases, then there yet remains the internal craving which is called Trishna (thirst). The Jivanmukta is beyond Trishna. He is, not becoming. He does not even long for salvation. He is content.
* A Jivanmukta will always transact his present duties, but neither longs for things in the future, nor ruminates upon things of the past.
* He is a child amongst children; as old men amongst the old; as the puissant amongst the puissant; as a youth amongst the young, compassionate and understanding with the grieved.KN Aiyer (1975), Laghu Yoga Vasishta, Theosophical Publishing House, Original Author: Abhinanda, , pages 466-467
* In him is found nobleness, benevolence, love, clearness of intellect.

On Samsara and reality

The Yoga Vasistha describes samsara and reality as follows:
* Samsara is mundane existence with rebirths.
* The universe is full of Samsara driven by Moha (delusion), bondage, ''Tamas'' (destructive, chaotic behaviors), Mala (impurity), Avidya and Maya.
* Ignorance feeds samsara, self-knowledge liberates.
* Samsara is ephemeral and unreal. With birth, death is inevitable.

Commentaries

The following traditional Sanskrit commentaries on the Yoga Vasistha are extant:Surendranath Dasgupta (1932, Reprinted in 1978)
A History of Indian Philosophy
Volume 1, Cambridge University Press, ISBN, pages 231-232
:* Vāsiṣṭha-rāmāyaṇa-candrikā by Advayāraṇya (son of Narahari)
:* Tātparya prakāśa by ānanda Bodhendra Sarasvatī
:* Bhāṣya by Gaṅgādharendra
:* Pada candrikā by Mādhava Sarasvatī

Influence

The Yoga Vasistha is a key text for understanding the late medieval synthesis of various Indian philosophical traditions. The Yoga Vasistha, states David Gordon White, was one of the popular texts on Yoga that dominated the Indian Yoga culture scene before the 12th-century. It has, states White, served as a reference on Yoga for medieval era Advaita Vedanta scholars. According to Ayer, it is particularly associated with ''drsti-srsti'' subschool of Advaita which holds that the "whole world of things is the object of mind".KN Aiyer (1975), Laghu Yoga Vasistha, Theosophical Publishing House, Original Author: Abhinanda, , page 5

The practice of ''atma-vichara'', "self-enquiry," described in the ''Yoga Vasistha'', has been popularised due to the influence of Ramana Maharshi, who was strongly influenced by this text.

Translations

Indian languages

Originally written in Sanskrit, the ''Yoga Vasistha'' has been translated into many Indian languages, and the stories are told to children in various forms. There ar
multiple collections
of audio, video and mini-articles available on the scripture.

Telugu translations

; Complete translation
:*''Vasishtha Rama Samvaadam'', Sri Yeleswarapu Hanuma Ramakrishna.
:*''Yogavasishtha hridayamu'' in seven Parts by Kuppa Venkata Krishnamurthy, also rendered into English by Vemuri Ramesam.
:*''Yoga Vasistha Ratnakaram'', Swami Vidya Prakashananda Giri
:Copies of the Telugu and English versions were also published by Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore 570025, India

Kannada Translations

:*Yogavasista Set Of 8 Vols - is a translation and commentary in Kannada by Devudu Narasimha Shastry published by Hemantha Sahithya
:*Yogavasista - is an abridged translation and commentary in Kannada by Nagesh R Kulkarni published by Samaja Pustakalaya

Malayalam Translations

:*Vasishtasudha - Yogavasishtasaram is a translation and commentary in Malayalam by Professor G Balakrishnan Nair

Persian

During the Mughal Dynasty the text was translated into Persian several times, as ordered by Akbar, Jahangir and Darah Shikuh. One of these translations was undertaken by Nizam al-Din Panipati in the late sixteenth century AD. This translation, known as the ''Jug-Basisht'', which has since become popular in Persia among intellectuals interested in Indo-Persian culture. The Safavid-era mystic Mir Findiriski (d. 1641) commented on selected passages of ''Jug-Basisht''.

Russian

The unabridged text is currently being translated into Russian and published by Swamini Vidyananda Saraswati, first five books are completed by 2017.

