Ashtavakra – the Self-Realised Saint

Ashtavakra – the Self-Realised Saint

Sri Ashtavakra is a revered Vedic sage in Hinduism. His name literally means "eight bends", reflecting the eight physical handicaps he was born with. As per historians, the period of Sri Astavakra lived over 7000 years ago. However, as per Vedic calculations, it may be over one to two lakhs years ago.

Guru Ashtavakra, a self-realized saint of Advaita philosophy, held dialogue with the disciple King Janaka of Mithila Kingdom on self-realization or enlightenment. Ashtavakra Gita (298 Sutras, 20 chapters) or song of Sri Ashtavakra is the detailed account of this dialogue.

Three legends are popular relating to Ashtavakra as under:

1. Sage Aruni, mentioned in the Chandogya Upanisad, ran a school (Asrama) teaching the Vedas. Kahoda was one of his students, along with Aruni's daughter Sujata. Aruni's daughter married Kahoda. She got pregnant, and during her pregnancy, the developing baby heard the chanting of the Vedas and learnt the correct recitation. According to one version of the legends surrounding Ashtavakra, his father was once reciting the Vedas, but erred in correct intonation. The fetus corrected his father.  As per other version, Ashtavakra said to his father that scriptures are only collection of words. Wisdom is inside everybody. The father got angry and cursed him. The curse caused him to be born crooked, with eight bends, which is what his name "Ashtavakra" means. 
2. When Ashtavakra was of twelve years old, king Janak organized a competition on philosophy among learnt scholars. He kept a price of hundred cows with gold mounted on their horns. Ashtavakra came to know that his father has been winning except with one scholar. Ashtavakra reached in the conference room to contest. Ashtavakra being deformed, all scholars laughed at him. Later, Ashtavakra also burst into laughter. King Janak asked Ashtavakra that he understood the reason of laughing of scholars but could not understand the reason for his laughing. Ashtavakra said that he laughed to see the debate is being conducted among cobblers. After hearing the reply of Ashtavakra, silence spread in the conference. Before scholars could react, Raja Janak asked him the reason for his comment. Ashtavakra said that cobblers are assayer of skin not knowledge as they made judgement on that basis. They have no realization of the soul. Wise persons have vision of self not skin. Raja Janak bowed down to Astavakra and touched his lotus feet. Raja Janaka then escorted him to his own throne and washed his feet and begged his apologies. Ashtavakra then challenged the winning scholar to have debate with him and defeated him. After seeing his son Astavakra kohada muni was very pleased but at the same moment he felt very sad for cursing the baby in anger .Muni Kohada blessed his son with all the spiritual powers which he gained through his virtues all life. As soon Ashtavakra take the dip in the holy river, Ashtavakra’s body regained his original pure form.
3. King Janak studied several scriptures. In one scripture, it was mentioned that attainment of spiritual wisdom or enlightenment is very easy which can be attained in no time. The time taken may be equivalent to the time taken in placing the foot on another stirrup (रकाब) of horse after putting one foot on the stirrup. King Janak challenged many scholars to prove the statement or delete the sentence from the scripture. Nobody could prove it. Ashtavakra accepted the challenge. He took Raja Janak in secluded place along with horse and asked him the statement mentioned in the scripture. King Janak mentioned that for spiritual wisdom can be attained by those who have competence or eligibility for it. But for its eligibility, freedom from ego, emotions, gathered knowledge from scriptures & external objects and complete surrender are required. King Janak said that he surrenders him his body, mind, buddhi, ego and everything. On surrendering the ego and emptying the entire vessel, Raja Janak realized the spiritual wisdom before he could place another foot on stirrup. Three days passed. Ministers of searched the king and found them sitting in silence. The ministers asked Raja Janak to return the kingdom to manage it. Raja Janak said that he has surrendered everything to the Guru and he will now follow his dictates only. Then Astavakra understood that Raja Janak has attained enlightenment and advised him to manage the affairs of the kingdom.

 Advait Philosophy:
1.    Astavakra preach about spiritual experience or enlightenment as under:
a.   People reside in body, mind, buddhi and ego where he feels about pleasure-pain. Anger, greed, attachment, lust etc. arise from them.
b.   Away from body, mind, buddhi and ego, is pure consciousness (Jivatma, soul). Jivatma is non-doer, non-enjoyer, not bound but only witness. Experience of Jivatma is moksha. All individual jivatma combined together are Brahman.   
c.   Sri Ashtavakra claims that spiritual experience or enlightenment or wisdom (आत्मज्ञान) can be instantaneous. However, it has three requisites viz. one should be seeker, one should be is worthy for it and presence of enlightened teacher (सद्गुरु).
d.   To be worthy, one should be free from ego, absolute surrender, free from sentiments (feelings, attitudes) of body & mind, emptiness from knowledge of scriptures and make himself free from external benefits.

