Brahma Jnanavali for the Modern World
Posted on 10 June 2023; 11:30 AM IST. Last Updated 10 June 2023; 11:30 AM IST.Summary: This article presents an exposition of Brahma Jnanavali of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, as an English language poem.
Brahma Jnanavali is a set of 21 Sanskrit verses, which were composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, to present the Advaita philosophy. These lucid verses are in simple Sanskrit, and can be easily understood even by those, who possess only a modest knowledge of Sanskrit language.
The verses were carefully ordered to present the philosophical argumentation structure of Advaita philosophy. Nevertheless, the verses have an abundance of spirituality, which remains subtle and latent.
In this article, Brahma Jnanavali is reconstituted and presented as a simple English language poem, where spirituality is given a slightly higher role and precedence, without sacrificing the spirit or essence of the Advaita philosophy.
Poem: Brahma Jnanavali for the Modern World
The eye sees an aberration of light,
The mind sees a fragment of the picture,
The soul sees a glimpse of reality,
Unattached to anything,
I see all that happens.
I am the light of the Sun and the Moon,
I am the light of the shining Stars,
I am the light of eyes that see,
I am the light of all that shines.
I remain formless and unbound,
I remain indestructible, by any force,
I remain eternal and endless,
I remain as bliss, in the praying soul.
I watch people come and go,
I watch Empires raise and fall,
I watch Time travel tirelessly,
I watch as witness “The Worlds of God”.
--- Pilla Gurumurty Patrudu.
Remarks:
The word I of the poem, does not represent body, mind, soul or even God.
The word I of the poem, depicts the concept of Brahman of Advaita, and may be understood as pure consciousness, or as an Isha (Lord).
Brahman should not be confused with Brahmin, where the latter means a priest, scholar, or teacher.
The best explanation for Brahman could be “Light or power of God” or Chaitanya in Sanskrit.
Brahma Jnanavali teaches us that -
“We are surrounded by a power or light of God, which supports our existence”.