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Pedagogical Concern

An Analysis of the Sanskrit Vicarasagara of Vasudeva Brahmendra Sarasvati by: S. Bhuvaneshwari

A unique pedagogical method of teaching of Advaita is presented in the Sanskrit trans-creation of Nishcaladasa’s Vicharasagara and its tippani by Pitambar, by Vasudeva Brahmendra Sarasvati, depending on the need of different types of seekers — uttama, madhyama and kanishtha adhikaris — simplifying the teaching and learning of Advaita even for laymen.

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ISBN: 9788124608180
Year Of Publication: 2015
Edition: 1st edition
Pages : xxviii, 356
Bibliographic Details : Appendices, Bibliography
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23
Weight: 750

Overview

This book is a critical study of the Sanskrit trans-creation of Vicharasagara — by Vasudeva Brahmendra Sarasvati — of Nishcaladasa in one of the dialects of Hindi and its tippani by Pitambar, again in the same dialect, imparting a unique teaching technique of Advaita to different types of aspirants. The book thus unfolds the teaching of Advaita depending on the need of different types of seekers — uttama, madhyama and kanishtha adhikaris. The volume focuses on two layers of concerns: first, of the appropriate modifications made by the trans-creator using simple Sanskrit and second, in the dialogue between the guru and the different adhikaris.
This critical study introduces us to: (i) the life and works of Nishcaladasa, Pitambar and Vasudeva Brahmendra; (ii) emergence of adhikari-based pedagogy system; and (iii) the employment of pedagogical tools by the guru, depending upon the character and needs of the seeker. The related questions and discussions found in different tarangas of Vicarasagara are pooled in and presented in a cohesive manner to arrive at the core of Nishcaladasa’s work. It also delves deep into topics such as meditation and its efficacy as a means to gradual liberation, and the nature of liberation.
The book, therefore, introduces the well-defined concepts of Vedanta in a simple pedagogical way as a dialogue between the preceptor and the student, helping even a layman to understand the nuances of Advaita, otherwise a hard subject to digest and grasp.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Abbreviations
1. Introduction (Upodghata)
2. On the Nature of Aspirant (Adhikarisvarupaprakarana)
3. On the Nature of Knowledge (Jnanasvarupaprakarana)
4. On Impediments to Knowledge and Their Remedies (Jnanapratibandhanivrittishca)
5. On the Nature of Meditation (Upasanasvarupaprakarana)
6. On the Nature of Liberation (Mokshasvarupaprakarana)

Conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography

Meet the Author
avatar-author
1976
S. Bhuvaneshwari (b. 1976) has been studying the Prasthanatraya, Bhashya and Advaita Prakaranas from Swami Paramarthananda Sarasvati of Chennai since 1994. Having obtained a BA in Economics and MA in Public Administration, she later branched out and procured her Masters in Philosophy and Sanskrit as well. She is a Gold Medalist in MA Philosophy from the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras (2004-06). She is the recipient of University Research Fellowship for her Doctorate at the Department of Sanskrit, University of Madras (2009-10) and was awarded Ph.D. (2010) for her study on the Sanskrit text Vicharasagara. Her other area of interest is Philosophy of Art, especially the aesthetic theories of Bharata, Abhinavagupta and Hegel, and has been teaching Aesthetics and Indian Philosophy as guest lecturer in various reputed institutions in Chennai since 1997. She continues her study of Advaita works in Sanskrit, Hindi and Tamil, and is currently working on some unpublished Advaita texts available as paper manuscripts at the Government Oriental Manuscript Library and Adyar Research Library, Chennai. She has over fifteen articles to her credit in both Advaita Vedanta and Aesthetics and has recently published a book A Treatise of Advaita Vedanta: English Translation of Vichara-candrodaya of Pandit Pitambar (2013).
Books of S. Bhuvaneshwari