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Media Kit
This book brings together two short classics of Advaita Vedanta in a single volume: the Advaita Bodha Deepika (Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge) and the Kaivalya Navaneeta (The Cream of Liberation)
Many people have found that the Advaita Bodha Deepika (Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge) is the clearest, easiest to understand summary of the system of Hindu thought known as Advaita Vedanta. The Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge is in the form of a dialogue between a seeker and his spiritual master, with the seeker posing many probing questions about the nature of existence, the universe, and humankind. Of course, these fundamental questions still puzzle people, and so these clear answers from the ancient past often strike home with readers today.
The Kaivalya Navaneeta (The Cream of Liberation) is a classical Tamil book attributed to Tandavaraya Swami. It is a widely known Advaita classic. The Cream of Liberation outlines the basic philosophical principles of Advaita Vedanta and reviews these in a way intended to make them very clear to readers, again in the form of a dialogue between a master and devotee.
Both of these books were admired by Sri Ramana Maharshi, and were recommended to those wanting to understand the non-dualistic spiritual path of Advaita Vedanta. Bringing these two short texts together in a single volume offers the reader the opportunity to grasp fundamental concepts of Advaita Vedanta within the evocative setting of ancient sages instructing their disciples on questions that still intrigue people today.
About the Author(s)
Sri Karapatra Swami
Sri Karapatra Swami was a monk and teacher (Pithadhipati) at the sacred seat of learning at Kashi (also known as Varanasi or Benares). He took earlier writings of Advaita Vedanta by Sri Shankaracharya and other great sages, and condensed them into Sanskrit verse in a work of twelve chapters, called Advaita Bodha Deepika,Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge. This is widely considered to be the easiest to understand summary of the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, and was often recommended by Sri Ramana Maharshi to those wanting a clearer understanding of these teachings.
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Tandavaraya Swami
Sri Tandavaraya Swamigal is said to have lived about 500 years ago in the Tiruvarur district of the current Tamil Nadu state in India. He was a holy man and, clearly, a scholar. He wrote the Vedantic masterpiece Kaivalya Navaneetham (The Cream of Liberation).
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Reviews
- The spiritual tradition of India known as Advaita Vedanta is one of the most profound and complete visions of the Absolute articulated by humankind. These two jewels from the crown of that tradition, texts largely unknown in the West, are distilled and near perfect presentations of the perennial Truth which lies at the heart of all religions. And these two short classics provide an excellent introduction for the reader who wishes to drink from the stream of that transforming wisdom which Hindus call sanatana dharma (eternal religion). This is the underlying religion which has guided and illuminated countless souls since the Vedic period began some twelve hundred years before the birth of Christ.Many people have found Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge (Advaita Bodha Deepika) is the clearest, easiest to understand summary of Advaita Vedanta. It is in the form of a dialogue between a seeker and his spiritual master, with the seeker posing many probing questions about the nature of existence, the universe, and humankind. Cream of Liberation (Kaivalya Navan-eeta) is a widely known Advaita classic and outlines the basic philosophical principles in a very clear way, again in the form of a dialogue between master and disciple.
Banyen Books and Sound
- These two classics of Advaita Vedanta are important reading for anyone serious about true enlightenment. Both texts were highly regarded by the great sage of modern India, Ramana Maharshi, and help explain the traditional background of his profound teaching of Self-inquiry. They address the deepest issues of the human mind and soul, our fundamental questions about life and who we really are, and can help lead us to our ultimate goal of liberation from all bondage and sorrow.
David Frawley, author of Yoga and Ayurveda, and Director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies
- These texts offer a discrete mix of practice and theory. They contain all the elements of an Upanishadic and Advaita sadhana. It is an example of a teaching manual in the commentary tradition of the Sankara sampradaya. Namely, it explores in an explicit manner the teaching method of the Upanishads within the unique guru-student relationship as expounded in the Sankara tradition.
William Cenkner, Catholic Univ. of America, and author of A Tradition of Teachers: Sankara and Jagadgurus Today
- In language easy to understand, the authors give a remarkably clear exposition of the tenets of Advaita. Its English translation will serve to make it known to a larger circle of readers and thus extend its usefulness.
V.A Devasenapathi, Professor of Philosophy, University of Madras.
