Yoga-Vsishtha

Compiled by: Trisha Lamb Last Revised: April 27, 2006

International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) 2005

International Association of Yoga Therapists

P.O. Box 2513 Prescott AZ 86302 Phone: 928-541-0004 E-mail: mail@iayt.org URL: www.iayt.org
The contents of this bibliography do not provide medical advice and should not be so interpreted. Before beginning any exercise program, see your physician for clearance.

Aiyer, K. Narayanaswami. Laghu-Yoga-Vasistha. India: Adyar Library and Research Centre, 1980. Attreya, B. L. Philosophy of Yoga Vashishtha. D. Litt. Thesis, Benares Hind u University, Varanasi. ___________. The Yoga-Vasistha and Its Philosophy. 3d ed. Moradabad: Darshana Printers, 1967. Bose, D. N., trans. The Yoga-Vasistha Ramayana. 2 vols. Calcutta: n.d. Chakravarti, Kshitish Chandra. Vision of Reality. Calcutta: Fir ma K. L. Mukhopadhyay, 1969. Das, Bhagavan. Mystic Experiences: Tales of Yoga and Vedanta From the Yoga Vasishtha. Benares, India: Theosophical Society, 1928/Varanasi: Indian book Shop, Theosophical Society, 1959 (3d ed.). Dasgupta, Surendranath. Philosophy of the Yoga-Vasistha. In A History of Indian Philosophy, Vol. 2. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1975. Index to [Swami Venkatesanandas translation of] The Yoga Vasishtha. Available online: http://www.yogavasistha.com/anindex.htm. Jyotirmayananda, Swami. Yoga Vasistha. Multiple volumes. Miami, Fla.: Yoga Research Foundation, 1977. Khullar, Pranav. Vedantic wisdom in the Yoga Vasishta. The Times of India, 25 May 2004. Mainkar, Trimbak Govind. The Vasistha Ramayana: A Study. 2d ed. New Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas, 1977. Mitra, Vihari-Lala. The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki. 4 Vol. Calcutta: 1891-1899/Delhi: 1976. Narasimha, R. A metaphysics of living systems: The Yoga-Vasistha view. Journal of Bioscience, Dec 2002, 27(7):645-650. Article available online: http://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/dec2002/645.pdf. Abstract: The Yoga-Vasistha is a rich and complex philosophical poem (kvya) of epic length, written in classical Sanskrit by an unknown author some time between the 6th and 13th centuries CE, probably around the 7th century. It is notable for its eloquent praise of self-effort and enquiry or analysis, and for its severe disparagement of the notion of fate.

It views consciousness as (a) characterizing all living forms (including plant and insect life), (b) being atomic, and (c) analogous to the emergence of waves and whirlpools in water; it therefore grapples with what today would be called the problems of reductionism and emergentism. Notions of the survival of the fittest, and of a dynamic process of creation and loss, are expressed with characteristic force. The paper presents a selection of verses (in an English translation) setting forth these views, and a brief analysis of their implications. Pradad, Tarkeshwar. Yoga Vasistha (Renunciation and Salvation). Delhi: Nag Publishers. Ramasramam, Sri. Yoga Vasishtha Sara (The Essence of Yoga Vasishtha). Tamil Nadu: 1994. Excerpts available online: http://sivaloka.tripod.com/YogaVasishtha.htm. Samvid. Essence of Yoga Vasishtha. Lotus Press. URL: http://www.lotuspress.com/1BK/1BK990163.html. Shastri, Hari Prasad. Yogavasistha: The Story of Queen Chudala and Sermons of Holy Vasistha. London: Favil Press, 1937. (Fifth edition published by Shanti Sadan in London in 1975 under the new title The World Within the Mind.) Sivananda, Sri Swami. Stories from the Yoga Vasishtha. Sivanandanagar: The Divine Life Society, 1995. ___________. The Yoga Vasishtha. Available online: http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/yogavasishtha.htm. Venkataramani, Swami, ed. Multiple Reflections: Talks on the Yoga Vasishtha by Swami Venkatesananda. San Francisco: Chiltern Yoga Trust, 1988. Includes the talk Introduction to the Yoga Vasishtha. Venkatesananda, Swami. The Concise Yoga Vasistha. 3d ed. Albany, N.Y.: SUNY Press, 1985. ___________. Freedom from limitation: Part 1. Yoga Today, Jan 1981, 5(9):21-24. ___________. Freedom from limitation: Part 2. Yoga Today, Feb 1981, 5(10):27-29. ___________. Freedom from limitation: Part 3. Yoga Today, Mar 1981, 5(11):28-29, 4041. ___________. Freedom from limitation: Part 4. Yoga Today, Apr 1981, 5(12):30-33. ___________. Introduction to the Yoga Vasistha. Available online: http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/discourse/jul2002.htm.

___________. The Supreme Yoga (Yoga Vasishtha). 2 Vol. Elgin, South Africa: Chiltern Yoga Trust, 1981. Can be purchased at: http://www.dlsmd.org/bookstore/bookstore.htm. ___________.The supreme yoga: Part 1. Yoga Today, Jun 1981, 6(2):26-30. Arguably the greatest of the yoga classicsand probably the most neglectedis the Yoga Vasistha. Here [is presented] a two-part extract from this voluminous work in which the nature of liberationtouching the core of Vedantais discussed as a prelude to Vasisthas penetrating interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita. ___________. The supreme yoga: Part 2. Yoga Today, Jul 1981, 6(3):9-13. A classic on a classicin this chapter the sage Vasistha gives his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita; the very essence of the great scripture is laid bare. ___________. Vasisthas Yoga. Albany, N.Y.: SUNY Press, 1993.