Request for Review: 21 Foundational Axioms of Advaita Siddhānta

[Vikram Jagannathan]

Namaskaram,

Through His grace, and as part of my ongoing Vedānta mananam, I have been pursuing a svādhyāya focused on a thorough analysis of Viśiṣṭādvaita’s criticisms of Advaita, alongside identifying Advaita's robust defense against these dialectical objections. As a prelude to this study, I have attempted to formulate a concise set of 21 axiomatic statements that, in my understanding, systematically capture the conceptual foundations of Advaita-siddhānta.

The set is divided into two distinct levels:

• Level 1 - 3 Root Axioms: These are the most basic and irreducible foundational propositions, constituting the fundamental basis of Advaita Siddhanta.
• Level 2 - 18 Explanatory Axioms: These are intended as derivative or explanatory formulations that systematically unpack and extend the implications of those foundational propositions across core themes such as the ontology of Brahman, the mechanics of avidyā, epistemology, and mokṣa.

The purpose of this formulation is not merely summarization, but conceptual testing: namely, to determine whether these 21 statements together yield a framework that is internally coherent, doctrinally faithful, and sufficiently precise to withstand major lines of criticism. My working hypothesis is that many criticisms directed at Advaita arise from ambiguity, incompleteness, or misunderstanding at the axiomatic level. Accordingly, this effort seeks to identify whether a sufficiently clear and rigorous foundational set can serve as a stable basis for subsequent defense and analysis.

I would be deeply grateful if the members of this group would kindly review these axioms and comment especially on the following points:

• Their conceptual accuracy from the standpoint of Advaita-siddhānta
• The extent to which the 18 explanatory axioms are valid derivations or expansions of the first 3
• Whether any formulation is overstated, incomplete, imprecise, redundant, or potentially misleading
• The grammatical correctness and appropriateness of the Sanskrit phrasing (samāsa, sandhi, syntax etc.)

I submit these formulations in a spirit of study and correction. Any comments, objections, refinements, or corrections from the learned members here would be sincerely valuable and gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance for your time and guidance.

Level 1: The Root Axioms

L1-1
ॐइत्येतत्प्रत्यगात्मा ब्रह्म; अभेदः।
oṃ ity etat pratyagātmā brahma; abhedaḥ.
Oṃ, this inner Self is Brahman; non-difference.

L1-2
अनाद्यध्यासोऽविद्यैव; अधिष्ठानज्ञानेन बाध्या।
anādy adhyāso'vidyaiva; adhiṣṭhāna-jñānena bādhyā.
Beginningless superimposition is avidyā itself; it is sublated by knowledge of the substratum.

L1-3
त्रिपुटीप्रत्ययात्मकव्यवहारो मिथ्या; बाध्यत्वात्।
tripuṭī-pratyayātmaka-vyavahāro mithyā; bādhyatvāt.
Transactional existence, being of the nature of triadic cognition, is mithyā; because of sublatability.

Level 2: Explanatory Axioms

Group 1: Ontology of Brahman

L2-1
परमार्थोऽभेदब्रह्म; व्यवहारस्त्रिपुटीप्रसिद्धः; तेन विरोधपरिहारः।
paramārtho'bheda-brahma; vyavahāras-tripuṭī-prasiddhaḥ; tena virodha-parihāraḥ.
The ultimate is non-different Brahman; transaction is established through the triad; thereby contradiction is resolved.

L2-2
अभेदवस्तु निर्विकारम्।
abheda-vastu nirvikāram.
The non-difference-entity is changeless.

L2-3
ब्रह्म स्वतःसिद्धं स्वयम्प्रकाशम्।
brahma svataḥ-siddhaṃ svayaṃprakāśam.
Brahman is self-established and self-luminous.

L2-4
कार्यं कारणादनन्यत्; नामरूपमात्रत्वात्।
kāryaṃ kāraṇād ananyat; nāma-rūpa-mātratvāt.
The effect is non-other than the cause; as it is merely name and form.

L2-5
व्यवहारे ब्रह्म विवर्तकारणम्; माया परिणामिनी।
vyavahāre brahma vivarta-kāraṇam; māyā pariṇāminī.
In Transactional existence, Brahman is the transfiguration-cause; māyā is what undergoes transformation.

L2-6
जीवजगदीश्वरसत्ता ब्रह्माश्रया परतन्त्रा।
jīva-jagad-īśvara-sattā brahmāśrayā paratantrā.
The existential reality of jīva, world, and Īśvara is dependent, resting on Brahman.

Group 2: Mechanics of Avidyā

L2-7
अविद्या भावरूपाप्यनिर्वचनीया; न द्रव्यम्; आश्रयवादो व्यवहारमात्रः।
avidyā bhāva-rūpa-apy anirvacanīyā; na dravyam; āśraya-vādo vyavahāra-mātraḥ.
Avidyā, though of positive appearance, is indescribable; it is not a substance; discussion about its locus is merely transactional.

L2-8
ज्ञातृकर्तृभोक्तृभावादिभेदप्रतीतिः सर्वाविद्याकृता।
jñātṛ-kartṛ-bhoktṛ-bhāvādi-bheda-pratītiḥ sarvāvidyā-kṛtā.
All appearance of difference, inclusive of the states of being a knower, doer, and enjoyer, etc., is caused by avidyā.

