Sadhanas From Ribhu Gita

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His Holiness Sri Swami Shantananda Puri Maharaj of Vasishta Guha (Himalayas), born in 1928, is a disciple of Parma Poojya Sri Swami Purushottamananda Puri Maharaj of Vasishtha Guha, Himalayas.

Swamiji is a scholar par excellence in vedic scripture as well as in the puranic texts. His deep knowledge and lucid exposition of Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita and Ashtavakra Gita have made him a popular guide to spiritual aspirants. His simplicity, transparent deep faith in the divine force and absolute surrender to the Supreme have made him an ideal combination of Jnana, Bhakti and Vairagya.

Swamiji’s prodigious learning and deep devotion to the tenets of Indian Philosophy and culture have reflected themselves in all his works, which are practical guides for inner personal experience and to raise oneself to a higher level of being. His emphasis has always been on ‘Practice, practice, practice’.

Ribhu Gita is a beautiful Text, rarely known to most of the Spiritual aspirants in India and abroad. This book was brought to light and highly eulogized by Bhagavan Ramana to a limited number of devotees. There is no other book which gives a quintessence of all the Sadhanas in all the Upanishads in an elaborate but easy way. The way in which this helps us to think of Brahman for days together is unique.

The Text claims that any of the chapters alone is capable of bestowing moksha or liberation on the reader by a single reading.

This book is an invaluable Treasure for the devotees engaged in Spiritual Sadhanas.

If Ashtavakra Gita can be considered as several evels above all the orthodox texts of Advaita philosophy, Ribhu Gita can be considered as a few steps above Ashtavakra Gita. Ribhu Gita is almost unknown in most parts of India and practically in the entire West (concerned with spirituality). Initially, exhorts a person to meditate “I am that. I am the Brahman. I am the Consciousness. It is the truth that the Brahman alone is all”. It goes on to say “In due course leave off that remembrance of Brahman also. Leave off all this renunciation of Brahman and any differentiation between I and Self also. Envelope yourself with the Self alone and remain as your own Self.”- (verses 25, 26 & 28 of chapter 21 of Ribhu Gita with original in Sanskrit with English meaning). To interpret it properly and to practise it is not an easy task as this is a leap beyond the meditation on Brahman. It is told in the edition from Ramanasramam is there a book while reading which, the reader feels increasingly drawn towards his own Self even if it is the very first spiritual book that he reads? The book which you are now holding in your hand is certainly one such.” (See backside cover page of the Sanskrit version published by Sri Ramanasramam). It was the Tamil version of Ribhu Gita by Bhikshu Sastri which was brought to light before the limited devotees of the Asramam by Bhagavan Ramana himself and its language and rhyme are inimitable and extremely attractive. Bhagavan Ramana stressed that even if one does not understand it, a mare reading of it again and again or daily is highly beneficial.

The original Sanskrit version was lying for a long time (perhaps as a manuscript) in the Saraswati Mahal Library of Tanjavur (Tamil Nadu) and it was brought out by them in print a number of years back. Sri Ramanasramam has done a good service by getting the book published with English translation.

I am sure that this small book on “Sadhanas” will include at least a few people to read the original book and reap immeasurable benefit. In most of the chapters it is mentioned that the one who reads or listens to that chapter becomes the Brahman itself.