English translations

''Yoga Vasistha'' was translated into English by Swami Jyotirmayananda, Swami Venkatesananda, Vidvan Bulusu Venkateswaraulu and Vihari Lal Mitra. K. Naryanaswami Aiyer translated the well-known abridged version, ''Laghu-Yoga-Vasistha''. In 2009, Swami Tejomayananda's ''Yoga Vasistha Sara Sangrah'' was published by the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust. In this version the ''Laghu-Yoga-Vasistha'' has been condensed to 86 verses, arranged into seven chapters. A list of all known English translations follows:

; 1) Complete translation

The Yoga-Vásishtha-Mahárámáyana of Válmiki
Translated by Vihārilāla Mitra (1891-1899),
:*The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki in 4 vols. in 7 pts. (bound in 4). Translated by Vihari-Lala Mitra. Reprinted in LPP (Low Price Publications), New Delhi, 1999. (set)

:* The above have been published as e-books at the Gutenberg Project.

:* The above has been compiled as plain text in a single file, to facilitate searches: https://www.scribd.com/document/663078494/Yoga-Vasishtha-Complete-as-Plain-Text-Gutenberg-Project

:*Yoga Vasishtha of Valmiki (4 volumes & unabridged). Translated by Vihārilāla Mitra (1891-1899). Edited by Dr. Ravi Prakash Arya (1st. ed. 1998), to include Sanskrit text with english translation. Parimal Publications, Delhi.
:*An edited version (ed. by Palotas) of the above as e-book (free) is available

; 2) Abbreviated versions
:*
:* Abbreviated to about one-third of the original work.
:* A shorter version of the above.
:*The Essence of Yogavaasishtha ri Vasishthasangraha Compiled by Sri Jnanananda Bharati. Translated by Samvid. Samata Books 1982, 2002. . Printed in India. 344 pp.
:*Yoga Vasishta Sara (The Essence of Yoga Vasishta). An English Translation from the Sanskrit Original. Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai, 1973, 2005. . 36 pp.
:*The Essence of Yogavaasishtha. Compiled by Sri Jnanananda Bharati. Translated by Samvid. Samata Books 1982, 2002. . 344 pp.
:*Tejomayananda, Swami: Yoga Vasishta Sara Sangraha. Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai 1998
:*Jyotirmayananda, Swami: Yoga Vasistha. Vol. 1–5. Yoga Research Foundation, Miami 1977. http://www.yrf.org
:*
:*

Portuguese translations

Yoga Vasistha was translated in 2018, from English into Portuguese by Eleonora Meier for Satsang Editora (Brazilian publisher) of the version of Swami Venkatesananda and it is available at www.lojasatsangeditora.com.br - - Páginas: 848 Swami Venkatesananda.

Latvian

Vāsišthas joga. Svami Venkatesananda, 2020, 630 pp. A Latvian translation by Inese Kausa, publisher www.svami.lv

See also

* Valmiki
* Vasistha
* Valmiki Samhita
* Maithili Maha Upanishad
* Vaishnava Matabja Bhaskara
* Ramayana

References

Sources

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Further reading

* Chapple, Christopher Key; Chakrabarti, Arindam (2015).
Engaged Emancipation: Mind, Morals, and Make-Believe in the Moksopaya (Yogavasistha)
'. State University of New York Press, Albany. .
* By Vihari Lal Mitra (1891), First Translation

PDF of Hindi Yoga Vasistha

PDF of Marathi Yoga Vasistha

External links

The ''Yoga-Vasistha'' of ''Valmiki'' with ''Vasistha Maharamayana - Tatparya Prakasa''
- The complete Sanskrit scripture in 2 parts, at archive.org

Yoga Vasistha translated by Swami Venkatesananda
(The Supreme Yoga) -archive.org

Excerpts of Yoga Vasistha with illustrations

Yoga Vasistha Audio Book (listen online or download audio files free)

Jog Bashisht - Persian Translation of Yoga Vasistha

Yoga Vasistha in Sanskrit
- Sanskrit verses of Yoga Vasistha at Wikisource library

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