L2-9
अविद्यावरणविक्षेपशक्तिद्वयात्मिका; सुषुप्तावावरणप्राधान्यं, जाग्रत्स्वप्नयोर्विक्षेपात्मकोऽध्यासः।
avidyā-āvaraṇa-vikṣepa-śakti-dvayātmikā; suṣuptau āvaraṇa-prādhānyaṃ, jāgrat-svapnayor-vikṣepātmako'dhyāsaḥ.
Avidyā consists of the dual powers of concealment and projection; in deep sleep concealment is predominant, while in waking and dream superimposition is of the nature of projection.

L2-10
जीवोऽविद्योपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; ईश्वरो मायोपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; साक्षिचैतन्यमेकं सर्वत्र।
jīvo'vidyopādhi-viśiṣṭa-brahma; īśvaro māyopādhi-viśiṣṭa-brahma; sākṣi-caitanyam ekaṃ sarvatra.
The jīva is Brahman qualified by the adjunct of avidyā; Īśvara is Brahman qualified by the adjunct of māyā; witness-consciousness is one everywhere.

L2-11
मोक्षो बाधमात्रः; नोत्पत्तिः।
mokṣo bādha-mātraḥ; notpattiḥ.
Liberation is mere sublation; not a production.

L2-12
कर्मोपासनेऽन्तःकरणशुद्ध्यर्थम्; ज्ञानमेव बाधहेतुः।
karmopāsane'ntaḥkaraṇa-śuddhyartham; jñānam eva bādha-hetuḥ.
Action and upāsanā are for the purification of the inner-instrument; knowledge alone is the cause of sublation.

Group 3: Epistemology and Liberation

L2-13
जीवन्मुक्तेः प्रारब्धप्रतीतिस्तिष्ठति; व्यवहारसत्यताबुद्धिर्न तिष्ठति।
jīvanmukteḥ prārabdha-pratītis tiṣṭhati; vyavahāra-satyatā-buddhir na tiṣṭhati.
For the liberated while living, the appearance of prārabdha remains; belief in the reality of transactional existence does not remain.

L2-14
अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न च त्रिकालाबाधितत्वं न च त्रिकालाभावत्वम्।
anirvacanīyatvaṃ na ca trikālābādhitatvaṃ na ca trikālābhāvatvam.
Indescribability is neither non-sublatability in all three times nor non-existence in all three times.

L2-15
त्रिपुटीप्रमाणानि व्यवहारे प्रमाणानि; ब्रह्माप्रमेयम्।
tripuṭī-pramāṇāni vyavahāre pramāṇāni; brahmāprameyam.
Triadic means of knowledge are means in transactional existence; Brahman is not an object of knowledge.

L2-16
उपदेशक्रमे आरोपः; सिद्धान्तेऽपवादः।
upadeśa-krame āropaḥ; siddhānte'pavādaḥ.
In the teaching-sequence there is superimposition; in the conclusion there is rescission.

L2-17
श्रुतिवाक्यमभेदज्ञानजनकं त्रिपुटीबाधे पर्यवस्यति।
śruti-vākyam abheda-jñāna-janakaṃ tripuṭī-bādhe paryavasyati.
The sentence of śruti produces knowledge of non-difference and culminates in the sublation of the triad.

L2-18
महावाक्येषूपाधित्यागेनैक्यबोधः।
mahāvākyeṣu upādhi-tyāgena aikya-bodhaḥ.
In the mahāvākyas, the knowledge of unity arises through the abandonment of adjuncts.

prostrations,
Vikram

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Hare Krishna Vikram prabhu ji.

A very well-formulated presentation. I enjoyed reading it. Such efforts are very welcome and bring a new enthusiasm in the reader. Keep it up!

I will share my views on each of the assertions.

L1-1
ॐइत्येतत्प्रत्यगात्मा ब्रह्म; अभेदः।

Fine. 

L1-2
अनाद्यध्यासोऽविद्यैव; अधिष्ठानज्ञानेन बाध्या।

adhyAsa is effect while avidyA is cause. So, when we say adhyAsa is avidyA-eva, we should keep in mind that they are not synonyms. Rather, being effect, it can be indicated by name of cause. For e.g. a jeweller in his stock register refers all gold-ornaments as gold, all silver-ornaments as silver and mentions their cost in one go. Being effect of gold, there is no prejudice caused by referring the ornaments as gold. Similarly, being a product of avidyA, the adhyAsa is referred by the word "avidyA". I am sure by the word एव in avidyaa-eva, you mean the same. If not, then please clarify.

L1-3
त्रिपुटीप्रत्ययात्मकव्यवहारो मिथ्या; बाध्यत्वात्।

Fine. Here question arises as to how do we know that this tripuTi-vyavhAra is bAdhya. Being hetu, it's presence in paksha should not be something which can be disputed. Hence, we can explain, for better conception, that this bAdhyatva is seen by one and all in deep-sleep. Hence, no one should question the bAdhyatva of paksha.

L2-1
परमार्थोऽभेदब्रह्म; व्यवहारस्त्रिपुटीप्रसिद्धः; तेन विरोधपरिहारः।

Fine. 

L2-2
अभेदवस्तु निर्विकारम्।

Fine. 

