Sri Ramana Gita (The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi)

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Sri Ramana Gita is one of the important works on the teachings of Sri Ranana Maharshi, composed by his premier devotee vasishtha Ganapati Muni. It records the instructions of the Maharshi on various themes of spiritual importance and mode of spiritual importance and mode of sadhana in answer to serious queries addressed to him by sincere devotees and aspirants. Most of the queries belong to the period of 1916 and 1917.

The questions taken up in Ramana Gita are often intricate relating as they do to the deepest experiences in yoga and involve very subtle perception and analysis. Fortunately the commentary by the scholar, kapali sastriar, the illustrious disciple of Vasishtha Ganapati Muni throws a flood of light on all abstruse point and is of great help for the proper understanding of the high philosophical concepts and deep spiritual import embodied I the teaching of the Maharshi.

Although each of the chapter of Ramana Gita deal with a different subject, special mention must be made about chapter V on Hridaya Vidya which contains Sri Bhagavan’s discourse given of His own accord and not in answer to any question from anyone.

Sri Ramana Gita is one of the important works on the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, composed by his premier disciple Vasishtaha Ganapati Muni. It records the instructions of the Maharshi on various themes of spiritual importance and mode of sadhana in answer to serious queries addressed to him by sincere devotees and aspirants. Most of the queries addressed to him by sincere devotees and aspirants. Most of the queries belong to the period of 1916 and 1917 when the Sage of Arunachala was least communicative. It is to the credit of the questioners that by their seriousness of purpose and sincerity of aspiration they could draw the Maharshi out and it was fortunate that Vasishtha Ganapati Muni was present on those occasions, himself, at times being a questioner to give an authentic and authoritative record of the whole proceedings. Fashioning the work on the lines of Bhagavad Gita, the Muni cast the work in eighteen chapters, comprising in all three hundred verses in easy flowing Sanskrit and titled it as Ramana Gita.

The questions taken up in Ramana Gita are often intricate relating as they do to the deepest experiences in yoga and involve very sublte perception and analysis. But fortunately Rmana Gita has been commented upon buy the Scholar Yogin, Sri Kapil Sastriar, the illustrious disciple of Vasishtha Ganapati Muni and his commentary prakasa in Sanskrit throws a flood of light on all abstruse point s and deep spiritual imports embodied in the teaching of the Maharshi. Sri Sastriar’s commentary is not couched in the usual terse style which is traditionally adopted for commentaries on philosophical texts. On the other hand, his Sanskrit is simple, lucid at the same time profound, his prose at places touching the heights of poetry.

Sri Sastriar had intended to render his Sanskrit Commentary the Ramana Gita Prakasha in English. He translated the Introduction, the Pithika, but somehow did not proceed further. This translation of the Pithika and Dedication of Ramana Gita Prakasha, in Sastria’s own words originally appeared in the book ‘ The Maharishi’ published by Sri Ramanasramam. Both of them are reproduced here at the beginning of the work as fitting prologues.

Though with much trepidation, I had taken up this unfinished work of my master, Sri Sastriar, and proceeded to render the commentary in English, as the work progressed, I was able to sense the unfailing Grace of Bhagavan Maharhsi and the ever present guiding light of Sri Sastriar at every step, enabling me to complete the task I had undertake.

Deeply appreciating and cherishing the invaluable contribution made by Sri Vasishtha Ganapgati Muni and Sri kapali Sastriar to Sri Ramana literature in the propagation of the Maharshi’s authentic teachings, Sri V.S.Ramana, President, Sri Ramanasramam has been keen of publishing an English rendering of Sri Kapali Sastriar’s Sanskrit Commentary on Ramana Gita. This publication is entirely due to his efforts and interest taken by him. All the devotees if Bhagavan are beholden to him in this regard. May Bhagavan’s Grace abide with him, always!

Years ago, at the Ramana Kendra Centre in Madras, twice or thrice, a series of talks on Ramana Gita were given by me. Sri B. Ananthswami made arrangements to tape record these talks were not comprehensive and were tailored to a selective audience. But the idea came to me that I should one day render into English Sri Sastria’s Commentary on Raman Gita, for publication. I am indebted to Sri Ananthaswami for giving me this idea. In this connection I have to mention about my old and respected friend Sri K.Natesan residing are Sri Ramansramam, who with his importunities and loving insistence made me take to the task seriously. During the course of writing and printing, Sri Vnkatakrishnan and Sri Kalyanasundaram of Ramana Kendra at Madras have always been a source of strength and support for me. May Bhagavan’s blessings be with them all.

Lastly, I have to mention about my wife. Being a disciple of Sri Sastriar herself, she always found time amidst her own literary pursuits to sit with me and share with me and share with me the burden of going through the proofs and the printed matter, especially the portions in Sanskrit.