Propagation of Vedanta

Sri. Sastri’s (Sri. Jnananandendra Saraswathi Swami after Sanyasa) contributions to the propagation of Advaita Vedanta

Sri Sastri’s pursuit of the study of Vedanta did not cease after the commencement of his career as a school teacher in 1917, but continued until the last day of his life. When he joined the school as a teacher Sri. Y Subba Rao his former 7^th Grade teacher who later became Sri. Satchidanandendra Saraswathi after Sanyasa was transferred to Fort school. Sri. Y Subba Rao and a senior teacher and his mentor Sri. K.A Krishnaswamy Iyer had studied the original bhashyas of Shankara. In the process they found that the later commentators after Shankaracharya had introduced certain concepts such as moolavidya to the detriment of the Advaita system of philosophy as propounded by Shankaracharya. After interacting with these eminent personalities Sri. Sastri critically re-examined the original Shankara bhashyas with the work of the later commentators and agreed with the conclusions arrived by Sri. Subba Rao and Iyer and became their disciple. From 1927 onwards when the activities of the Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya started on a formal note he was fully associated with its activities. He was participating in its lecture programs at Bangalore, Shimoga, Holenarasipur and Mysore. At Mysore he organized seven or eight programs of one week duration under the leadership of Sri. Satchidanandendra Saraswathi Swami. He invited eminent scholars of Advaita Vedanta for these programmes apart from giving lectures himself. He was also contributing articles to the monthly magazine of the Karyalaya. He used to help Swamiji correct his Sanskrit works at the manuscript stage and gave several useful suggestions. He participated in scholarly congregations attended by scholars of various philosophical schools and brought forth the merits of the Advaita philosophy of Sri. Shankaracharya. His strong presentation earned him the sobriquet of “Prathivadi Bhayankara”

He travelled around the country along with the Swamiji and participated in many meetings with scholars of other schools of thought where he upheld the merits of Shankara’s Advaita Philosophy. He was an ardent disciple of Sri. Satchidanandendra Saraswathi Swamiji and held him in high esteem. In 1944 in accordance with the orders of then Maharaja of Mysore Sri. Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar all Shankara bhashyas were to be translated from Sanskrit to Kannnada. Sri. Sastri because of his association with the royal house and capabilities was requested to undertake this work. While he was eminently qualified to do this work he informed the palace authorities that it would be better that his guru Sri. Satchidanandendra Saraswathi swamiji undertake this work. Such was the devotion to his guru. Subsequently, an agreement was negotiated by Sri. Sastri and Swamiji with the Palace authorities to do the translation works. All remuneration from this effort went to the Karyalaya. He played a pivotal role in this project. He was also the president of the Karyalaya from 1965 to 1980.

While, Sri. Sastri was not a prolific writer as his guru he wrote certain books on Advaita Vedanta which are brief but like sutras, they are an exemplary condensation simple in form. The basic argument is presented in a precise outline starting with the fundamental phenomenon of adhyasa and all the tenets are drawn out in rigorous deduction. He is particularly hard on the notion of moolavidya which forges a thought of dualism into Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta.

Sri. Sastri has also given a nice exposition of the concept of moksha in Advaita and the prescribed sadhana marga. The treatment of the sadhana is very useful and a practical guide for the realization of Advaita. He has also written a few books on rituals useful to the practitioner.