L2-3
ब्रह्म स्वतःसिद्धं स्वयम्प्रकाशम्।

I feel this is not a derivation. This should also be kept in axiom category. Because, if swayam-siddha, swayam-prakAsha is kept in derived category, then it is against the assertion itself. 

L2-4
कार्यं कारणादनन्यत्; नामरूपमात्रत्वात्।

Not very convincing. What is the vyApti -- यत्र यत्र नामरूपमात्रत्वम्, तत्र तत्र कारणात्-अनन्यत्वम्? Isn't it? What is the drishTAnta? In the drishTAnta, how are we proving kAraNaAt-ananyatvam? Through nAma-rUpa-mAtratvam?

The kAraNaAt-ananyatvam comes about from the very definition of kArya.

So, I would rather say it like this --

कार्यं कारणात् न भिन्नम्; कार्यत्वात्, घटवत्।

L2-5
व्यवहारे ब्रह्म विवर्तकारणम्; माया परिणामिनी।

Fine. 

L2-6
जीवजगदीश्वरसत्ता ब्रह्माश्रया परतन्त्रा।

Fine. 

L2-7
अविद्या भावरूपाप्यनिर्वचनीया; न द्रव्यम्; आश्रयवादो व्यवहारमात्रः।

Fine.

L2-8
ज्ञातृकर्तृभोक्तृभावादिभेदप्रतीतिः सर्वाविद्याकृता।

Fine. 

L2-9
अविद्यावरणविक्षेपशक्तिद्वयात्मिका; सुषुप्तावावरणप्राधान्यं, जाग्रत्स्वप्नयोर्विक्षेपात्मकोऽध्यासः।

In jAgrat and swapna also, there is AvaraNa. May be a "च" or "अपि" can be added for clarification.

L2-10
जीवोऽविद्योपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; ईश्वरो मायोपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; साक्षिचैतन्यमेकं सर्वत्र।

Fine.

L2-11
मोक्षो बाधमात्रः; नोत्पत्तिः।

Fine. 

L2-12
कर्मोपासनेऽन्तःकरणशुद्ध्यर्थम्; ज्ञानमेव बाधहेतुः।

Fine. 

L2-13
जीवन्मुक्तेः प्रारब्धप्रतीतिस्तिष्ठति; व्यवहारसत्यताबुद्धिर्न तिष्ठति।

Fine in SDV. Inadmissible in DSV.

L2-14
अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न च त्रिकालाबाधितत्वं न च त्रिकालाभावत्वम्।

This is not correct as per my understanding. TrikAla-abhAva is common to tuchchha and anirvachanIya. So, to say अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न त्रिकालाभावत्वम् - is not correct.

Correct formulation would be -- अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न त्रिकालाबाधितत्वं न च क्वचिदपि उपाधौ सत्त्वेन प्रतीत्यनर्हत्वम्।

L2-15
त्रिपुटीप्रमाणानि व्यवहारे प्रमाणानि; ब्रह्माप्रमेयम्।

Fine.

L2-16
उपदेशक्रमे आरोपः; सिद्धान्तेऽपवादः।

Fine.

L2-17
श्रुतिवाक्यमभेदज्ञानजनकं त्रिपुटीबाधे पर्यवस्यति।

Fine. 

L2-18
महावाक्येषूपाधित्यागेनैक्यबोधः।

This is fine in mukhya-sAmAnAdhikaraNya. In bAdha-sAmAnAdhikaraNya, there is swarUpa-negation and not merely upAdhi-negation. 

So, take for e.g. Tat tvam asi. In mukhya-sAmAnAdhikaraNya, as you said, the aikya is arrived at by rejecting the upAdhi from tat and tvam. But in bAdha-sAmAnAdhikaraNya, tvam is negated in its totality and not merely upAdhi. 

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.

[Vikram Jagannathan]

Namaskaram Sudhanshu ji,

Many thanks for the thorough review and guidance. I have incorporated the feedback. Updated statements below.

---

L1-2: Yes, precisely. The use of 'eva' indicates that the effect, 'adhyasa,' is referred to by the word 'avidya,' which is its cause. The intended point is that the operation of avidya is understood primarily in the form of adhyasa. This stands in contrast to several other Vedanta schools, where avidya is more closely identified with Karma (residual impressions, not action). That distinction alone significantly changes the nature of sadhana. Adhyasa-avidya is removed through right knowledge alone (jnana eva), whereas Karma-avidya is exhausted through action guided by right knowledge, that is, through some form of jnana-karma-samucchaya.

L1-3
त्रिपुटीप्रत्ययात्मकव्यवहारो मिथ्या; अखण्डाकारज्ञानेन बाध्यः
tripuṭī-pratyayātmaka-vyavahāro mithyā; akhaṇḍākāra-jñānena bādhyaḥ.
Transactional existence, being of the nature of triadic cognition, is mithyā; it is sublated by impartite cognition.

---

L1 statements are among the most important, yet also among the most overlooked, misunderstood, and misinterpreted aspects of Advaita Siddhanta. L1-1 clarifies that Atman-Brahman is abheda, free from distinction in the sajatiya, vijatiya, and svagata senses. Most other schools retain some form of bheda. L1-2 clarifies the nature and operation of avidya, and thereby also clarifies the nature of moksha-sadhana, as explained above. L1-3 establishes that the scope of triputi-vyavahara is mithya and badhya; by contrast, most other schools treat vyavahara as a form of paramarthika satya, and therefore misinterpret suddha-chaitanya through the lens of triputi-anubhava. These three terms - abheda, adhyasa, and mithya - firmly establish Advaita Siddhanta.

