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Ashtavakra Gita
The Ashtavakra Gita is a classical Sanskrit scripture that presents a profound dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka on the nature of the Self (Atman), liberation (moksha), and non-dualism (Advaita Vedanta). Unlike many other Hindu texts, it focuses purely on philosophical and metaphysical insights without rituals or religious duties. The Gita teaches that the Self is pure, beyond body and mind, and already free; liberation comes through direct realization of this truth, not through action or worship. The tone is deeply meditative, often poetic, and radically non-dualistic in its view of reality.
The Ashtavakra Gita is one of the most striking texts of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. In it, Sage Ashtavakra, who was born with eight deformities (hence his name), teaches King Janaka through a series of verses that emphasize self-inquiry, inner stillness, and detachment from the body and mind. The central idea is that we are not the body, nor the mind, but the pure consciousness—unchanging and eternal. This teaching moves away from the karma-based paths or ritualism and instead urges direct realization of the Self. The text is highly regarded for its clarity, brevity, and radical stance on non-duality, even more so than the Bhagavad Gita in its philosophical purity.