The Ashtavakra Gita, or the Ashtavakra Samhita as it is sometimes called, is a very ancient Sanskrit text. Nothing seems to be known about the author, though tradition ascribes it to the sage Ashtavakra; hence the name. There is little doubt though that it is very old, probably dating back to the days of the classic Vedanta period. The Sanskrit style and the doctrine expressed would seem to warrant this assessment. The work was known, appreciated and quoted by Ramakrishna and his disciple Vivekananda, as well as by Ramana Maharshi, while Radha­krishnan always refers to it with great respect. Apart from that the work speaks for itself. It presents the traditional teachings of Advaita Vedanta with a clarity and power very rarely matched. The Reverend John Henry Richards, MA, BD, was an Anglican priest born in 1934 who was ordained a deacon in Llandaff in 1977 and a priest there in 1978. He served in Maesteg, Cardiff, Penmark, and Stackpile Elidor until his retirement in 1999, and died in 2017. He is known for his English translations of the Ashtavakra Gita, the Dhammapada, and the Vivekachudamani, which he put in the public domain and distributed on the Internet in 1994. The text used here is the one revised in 1996.

Authored by Maharishi Vyasa, this lucid dialogue between Rajarshi Janak and Astavakra systematically deals with mystical experiences of the spiritual reality. To all advanced students of meditation, Ashtavakra Geeta directly points out the way and the goal.

The Ashtavakra Gita conveys with beauty and simplicity the essential teachings of Advaita Vedanta, the most influential of the Hindu philosophical systems. Composed by an anonymous master of the school of the great sage Shankara, it is a book of practical advice for seekers of wisdom as well as an ecstatic expression of the experience of enlightenment. In this simple, aphoristic version, the translator conveys the clarity and lyricism of the Sanskrit original with fluency and precision.

A translation and interpretation of the most touchingly beautiful of all the Advaitic texts, this book provides us with an illuminating and in-depth look at the nature of duality and dualism. In this book Ramesh reveals himself as a spiritual Master for the modern age. His insightful commentary unlocks the beauty and the mystery in this ancient text. He points us to the Understanding that is the true nature of us all.

The story of a sage Ashtavakra and his disciple King Janaka is one of the most gripping yet unknown episodes from the Ramayana. A young boy Ashtavakra goes to King Janaka's court to debate the kingdom's most learned sages but is ridiculed by the courtiers for his deformed body. After the boy triumphs in the debate, King Janaka realizes the boy is extraordinary and becomes his disciple. While Janaka becomes obsessed in his quest for spiritual liberation, inside the secretive world of the palace, a treacherous plan unfolds. Very soon war clouds gather on the horizons of Mithila, but Janaka devotes more and more time with the young sage. Even though the whole world believes a calamity is imminent, Janaka stays on the spiritual path. With Rishi Ashtavakra's guidance, the king enters the realms of a new world that alters the reality for him and his kingdom. This novel is rooted in ancient Indian spiritual wisdom and philosophy, but with new interpretations of the concepts of liberation, enlightenment, consciousness and the absolute realities of life. It invokes the question of whether what we see is indeed an illusion. This compelling story sheds light on the modern reader's own existential questions, leading oneself to relate to the king and his struggles.

Ashtavakra Gita is regarded as one of the highest scriptures of Advaita Vedanta. It is a legendary discourse between the sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka, where the teacher expounds the highest spiritual knowledge to a deserving disciple. This book is a compilation of talks with Acharya Prashant on the Ashtavakra Gita. Seekers have come to clarify their doubts and find practical applications to daily living. Acharya Prashant brings the heights of the scripture to a level where the listeners can benefit from the verses, understand them, and ultimately rise to their heights. It doesn’t matter whether you are a veteran or a beginner in the spiritual field; this book is a must if you wish to get familiar with the timeless wisdom of Advaita Vedanta in a contemporary setting and language.