---

L2-3: Agreed, that is an axiomatic statement rather than a derivation / explanation. I included it in L2 not because it is perhaps a derivative, but because it is generally accepted within Vedanta schools, and typically contrasts only with other darshanas. Updated to explain Brahman as Consciousness.

ब्रह्म चैतन्यम्; स्वतःसिद्धं स्वयम्प्रकाशम्।
brahma caitanyam; svataḥ-siddhaṃ svayaṃprakāśam.
Brahman is consciousness; self-established and self-luminous.

L2-4: Incorporated feedback, and retained 'ananyat' in alignment with BS-2.1.14

कार्यं कारणादनन्यत्; नामरूपविकारमात्रम्।
kāryaṃ kāraṇād ananyat; nāma-rūpa-vikāra-mātram.
The effect is non-other than the cause; it is merely a change in name and form.

L2-9
अविद्यावरणविक्षेपशक्तिद्वयात्मिका; सुषुप्तावावरणप्राधान्यं, जाग्रत्स्वप्नयोरावरणविक्षेपात्मकोऽध्यासः।
avidyā-āvaraṇa-vikṣepa-śakti-dvayātmikā; suṣuptau āvaraṇa-prādhānyaṃ, jāgrat-svapnayor-āvaraṇa-vikṣepātmako'dhyāsaḥ.
Avidyā consists of the dual powers of concealment and projection; in deep sleep concealment is predominant, while in waking and dream superimposition is of the nature of concealment and projection.

L2-13: Agreed, that is inadmissible in DSV. The intended scope of this statement is within SDV which attracts the most criticism from other schools.

L2-14: Yes, this is a mistake and I overlooked this subtle but pertinent nuance. Thank you for catching this. We know well that it is sad-asad-vilakshanam; I wanted to make it an explicit neither... nor... statement referencing time, with an implicit definition of sat and asat. Update the statement.

अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न च त्रिकालाबाधितत्वं न चाप्रतीयमानत्रिकालाभावत्वम्
anirvacanīyatvaṃ na ca trikālābādhitatvaṃ na ca-apratīyamāna-trikālābhāvatvam
Indescribability is neither non-sublatability in all three times nor non-manifest non-existence in all three times.

L2-18: Yes, the intent is to explain Advaita Siddhanta through upadhi-negation, contrasting with most other Vedanta schools that retain upadhi-bheda in the maha-vakya interpretation. I will also need to read and understand more about svarupa-negation in badha-samanadhikaranyam.

---

retaining the rest as-is.

With full gratitude, prostrations

Vikram

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[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Namaste Vikram ji.

I am in agreement with the write-up.

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.

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[Vikram Jagannathan]

Dhanyosmi, Sudhanshu ji!

I am re-listing the updated formulations for other esteemed members' review & opinion.

Level 1
Foundation of Advaita Siddhānta

L1-1
ॐइत्येतत्प्रत्यगात्मा ब्रह्म; अभेदः।

oṃ ity-etat-pratyagātmā brahma; abhedaḥ.

Oṃ, this inner Self is Brahman; non-difference.

L1-2
अनाद्यध्यासोऽविद्यैव; अधिष्ठानज्ञानेन बाध्या।

anādy-adhyāso’vidyaiva; adhiṣṭhāna-jñānena bādhyā.

Beginningless superimposition is avidyā itself; it is sublated by knowledge of the substratum.

L1-3
त्रिपुटीप्रत्ययात्मकव्यवहारो मिथ्या; अखण्डाकारज्ञानेन बाध्यः।
tripuṭī-pratyayātmaka-vyavahāro mithyā; akhaṇḍākāra-jñānena bādhyaḥ.
Transactional existence, being of the nature of triadic cognition, is mithyā; it is sublated by impartite cognition.

Level 2
Exposition of Advaita Siddhānta

L2-1
परमार्थोऽभेदब्रह्म; व्यवहारस्त्रिपुटीप्रसिद्धः; तेन विरोधपरिहारः।

paramārtho'bheda-brahma; vyavahāras-tripuṭī-prasiddhaḥ; tena virodha-parihāraḥ.
The ultimate is non-different Brahman; transaction is established through the triad; thereby contradiction is resolved.

L2-2
अभेदवस्तु निर्विकारम्।

abheda-vastu nirvikāram.
The non-difference-entity is changeless.

L2-3

ब्रह्म चैतन्यम्; स्वतःसिद्धं स्वयम्प्रकाशम्।

brahma caitanyam; svataḥ-siddhaṃ svayaṃ-prakāśam.

Brahman is consciousness; self-established and self-luminous.

L2-4

कार्यं कारणादनन्यत्; नामरूपविकारमात्रम्।

kāryaṃ kāraṇād-ananyat; nāma-rūpa-vikāra-mātram.
The effect is non-other than the cause; it is merely a modification in name-form.

L2-5
व्यवहारे ब्रह्म विवर्तकारणम्; माया परिणामिनी।

vyavahāre brahma vivarta-kāraṇam; māyā pariṇāminī.
In Transactional existence, Brahman is the transfiguration-cause; māyā is what undergoes transformation.

