The esteemed translator, a retired physics professor, was encouraged by the Maharshi to study this text.
The book presented herewith consists of 122 verses from the original Tamil work, being a free translation into English prose, conveying the essence of the original, rather than a mere mechanical word for word translation. He used to say that the recital itself leads to spontaneous abidance in the Self. The Tamil version is a free translation of the original Sanskrit text, consisting of 1,924 verses of such scintillating brilliance that Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi recommended its recital as a strong support for spiritual sadhana. He translated the work under the name of Ulaganatha Swamigal, and because of his efforts attained renowned fame among the Tamil devotees of Siva. The Ribhu Gita was translated into Tamil verse by a Brahmin Vedic scholar of high repute, by name Bikshu Sastrigal who was also an accomplished scholar in Tamil. It is the teachings of Lord Siva in Mount Kailas to His devotee Ribhu, from whom the Gita derives its name. Nome is a teacher of this spiritual knowledge, an author of the same, and a translator of Vedanta texts.The Ribhu Gita forms the sixth section of the Sanskrit work known as Siva Rahasya. These teachings are those found in traditional Advaita Vedanta as expounded by Adi Sankaracharya, Ribhu, and the Upanishads. Nome teaches Advaita Vedanta, especially as is contained in the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Nome, a sage who practiced self-inquiry for steady abidance in Self-Realization, is a spiritual teacher at Society of Abidance in Truth, known by the acronym SAT, which established and maintains a temple for Nondual Self-Knowledge in California. Ramamoorthy and Nome worked in close collaboration to translate numerous Advaita Vedanta texts, from Sanskrit and Tamil, into English. He was renowned for his humility, subtle humor, devotion, and a superlative clarity of expression even when dealing with the loftiest Hindu scriptural texts. Ramamoorthy was a foremost Sanskrit scholar and expert in Tamil. May we all recognize in this text the freedom and happiness of the Absolute, our True Nature, as reflected in the words of the great Sage Ribhu! About the Authors
In addition, The 108 Names of Ribhu, in Sanskrit and English, is included in this new edition. This second edition also contains an enhanced glossary from the original first edition. In this second edition, footnotes have been added presenting alternative meanings to the word or phrase immediately preceding the footnote number or show the Sanskrit word in transliterated form that has been translated into English. The Indian cultural frame, traditional dialog between Guru and disciple, is subsumed into the directly penetrating insight that is absolute, beyond any concept. The language is accessible, forceful - and points clearly beyond the limits of time and circumstance. Its uncompromising declaration communicates the uninterrupted direct experience of the Sage known as Ribhu. Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati, a Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, stated in glowing terms that the Ribhu Gita is to the Sivarahasyam what the Bhagavad Gita is to the Mahabharata.įirst-hand descriptions of the experience of Nonduality are precious and rare.
It is a consummate work of the spirit, an astonishing description of direct Nondual experience and understanding. This translation is an essential and classic work of Advaita Vedanta. This edition of the book is printed in India, for sale in India only, and is same in all respects to the USA edition.