Upadesa Sara - the essence of all teaching - is one of the most popular Vendatic texts. It explains the paths of Action (Karma Yoga), Yoga (Astanga Yoga) and Knowledge (Jnana Yoga) and how they lead to the final goal of Self Knowledge. The great sage, Bhagvan Ramana Maharishi presents the subject in a simple and beautiful way. Swami Tejomayananda's commentary further simplifies the text and brings out its essence in an appealing way.

The Upadesa Sarah (Upadesa Saram) by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Translated with Commentary by Nome. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, abiding in the eternal Silence of the Self, composed The Essence of Spiritual Instruction for the supreme good of all in response to the supplications of the devoted Muruganar. The poet-devotee was writing in Tamil the story of the wayward rishis who dwelled in the Daruka forest and practiced rites for the attainment of powers that they desired. Their egos humbled by Siva and perceiving the error of their approach, they humbly sought spiritual instruction from Siva. Siva graciously bestowed the instruction, and it is these teachings that Muruganar requested Sri Bhagavan, Siva himself, to reveal in verse form. So, the Maharshi composed thirty verses in Tamil. Later, Sri Bhagavan translated them into Sanskrit. The Tamil version is entitled Upadesa Undiyar, and the Sanskrit version is entitled Upadesa Sarah and is also referred to as Upadesa Saram. This work is the English translation of the Sanskrit Upadesa Sarah. With each verse there is a ten-point commentary emphasizing the profound significance of the verse for those practicing Self-inquiry in the quest of nondual Self-Knowledge. An appendix that contains just the Sanskrit text with transliteration is included for ease of recitation and similar purposes.

Upadesha Saara has 30 verses containing the essence of the Vedantic teaching but it is written in a cryptic manner.Paramarthananda talks about all the spiritual Sadhanas in 4 levels in the form of Karma yoga, Upasana yoga, Ashtanga yoga and Jnana yoga. A spiritual seeker has to follow all the 4 yogas compulsorily & systematically and attain spiritual enlightenment. Karma yoga, upasana yoga & ashtanga yoga are preparatory disciplines which will give jnana yogyatha, preparing the mind for spiritual knowledge. Jnana yoga will enlighten a person through this knowledge. Shri Ramana has beautifully brought out these 4 yogas with more emphasis on jnana yoga.

The book brings to light how great and true knowledge is born of intuition, quite different from modern Western method. The ancient Indian method and its secret techniques are examined and shown to be capable of solving various problems of mathematics. The universe we live in has a basic mathematical structure obeying the rules of mathematical measures and relations. All the subjects in mathematics-Multiplication, Division, Factorization, Equations, Calculus, Analytical Conics, etc.-are dealt with in forty chapters, vividly working out all problems, in the easiest ever method discovered so far.

Verse work on self-realization.

Vallabhacharya, the founder of the Pushti Maarg was a poet, scholar and passionate lover of Lord Krishna. Madhurashtakam is one of the immemorial compositions of Vallabhacharya, the founder of Pusti marg. These set of eight verses talk of Shri Krishna's bewitching personality. His pastimes, and His pranks all of which make Him loving and lovable. The composition has become more popular because of its simplicity. Pujya Guruji's commentary on it gives us a sense of immediacy with highlights of episodes from the lives of recent saints. It also makes us introspect on our hypocrisies which prevent us from flowing with sweetness. It opens our eyes to the healing energies of the Divine, clothed in a name and form.

Practice of knowledge is unlike yoga, karma or upasana. Knowledge is practiced when our vision has undergone a change from the relative standpoint to absolute vision and this can happen only by the ability to see beyond the obvious in the day-to-day interactions of life. This approach of seeing the Divinity in and through all the experiences of daily life is abundantly presented by Bhagawan Shankaracharya ji in his Atma Bodha which is the subject matter of this publication.