L2-6
जीवजगदीश्वरसत्ता ब्रह्माश्रया परतन्त्रा।

jīva-jagad-īśvara-sattā brahmāśrayā paratantrā.
The existential reality of jīva, world, and Īśvara is dependent, resting on Brahman.

L2-7
अविद्या भावरूपाप्यनिर्वचनीया; न द्रव्यम्; आश्रयवादो व्यवहारमात्रः।

avidyā bhāva-rūpa-apy anirvacanīyā; na dravyam; āśraya-vādo vyavahāra-mātraḥ.
Avidyā, though of positive appearance, is indescribable; it is not a substance; discussion about its locus is merely transactional.

L2-8
ज्ञातृकर्तृभोक्तृभावादिभेदप्रतीतिः सर्वाविद्याकृता।

jñātṛ-kartṛ-bhoktṛ-bhāvādi-bheda-pratītiḥ sarvā-avidyā-kṛtā.

All appearance of difference, inclusive of the states of being a knower, doer, and enjoyer, etc., is caused by avidyā.

L2-9
अविद्यावरणविक्षेपशक्तिद्वयात्मिका; सुषुप्तावावरणप्राधान्यं, जाग्रत्स्वप्नयोरावरणविक्षेपात्मकोऽध्यासः।

avidyā-āvaraṇa-vikṣepa-śakti-dvayātmikā; suṣuptau-āvaraṇa-prādhānyaṃ, jāgrat-svapnayor-āvaraṇa-vikṣepātmako'dhyāsaḥ.

Avidyā consists of the dual powers of concealment and projection; in deep sleep concealment is predominant, while in waking and dream superimposition is of the nature of concealment and projection.

L2-10
जीवोऽविद्योपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; ईश्वरो मायोपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; साक्षिचैतन्यमेकं सर्वत्र।

jīvo'vidyopādhi-viśiṣṭa-brahma; īśvaro māyopādhi-viśiṣṭa-brahma; sākṣi-caitanyam ekaṃ sarvatra.
The jīva is Brahman qualified by the adjunct of avidyā; Īśvara is Brahman qualified by the adjunct of māyā; witness-consciousness is one everywhere.

L2-11
मोक्षो बाधमात्रः; नोत्पत्तिः।

mokṣo bādha-mātraḥ; notpattiḥ.
Liberation is mere sublation; not a production.

L2-12
कर्मोपासनेऽन्तःकरणशुद्ध्यर्थम्; ज्ञानमेव बाधहेतुः।

karmopāsane'ntaḥkaraṇa-śuddhyartham; jñānam-eva bādha-hetuḥ.

Action and upāsanā are for the purification of the inner-instrument; knowledge alone is the cause of sublation.

L2-13
जीवन्मुक्तेः प्रारब्धप्रतीतिस्तिष्ठति; व्यवहारसत्यताबुद्धिर्न तिष्ठति।

jīvanmukteḥ prārabdha-pratītis-tiṣṭhati; vyavahāra-satyatā-buddhir-na tiṣṭhati.

For the liberated while living, the appearance of prārabdha remains; belief in the reality of transactional existence does not remain.

L2-14

अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न च त्रिकालाबाधितत्वं न चाप्रतीयमानत्रिकालाभावत्वम्।

anirvacanīyatvaṃ na ca trikāla-abādhitatvaṃ na ca-apratīyamāna-trikāla-abhāvatvam.

Indescribability is neither non-sublatability in all three times nor non-manifest non-existence in all three times.

L2-15
त्रिपुटीप्रमाणानि व्यवहारे प्रमाणानि; ब्रह्माप्रमेयम्।

tripuṭī-pramāṇāni vyavahāre pramāṇāni; brahmāprameyam.
Triadic means of knowledge are means in transactional existence; Brahman is not an object of knowledge.

L2-16
उपदेशक्रमे आरोपः; सिद्धान्तेऽपवादः।

upadeśa-krame āropaḥ; siddhānte'pavādaḥ.
In the teaching-sequence there is superimposition; in the conclusion there is rescission.

L2-17
श्रुतिवाक्यमभेदज्ञानजनकं त्रिपुटीबाधे पर्यवस्यति।

śruti-vākyam-abheda-jñāna-janakaṃ tripuṭī-bādhe paryavasyati.

The sentence of śruti produces knowledge of non-difference and culminates in the sublation of the triad.

L2-18
महावाक्येषूपाधित्यागेनैक्यबोधः।

mahāvākyeṣu-upādhi-tyāgena-aikya-bodhaḥ.

In the mahāvākyas, the knowledge of unity arises through the abandonment of adjuncts.

prostrations,

Vikram

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[Vikram Jagannathan]

Dhanyosmi, Sudhanshu ji!

I am re-listing the updated formulations for other esteemed members' review & opinion.

Level 1
Foundation of Advaita Siddhānta

L1-1
ॐइत्येतत्प्रत्यगात्मा ब्रह्म; अभेदः।

oṃ ity-etat-pratyagātmā brahma; abhedaḥ.

Oṃ, this inner Self is Brahman; non-difference.