1. Shankaracharya (788 – 820 AD) made commentaries on various scriptures of Hinduism including several Upanishads. He wrote on philosophy of Advait Vedant i.e. non dualism. As per the philosophy, this world is an illusion (maya); only Brahman (Parabrahman) is ultimate reality and jiva is not different from Brahman.
2. In 15th century, saint Kabir explained the advait philosophy in his poetry of “Moko Kahaan Dhunde Re Bande”. The lyrics & Translation are as under:

मोको कहाँ ढूंढे रे बन्दे | मै तो तेरे पास में | ना तीरथ में ना मूरत में |ना एकांत निवास में | ना मंदिर में ना मस्जिद में | ना काबे कैलास में | ना में जप में ना में तप में | ना में बरत उपास में | ना में क्रिया करम में रहता |नहिं जोग संन्यास में | ना ब्रह्माण्ड आकाश में | ना में प्रकृति प्रवार गुफा में | नहिं स्वांसो की स्वांस में | खोजि होए तुरत मिल जाऊं | इक पल की तालास में |कहत कबीर सुनो भई साधो |मै तो हूँ विश्वास में |

Where do you search me? I am with you, Not in pilgrimage, nor in icons; Neither in solitary living; Not in temples, nor in mosques; Neither in Kaba nor in Kailas; Not in prayers, nor in meditation; Neither in fasting or prohibition; Not in vedic procedure; Nor in yogic postures; Not even in sky or universe; Neither in womb of nature; Not in the breath of the breaths; If you are a true seeker; In a moment than you discover; Says Kabir, listen with care, where your faith is, I am there.

List of the chapters and topics are as under:  
 
 

Chapter 1: It all starts when King Janaka asks the sage Ashtavakra how he can attain Knowledge, detachment, liberation. Ashtavakra tells him.
Chapter 2: It works! Upon hearing Ashtavakra’s words Janaka realizes his True Nature. Enraptured, he describes the joy and wonder of his new state.
Chapter 3: Ashtavakra is delighted for Janaka but sees inconsistencies. He fires off a series of confrontational verses about attachment to worldly pleasure.
Chapter 4: Janaka asserts that the Lord of the Universe can do as he pleases.
Chapter 5: Ashtavakra does not disagree, but in a terse four verses points to the next step—dissolution.
Chapter 6: Janaka says “I know that already,” matching him in style and number of verses.
Chapter 7: Unable to leave it at that, however, Janaka goes on to further describe his enlightened state.
Chapter 8: Still hearing too much “I” in Janaka’s language, Ashtavakra instructs him in the subtleties of attachment and bondage.
Chapter 9: Ashtavakra continues to describe the way of true detachment.
Chapter 10: Ashtavakra hammers away at the folly of desire—no matter how elevated or subtle.
Chapter 11: Ashtavakra further describes the state of desirelessness to which he points.
Chapter 12: Janaka replies by describing the state of timeless stillness in which he now finds himself.
Chapter 13: Janaka, having been instructed by Ashtavakra in Chapter One to “be happy,” reports that he indeed is.
Chapter 14: Janaka then summarizes his exalted state with calm indifference.
Chapter 15: Impressed but not through teaching, Ashtavakra relentlessly points to the vast emptiness of Self.
Chapter 16: Ashtavakra attacks the futility of effort and knowing.
Chapter 17: Ashtavakra describes the nature of one who is truly free.
Chapter 18: Finally, Ashtavakra hits him with everything he’s got—100 verses of pure non-duality. If this doesn’t do it, nothing will.
Chapter 19: It works! Janaka no longer describes his enlightened state, but can speak only in questions revealing absence.
Chapter 20: In a final flurry of questions pointing only at their own meaninglessness, Janaka burns off the last vestiges of personhood and enters dissolution. He ends with: “No more can be said.” Ashtavakra smiles, nods approvingly, and says no more
 
One shall realise that enlightened saints are born in Bharat who not only had deep knowledge about Jivatma, Pramatma and universe but also experienced the almighty. 
 
Reference:

1. Ashtavakra Gita, By Pandit Vivek Shri Kaushik, Puja Prakashan, Sadar Bazar, Delhi.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtavakra​