Ashtavakra Maha Geeta

If you have not heard about Ashtavakra Gita, let me brief you about it. Now, there are more than one Gita in Hindu philosophy. Gita is a song of Knowledge. There is the Bhagwad Gita, which was a discourse on life and philosophy by Krishna to Arjuna. Ashtavakra Gita is the discussion between sage Ashtavakra and King Janak.

The Janak's were the philosopher kings of Mithila. They ruled their people well and carried out their duties without being obsessed with the worldly possessions they were entitled to. They were intellectuals and encouraged debate on philosophy. One of the Janak's (Seerdhawaj, who was also a father to Sita) had a profound discussion with Ashtavakra.

Ashtavakra, the saint with 8 body deformities (that is why the name Ashtavakra ) went to participate in the debate at Janak's court. As soon as he arrived at court, the participants and the king's officers starting laughing at his deformed body. Instead of feeling insulted, Astavakra was amused. He too laughed heartily. On being asked about the reason for his laugh, he said that he thought he had come to attend a gathering of saints, intellectuals, and philosophers but it turned out to be a gathering of skin-tanners, for all of those present here judged me by my outer cover, my body, and its inadequacies and did not perceive the real me. "I am Atma (soul)" he said. I am perfect and unadulterated. 

Janaka recognized that the young sage was special. He made good use of the opportunity by discussing the world, life, and liberation with him. This discussion was recorded as Astavakra Gita. The discussion is interesting because it's between a Gyana-Yogi (Ashtavakra) and Karma-Yogi (Janaka). Both have acquired self-realization but via different means. They acknowledge and respect each other.

I go through Ashtavakra Gita when I feel low. And I realize that there are actually no problems and no solutions either. I am nobody's friend and nobody's foe. I am pure consciousness and pure energy. I am nothing more and nothing less. I am not what the world perceives me. I am perfect the way I am and fall in place with the celestial harmony. I never did any wrong nor can I make anything right. I am not the doer but only a distant observer. An observer of my surroundings, activities and the happenings.