Sri Sankara’s Vivekacudamani (Hardback)

Sri Samkara, revered as Sri Bhagavatpada, wrote illuminating commentaries on the three classic texts of Vedanta philosophy: the “Upanishads,” the “Bhagavad-Gita,” and the “Brahma Sutras.” His works provide deep insights into these scriptures, supported by logical reasoning and verified through personal experience. To help those unable to master these extensive commentaries and to teach the essentials of Vedanta, he also authored several minor works known as “Prakarana Granthas.” Among these, the “Vivekacudamani” is the most well-known, offering the essence of spiritual wisdom.

Called the “Crest Jewel of Discrimination,” this text explains that life’s troubles arise from our inability to distinguish between the eternal and the transient. Mistaking worldly things (non-atman) for one’s true self (atman) leads to a futile pursuit, prolonging the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Discriminating between atman and anatman is fundamental to the spiritual journey toward self-realization (atmasaksatkara) and liberation.

Sri Bhagavatpada presents this journey through a dialogue between a student (sisya) and his guru. The guru helps the student transform theoretical knowledge into realized truth. For a long time, there was no commentary on this work, but this gap has been filled by the esteemed Jivanmukta, His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati of revered memory, the thirty-fourth pontiff of the Sarada Pitham at Sringeri. His commentary follows the style of Bhagavatpada’s Bhasyas on the Prasthanatraya, enriching the classic with his masterful exposition.

This book is an English translation of that commentary, undertaken with an awareness of the challenge to faithfully capture the original’s spirit and accuracy.