Fifty Stories from Yogavasishtha (An Old and Rare Book)

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From The Jacket

The greatest emphasis is given to 'liberation while living' (Jeevan Mukti). It talks of doing all our duties, living our lives; it may be of a king or an ordinary man, animal or a bird. It preaches 'control over mind and senses, bereft of attachment and detachment, performance of yoga, strong will power, our faith in the supreme whether qualitative or nor qualitative (Saguna and Nirguna), births and rebirths, equality of man and woman, and respect of woman' is the main epitome of the Yogavasishtha Philosophy. All the Akhyanas are introduced to establish these ideals.

In these stories, the characters are taken by the Author from Puranas, Mahabharat, Ramayana or our folk-lore. Characters are like, Ram, Vasishtha, Shukdeva, Leela, Demones Karati, Indu Brahmin, Ahilya, Indra, three princes of a king King lavan, the tribal woman, shukracharya, Bheem, Bhasa, Dashoor, Kacha, Janak, Punya, Pavan, King Bali, Prahlad, Gadhi, Uddalaka, Suraghu, Veethavya, Kaka Bhushundi, Eshwar, Arjuna, Shatrudara, Vetal, Bhagiratha, Queen Chudala, Shikhidhwaja, Kirata, Ikshvaku, Vidyadhara, Vipashchit, etc. are very familiar to Indian mind. All these character are used in these stories of Yogavisishthta.

About The Author

Dr. Vijayshree born 23rd Dec., 1944, Delhi. M. A. (Sanskrit), Delhi University; Ph. D. (Sanskrit), Banaras Hindu University.
Topic For Ph. D.: A Critical Appreciation of Adhyatma Ramayana
Publication Book: Adhyatma Ramayana A Critical Appreciation, Dev Katha Rasa
Articles: Nau-Ka Anka, Kalpavriksha, Deepawali Tithi Panchak, Nari-Ek Adhyayana, Nari-Ek Asmita, Mahabharat Mein Nari, Vedic Mathematics An-Introduction. Rudraksha, carriers for Women.
Working As: Reader in Janki Devi Memorial College New Delhi

Preface

Telling story is the most effective and the easiest way to teach and preach ethics and morality, philosophy or human psychology, social ideals and religion, politics and social human behavior, emotions of love, hate, anger and heroism to any age group of the species of mankind. We find many Akhyanas (stories) in the oldest available scriptures i.e. the oldest available scriptures i.e. the tenth Mandala of the Rigveda. The same are developed later on in Brahman literature, Upanishads, Purans, Epics and classical literature. The famous 'Panchtantra' is known to be written by Vishnu Sharma to teach politics to the three princes of King Amarshkti.

Similarly the author of Yogavasishtha has also, employed this technique of story telling in expounding subtle ideals of Indian philosophy through Akhyanas in the book. Yogavasishtha like Srimad Bhagvadgita in the most appropriate, even in the present times of information technology for the most ordinary human being, anywhere in the world. It gives us 'Peace' the most sought after thing in the present world. This book does not believe in renouncing the world or duties unlike the Upanishads. Here the author has utilized 'Fifty-five' Akhyanas (Stories) to simplify the difficult ideals of Indian Philosophy. A few of them are repetitions, so to avoid repetition I have compiled them into fifty stories.

The Author of Yogavasishtha has presented everything in very simple, straight and strong language and the force and flow of the style really to uches, the heart of the reader. This does not need any elaboration or commentary to understand it. Everything as if, comes out of the heart of the author in accordance with his personal experience. It is simply superb, written in a simple, lucid, alluring, charming and lyrical language, interspersed with illustrations and stories. This is the reason this book is equally admired by philosophers as well as literature, due to effective and appropriate illustrations every strata of society enjoys this book. Even a layman can rejoice in it due to simplicity of the presentation. The reason of tremendous appeal of this book is that it does not talk of renunciation of the world or home, relations or duties, actions or austerity. The greatest emphasis is given to 'liberation while living' (Jeevan Mukti). It talks of doing all our duties, living our lives; it may be of a king or an ordinary man, animal or a bird. It preaches 'control over mind and senses, bereft of attachment and detachment, performance of yoga, strong will power, our faith in the supreme whether qualitative or non-qualitative (Saguna and Nirguna), births and rebirths, equality of man and woman, and respect of woman' is the main epitome of the Yogavasisththa Philosophy. All the Akhyanas are introduced to establish these ideals.

I have tried to summaries these stories leaving aside all explanatory descriptions in order to make them more interesting. In these stories, the character are taken by the Author from Puranas, Mahabharat, Ramayana or our folk-lore. Characters are like, Ram, Vasistha, Shukdeva, Leela, Demoness Karati, Indu Brahmin, Ahilya, Indra, three princes of a king. King lavan, the tribal woman, shukracharya, Bheem, Bhasa, Dashoor, Kacha, Janak, Punya, Pavan, King Bali, Prahlad, Gadhi, Uddalaka, Suraghu, Veethavya, Kaka Bhusundi, Eshwar, Arjuna, Shatrudara, Vetal, Bhagiratha, Queen Chudala, Shikhidhwaja, Kirata, Ikshvaku, Vidyadhara, Vipashchit, etc. are very familiar to Indian mind. All these character are used in these stories of Yogavisishthta. And the reading and pondering of these stories gives deep insight into Indian thinking of satisfactory life and also how to achieve peace and harmony in one's own life.

I want, all people in the world should read these simple stories and understand these to their own benefit. I am pretty sure these stories will prove tremendously beneficial to all the readers in attaining peace and gratification in life and every reader will attain at least partial Jeevan-Mukti if not complete to live a life to its fullest.

At the end, I will like to thank all, those who helped me directly or in directly. Last but not least, I give my special, sincere thanks to Ms. Enalshi Ghosh, who acciedently presented me a copy of the book on Yogavisishthta, which has fructified in the from of fifty stories of the Yogavisishthta.