L1-2
अनाद्यध्यासोऽविद्यैव; अधिष्ठानज्ञानेन बाध्या।

anādy-adhyāso’vidyaiva; adhiṣṭhāna-jñānena bādhyā.

Beginningless superimposition is avidyā itself; it is sublated by knowledge of the substratum.

L1-3
त्रिपुटीप्रत्ययात्मकव्यवहारो मिथ्या; अखण्डाकारज्ञानेन बाध्यः।
tripuṭī-pratyayātmaka-vyavahāro mithyā; akhaṇḍākāra-jñānena bādhyaḥ.
Transactional existence, being of the nature of triadic cognition, is mithyā; it is sublated by impartite cognition.

Level 2
Exposition of Advaita Siddhānta

L2-1
परमार्थोऽभेदब्रह्म; व्यवहारस्त्रिपुटीप्रसिद्धः; तेन विरोधपरिहारः।

paramārtho'bheda-brahma; vyavahāras-tripuṭī-prasiddhaḥ; tena virodha-parihāraḥ.
The ultimate is non-different Brahman; transaction is established through the triad; thereby contradiction is resolved.

L2-2
अभेदवस्तु निर्विकारम्।

abheda-vastu nirvikāram.
The non-difference-entity is changeless.

L2-3

ब्रह्म चैतन्यम्; स्वतःसिद्धं स्वयम्प्रकाशम्।

brahma caitanyam; svataḥ-siddhaṃ svayaṃ-prakāśam.

Brahman is consciousness; self-established and self-luminous.

L2-4

कार्यं कारणादनन्यत्; नामरूपविकारमात्रम्।

kāryaṃ kāraṇād-ananyat; nāma-rūpa-vikāra-mātram.
The effect is non-other than the cause; it is merely a modification in name-form.

L2-5
व्यवहारे ब्रह्म विवर्तकारणम्; माया परिणामिनी।

vyavahāre brahma vivarta-kāraṇam; māyā pariṇāminī.
In Transactional existence, Brahman is the transfiguration-cause; māyā is what undergoes transformation.

L2-6
जीवजगदीश्वरसत्ता ब्रह्माश्रया परतन्त्रा।

jīva-jagad-īśvara-sattā brahmāśrayā paratantrā.
The existential reality of jīva, world, and Īśvara is dependent, resting on Brahman.

L2-7
अविद्या भावरूपाप्यनिर्वचनीया; न द्रव्यम्; आश्रयवादो व्यवहारमात्रः।

avidyā bhāva-rūpa-apy anirvacanīyā; na dravyam; āśraya-vādo vyavahāra-mātraḥ.
Avidyā, though of positive appearance, is indescribable; it is not a substance; discussion about its locus is merely transactional.

L2-8
ज्ञातृकर्तृभोक्तृभावादिभेदप्रतीतिः सर्वाविद्याकृता।

jñātṛ-kartṛ-bhoktṛ-bhāvādi-bheda-pratītiḥ sarvā-avidyā-kṛtā.

All appearance of difference, inclusive of the states of being a knower, doer, and enjoyer, etc., is caused by avidyā.

L2-9
अविद्यावरणविक्षेपशक्तिद्वयात्मिका; सुषुप्तावावरणप्राधान्यं, जाग्रत्स्वप्नयोरावरणविक्षेपात्मकोऽध्यासः।

avidyā-āvaraṇa-vikṣepa-śakti-dvayātmikā; suṣuptau-āvaraṇa-prādhānyaṃ, jāgrat-svapnayor-āvaraṇa-vikṣepātmako'dhyāsaḥ.

Avidyā consists of the dual powers of concealment and projection; in deep sleep concealment is predominant, while in waking and dream superimposition is of the nature of concealment and projection.

L2-10
जीवोऽविद्योपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; ईश्वरो मायोपाधिविशिष्टब्रह्म; साक्षिचैतन्यमेकं सर्वत्र।

jīvo'vidyopādhi-viśiṣṭa-brahma; īśvaro māyopādhi-viśiṣṭa-brahma; sākṣi-caitanyam ekaṃ sarvatra.
The jīva is Brahman qualified by the adjunct of avidyā; Īśvara is Brahman qualified by the adjunct of māyā; witness-consciousness is one everywhere.

L2-11
मोक्षो बाधमात्रः; नोत्पत्तिः।

mokṣo bādha-mātraḥ; notpattiḥ.
Liberation is mere sublation; not a production.

L2-12
कर्मोपासनेऽन्तःकरणशुद्ध्यर्थम्; ज्ञानमेव बाधहेतुः।

karmopāsane'ntaḥkaraṇa-śuddhyartham; jñānam-eva bādha-hetuḥ.

Action and upāsanā are for the purification of the inner-instrument; knowledge alone is the cause of sublation.

L2-13
जीवन्मुक्तेः प्रारब्धप्रतीतिस्तिष्ठति; व्यवहारसत्यताबुद्धिर्न तिष्ठति।

jīvanmukteḥ prārabdha-pratītis-tiṣṭhati; vyavahāra-satyatā-buddhir-na tiṣṭhati.

For the liberated while living, the appearance of prārabdha remains; belief in the reality of transactional existence does not remain.

L2-14

अनिर्वचनीयत्वं न च त्रिकालाबाधितत्वं न चाप्रतीयमानत्रिकालाभावत्वम्।

anirvacanīyatvaṃ na ca trikāla-abādhitatvaṃ na ca-apratīyamāna-trikāla-abhāvatvam.

