T HE ASHTAVAKRA GITA, also known as the Ashtavakra Samhita, is a famous, highly regarded Sanskrit poem in which the main character, a sage named Ashtavakra, talks about Self-realization with one of his students, King Janaka. The language is spare and concentrated; the message is experiential Advaita Vedanta. This poem’s reputation is very great. For example, Osho wrote: Man has many scriptures, but none are comparable to the Gita of Ashtavakra. Before it the Vedas pale, the Upanishads speak with a weak voice. Even the Bhagavad Gita does not have the majesty found in the Ashtavakra Samhita — it is simply unparalleled.[1].

How old is the Ashtavakra Gita? No one knows. Some scholars say it was written in the fifth century BCE; others say the 14th century CE — a disagreement of 1700 years!

The main character in this poem, Ashtavakra, was a sage, maybe a real historical person, who also appears in stories in other scriptures. He got his name, which means “having eight bends,' because he was born with multiple deformities. Ashtavakra Gita means Ashtavakra’s Song; Ashtavakra Samhita means Ashtavakra’s Collection [of verses]. People often assume that the historical Ashtavakra (or somebody who used his name as a pseudonym) is the author of this poem.

Buy Enlightenment: The Only Revolution Talks on the Great Mystic Ashtavakra on Amazon.com FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders Amazon Try. 5.0 out of 5 stars 3. Enlightenment: The Only Revolution OSHO.

By that same logic, Shakespeare’s play Henry V was written by Henry V. To us it seems equally likely that the author’s name was something else and has been forgotten.

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If we tell you this is a famous Sanskrit scripture, you’ll probably think ugh, heavy turgid stilted. But it’s none of those things. It’s just a guy talking to you, an enlightened guy, telling you what he knows and how to see it for yourself. His words are weightless, airy, transparent — especially in the remarkable translation by Thomas Byrom. These are words for eye dancing, for mere awareness, for floating into infinity. And yet we have to be honest with you. Even though this poem sounds as new as today’s email, it really is a classical scripture, infinitely substantial, one of the most beautiful expositions of Advaita Vedanta and Jnana Yoga ever written.

Ashtavakra Gita means “Ashtavakra’s Song” in Sanskrit. It’s also sometimes called Ashtavakra Samhita, meaning “Ashtavakra’s Collection.” Ashtavakra was a character in ancient Sanskrit literature, and when the relatively modern author of the Ashtavakra Gita wrote his poem, he pretended that he was recording words spoken by the ancient character. Hence the title.

Osho, (also known as Enlightenment: The Only Revolution). The painting is Three Aspects of the Absolute by Bulaki. From a manuscript of the Nath Charit, 1823 (Samvat 1880). India, Rajasthan, former kingdom of Marwar, Jodhpur.

Opaque watercolor, gold, and tin alloy on paper; 47 x 123 cm. Courtesy of Mehrangarh Museum Trust, RJS 2399.

Related pages on this site. Also known as Enlightenment: The Only Revolution. Includes extemporaneous partial translation and commentary on the Ashtavakra Gita. Bibliography Anubhavananda, Swami, trans.