Atmabodham

31/08/2018 3. Anubandha Chatushtaya: As in the previous book we have studied, namely, Tattva Bodha, it is the usual practice to give the Anubandha Chatushtaya at the outset of the text. This verse serves that purpose. The fourfold “Prospectus” announcing the purpose and eligibility for the study of this book is given as follows: i) Adhikari: The opening words state for whom this book has been written: “Those who have purified themselves with austerities, who are peaceful in heart, free from cravings and desirous of Liberation.” This is the qualification of Sadhana Chatushtaya ii) Vishaya: The subject is given by the title of the book, Atma Bodha. It is stated at the very beginning that the subject is Knowledge of the Self, the true inner Self, not the self which is ignorant and deluded. iii) Prayojana: The benefit to be obtained from the study of this book is given in the term “Mumukshunaam”, which tells us that the goal here is Self-realisation. That is the bene

11/08/2018 2. Introduction :- ATMA BODHAM IS A Prakarna Grantha, dealing with Knowledge of the Self. It describes the state of realization from different standpoints, using various comparisons from day-to-day experiences. It explicitly conveys Brahman as the only Reality and all other Tattvas in the world have only an apparent Reality. That is the sole subject of this text. It is written in poetry, so it is also a Padya Grantha, not a Gadya Grantha (prose). There are 68 couplets in the entire text, without any group classification or title for each verse. The poetical meter is similar to the verses of the Bhagavad Gita. From the Introduction by Swami Chinmayanandaji, we quote : - “Sri Shankaracharya, in the days of his perfect maturity, took up his pen to write ‘Introductory Books’, introducing the theme of Vedanta for the infants in the spiritual world. Atma Bodha is one of them. This is not an original book inasmuch as there is not a single idea in it which is an