Indescribability is neither non-sublatability in all three times nor non-manifest non-existence in all three times.

L2-15
त्रिपुटीप्रमाणानि व्यवहारे प्रमाणानि; ब्रह्माप्रमेयम्।

tripuṭī-pramāṇāni vyavahāre pramāṇāni; brahmāprameyam.
Triadic means of knowledge are means in transactional existence; Brahman is not an object of knowledge.

L2-16
उपदेशक्रमे आरोपः; सिद्धान्तेऽपवादः।

upadeśa-krame āropaḥ; siddhānte'pavādaḥ.
In the teaching-sequence there is superimposition; in the conclusion there is rescission.

L2-17
श्रुतिवाक्यमभेदज्ञानजनकं त्रिपुटीबाधे पर्यवस्यति।

śruti-vākyam-abheda-jñāna-janakaṃ tripuṭī-bādhe paryavasyati.

The sentence of śruti produces knowledge of non-difference and culminates in the sublation of the triad.

L2-18
महावाक्येषूपाधित्यागेनैक्यबोधः।

mahāvākyeṣu-upādhi-tyāgena-aikya-bodhaḥ.

In the mahāvākyas, the knowledge of unity arises through the abandonment of adjuncts.

prostrations,

Vikram

[H S Chandramouli]

Namaste Vikram Ji and Sudhanshu Ji,

Reg  //  L1-2

अनाद्यध्यासोऽविद्यैव; अधिष्ठानज्ञानेन बाध्या।

adhyAsa is effect while avidyA is cause. So, when we say adhyAsa is avidyA-eva, we should keep in mind that they are not synonyms. Rather, being effect, it can be indicated by name of cause. For e.g. a jeweller in his stock register refers all gold-ornaments as gold, all silver-ornaments as silver and mentions their cost in one go. Being effect of gold, there is no prejudice caused by referring the ornaments as gold. Similarly, being a product of avidyA, the adhyAsa is referred by the word "avidyA". I am sure by the word एव in avidyaa-eva, you mean the same. If not, then please clarify //,

Which one is anAdi ; adhyAsa or avidyA ? cause or effect ? Or can both be anAdi?. 

In gold-ornaments illustration, both gold and ornament are sAdi ( have a beginning ).

Regards

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[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Namaste Chandramouli ji.

Which one is anAdi ; adhyAsa or avidyA ? cause or effect ? Or can both be anAdi?. 

In gold-ornaments illustration, both gold and ornament are sAdi ( have a beginning ).

There are two types of adhyAsa. One, anAdi-adhyAsa and second sAdi-adhyAsa.

adhyAsa of ajnAna in AtmA is referred as ajnAna-adhyAsa. This is anAdi.

Other adhyAsAs are sAdi-adhyAsa. They are also referred to as कादाचित्क-अध्यास. aham-adhyAsa is first such sAdi-adhyAsa.

Reference from VivaraNa:

निष्कलङ्कचैतन्यैकताने निरंशानन्दैकरसे अज्ञानादिसाक्षिणि अनादिसिद्धेऽपि अज्ञानाध्यासे, कादाचित्कमध्यासमाश्रित्य आह--अहमिति तावत् प्रथमोऽध्यासः इति।।

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.

[H S Chandramouli]

Namaste Sudhanshu Ji,

Should not the vivaraNa quote by you be understood as first sdyAsa in terms of understanding, and not in terms of time. In words should not the Atma-anAtma adhyAsa, termed naisargika in the adhyAsa bhAshya be understood as anAdi, and not sAdi as stated by you.

Regards

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[H S Chandramouli]

A correction.

Please read ** sdyAsa ** as **adhyAsa **.

Regret typo.

Regards

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

What is the meaning of कादाचित्क Chandramouli ji? It refers to kArya-adhyAsa.

Also, please check VivaraNa:

अध्यास-प्रवाह-जन्मना उपादान-कारण-रूपेण नैसर्गिकत्वम् (अनादित्वम्)

कार्य-व्यक्ति-रूपेण नैमित्तिकत्वम् (सादित्वम्)

Please also check Prabodha-Parishodhini commentary on Panchapadika which clearly uses the term anAditva and sAditva.

So, it is clear that description of sAdi-adhyAsa and anAdi-adhyAsa is being made in terms of time. Also, kArya-vyakti is sAdi, having a beginning in terms of time.

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.

[H S Chandramouli]

Namaste Sudhanshu Ji,

Certainly I am not denying sAdi adhyAsa and anAdi adhyAsa. But all adhyAsa should not be classified as effect, and hence *follows* cause, in terms of time. There is anAdyadhyAsa which is not an *effect* meaning that it *follows* a cause in terms of time.

Aham-adhyAsa basically is jIva. And jIva is anAdi.

This is how I have framed my understanding of BhAshya. As for the references you have cited, I certainly believe they should be understood in the particular context in which they are made. I am unable to offer any comments at this stage as my knowledge of Sanskrit is limited, and I may not be able to understand those portions in a reasonable time. If and when I am in a position to do so, I will refer back.

Regards

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[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Namaste Chandramouli ji.

