PDF Yoga Vasishta of Valmiki

Yoga Vasishta by Valmiki The original Sanskrit attributed to Sage Valmiki translated to English by Vihari Lala Mitra (1891)

edited by Thomas L. Palotas (2013)

Publisher: Handloom Publishing Shivabalayogi Seva Foundation P.O. Box 64634, Tucson, Arizona U.S.A. 85728 Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj International Trust



Summary Table of Contents Glossary

The Stories in Yoga Vasishta Introduction

Book I -- On Detachment Book II -- The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation

Book III -- On Creation Book IV -- On Existence Book V -- On Dissolution, Becoming Quiet Book VI, Part 1 -- On Liberation Book VI, Part 2 -- The Latter Treasury Dedicated to His Holiness, Shri Shri Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj.

His Holiness Shri Shri Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj described Yoga Vasishta as the best spiritual treatise, being the least altered over time. He would not admit to being Vasishta himself, but he said

he was present when Vasishta answered Rama's questions and evoked Rama's Self realization.

GLOSSARY

agnishtoma -- an ancient Vedic ceremony performed by a brahmin desirous of obtaining heaven. The ceremonies continue for five days with sixteen priests officiating.

akshauhini -- an ancient battle formation of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 cavalry, and 109,350 infantry.

Agastya -- considered a Tamil/Vedic sage is one of the Seven Sages ( Saptarishi). He is credited with many mantras of the Rig Veda, and is also the author of Agastya Samhita (Agastya Collection). Once a clan of demons hid in the Cosmic Ocean so the gods could not defeat them. The gods appealed to Agastya who drank the entire ocean and held it within until the demons were destroyed.

amalaki -- (Emblica Officinalis) Indian gooseberry, a small tree whose fruit, in Ayurvedic healing tradition, is considered the most powerful rejuvenating medicine.

Amaravati -- the heavenly city of Indra, King of the Gods.

apsara -- beautiful, supernatural women; nymphs. They are youthful and elegant, and proficient in the art of dancing. They are the wives of the gandharvas, the court servants of Indra, the Lord of the Gods. They dance to the music made by their husbands, usually in the palaces of the gods, and entertain gods and fallen heroes.

arghya -- an offering of water as a token of respect.

Aruna -- the god who serves as the charioteer of the Sun.

Arundhati -- The wife of Vasishta.

asura -- power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic.

ativahika -- In the Upanishads, refers to those who are deployed to carry the dead to the other world. Here, the meaning is the everlasting spiritual body.

Ayodhya -- the capital of Kosala, the kingdom ruled by Dasharata.

bael -- the bael (bel, bilva, wood apple) tree is considered sacred to Shiva. Its fruit, as large as a grapefruit, has a smooth, woody shell so hard it must be cracked with a hammer. The fibrous yellow pulp inside is very aromatic.

Bali -- (Mahabali, Great Bali) an asura demon, was the son of Devamba and Virochana. He grew up under the tutelage of his grandfather, Prahlada, who instilled in him a strong sense of righteousness and devotion. Bali would eventually succeed his grandfather as the king of the asuras, and his reign was characterized by peace and prosperity. He would later expand his realm and bring the entire world under his benevolent rule. He was even able to conquer the underworld and heaven, which he wrested from Indra and the gods.

Bhairava -- fierce, destructive manifestations of Shiva.

Bharadwaja -- a sage, one of the even rishis, the leading student of Valmiki, and considered the ancestor of all brahmins.

Bharata -- ("Emperor") legendary ruler of India after whom India and Indians are named.

Brahma -- God the Creator, also the father of Vasishta.

Brahma rishi -- the highest class of rishis (sages), one who has understood the meaning of Brahman, the highest divine knowledge.

Brahmaloka -- the heavenly world where Brahma resides.

Brahman -- the indescribable One.

brahmin (fem. brahmani) -- members of the priestly caste.

Brihaspati -- Sage and guru to the gods; identified with the planet Jupiter.

chandala -- a man born of the illegal union of a low caste shudra man with a woman of one of the three higher castes. They were regarded as the vilest and most abject of the men.

chandrayana -- a penance, including fasting, according to the lunar cycle.

Charvaka -- a system of Indian philosophy that dates back to the 7th C. BCE, around the same time as Buddhism and Jainism became popular. It assumes skepticism and religious indifference and is characterized as a materialistic and atheistic school. Charvakas believe only what the physical senses tangibly perceive.

chataka -- a kind of cuckoo (Cuculus Melanoleucus). Indian traditions suppose that it drinks only the water of the clouds, and their poets usually introduce allusions to this bird in connection with cloudy or rainy weather.

chauri -- a female hybrid of yak and hill cattle.

Chitragupta -- the god assigned to the task of keeping complete records of actions of human beings.

daivam -- fate, providence, god.

dakini -- in Indian tradition, female demons, vampires, and blood-drinkers feeding on human flesh. In tantric practice, she is a female embodiment of enlightened energy.

dakshinayana -- The sun's yearly movement is divided into two parts, uttarayana and dakshinayana. Uttarayana starts with the winter solstice and dakshinayana starts with the summer solstice.

Danava -- a race of asuras, demi-gods.

Dasharata -- King of Kosala ruling from its capital of Ayodhya, and father of Rama.

dvijas -- the three higher castes: brahmins (priests), kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) and vaishyas (traders and landowners). The second birth relates to assuming their roles in society.

eight elements -- the eight basic elements are earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and identity. The first five elements are the gross aspects of matter, and the last three are the subtle aspects of matter.

five elements -- earth, water, fire, air, space (akasha).

fourteen worlds -- lokas or dimensions. The seven higher (heavens) lokas are: the three planes in which the gods live: satya (truth, the highest); tapas (spiritual austerities; meditation in samadhi); and jnana (creative, knowledge); mahar (spiritual masters), svar (heaven of Indra); bhuvar (demigods); and bhu (material world, the earth). The lower ones (the "seven underworlds" or patalas) are atala, vitala, sutala, rasaataala, talatala, mahaatala, paatala.

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