Certainly I am not denying sAdi adhyAsa and anAdi adhyAsa. But all adhyAsa should not be classified as effect, and hence *follows* cause, in terms of time. There is anAdyadhyAsa which is not an *effect* meaning that it *follows* a cause in terms of time.

There are two types of adhyAsa. One, kAraNa-adhyAsa and second kArya-adhyAsa. When I say that adhyAsa is kArya, I meant kArya-adhyAsa only. 

The adhyAsa of ajnAna in AtmA is kAraNa-adhyAsa. It is anAdi and is hence not an effect. Hope it is clear.

Aham-adhyAsa basically is jIva. And jIva is anAdi.

This is wrong. aham-adhyAsa is not anAdi. It is absent in sushupti and is the first kArya-adhyAsa in waking and dream. It is sAdi.

Further, I am not sure how you equated jIva with aham-adhyAsa. JIva is pratibimba of chaitanya in avidyA. 

This is how I have framed my understanding of BhAshya. As for the references you have cited, I certainly believe they should be understood in the particular context in which they are made. I am unable to offer any comments at this stage as my knowledge of Sanskrit is limited, and I may not be able to understand those portions in a reasonable time. If and when I am in a position to do so, I will refer back.

Ok.

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.

[H S Chandramouli]

Namaste Sudhanshu Ji,

The following response may not be in exact sequential order.

Reg  // This is wrong. aham-adhyAsa is not anAdi. It is absent in sushupti and is the first kArya-adhyAsa in waking and dream. It is sAdi //,

Following is from VivaraNa Prameya Samgraha

//  तर्ह्यहङ्कारः किमुपादानः ? किंनिमित्तः ? किंस्वरूपः ? किम्प्रमाणकः ? किंकार्यः ? किमिति सुषुप्तौ नास्तीति चेत्, उच्यते – अहङ्कारस्याऽनाद्यनिर्वचनीयाऽविद्या उपादानम्, अविद्यायाः परमेश्वराधिष्ठितत्वं निमित्तम्, ज्ञानशक्तिक्रियाशक्तिद्वयं स्वरूपम्, कूटस्थचैतन्यं प्रमाणम्, कर्तृत्वभोक्तृत्वादिकं च कार्यम् । //

//  tarhyaha~NkAraH kimupAdAnaH ? kiMnimittaH ? kiMsvarUpaH ? kimpramANakaH ? kiMkAryaH ? kimiti suShuptau nAstIti chet, uchyate – aha~NkArasyA.anAdyanirvachanIyA.avidyA upAdAnam, avidyAyAH parameshvarAdhiShThitatvaM nimittam, j~nAnashaktikriyAshaktidvayaM svarUpam, kUTasthachaitanyaM pramANam, kartRRitvabhoktRRitvAdikaM cha kAryam |//

Highlighting is mine. This may be read in conjunction with the following citation from SiddhAnta Bindu , Shloka 1. This further clarifies what the previous quotes above convey.

//  तस्मात्पूर्वपूर्वाध्यासमूल एवायमुत्तरोत्तरोहङ्काराध्यासः बीजांकुरवदनादिः । अविद्याध्यासच एक एवानादिः । //  tasmAtpUrvapUrvAdhyAsamUla evAyamuttarottaroha~NkArAdhyAsaH bIjAMkuravadanAdiH | avidyAdhyAsacha eka evAnAdiH  //.

The same meaning is conveyed by the citation from Prabodha-Parishodhini commentary on Panchapadika given by you.

These confirm my understanding. They also address some other points made by you. For the benefit of readers not familiar with Sanskrit, I request you to give the exact translations for the portion cited by me. While I can give the summary meaning to the extant I understand, I may not be able to give exact translation.

I am not sure what Vikram Ji wanted to convey by L1-2  // अनाद्यध्यासोऽविद्यैव; अधिष्ठानज्ञानेन बाध्या। //. The quote from Siddhanta Bindu I have cited above ** अविद्याध्यासच एक एवानादिः । ** (avidyAdhyAsacha eka evAnAdiH ) is practically the same.

Regards

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[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Namaste Chandramouli ji.

//These confirm my understanding. They also address some other points made by you. For the benefit of readers not familiar with Sanskrit, I request you to give the exact translations for the portion cited by me. While I can give the summary meaning to the extant I understand, I may not be able to give exact translation.//

I will summarise your points. Please confirm whether they have been correctly reproduced:

1. sAdi-adhyAsa and anAdi-adhyAsa division is accepted.
2. All adhyAsa are not effect.
3. There is "an" anAdi-adhyAsa, which is not effect.
4. aham-adhyAsa is jIva.
5. jIva is anAdi.
6. aham-adhyAsa is spoken by VivaraNa as "first" in terms of understanding, and not in terms of time.
7. Atma-anAtma adhyAsa, termed naisargika in the adhyAsa bhAshya be understood as anAdi, and not sAdi.

Translations of cited portions:

 

//  तर्ह्यहङ्कारः किमुपादानः ? किंनिमित्तः ? किंस्वरूपः ? किम्प्रमाणकः ? किंकार्यः ? किमिति सुषुप्तौ नास्तीति चेत्, उच्यते – अहङ्कारस्याऽनाद्यनिर्वचनीयाऽविद्या उपादानम्, अविद्यायाः परमेश्वराधिष्ठितत्वं निमित्तम्, ज्ञानशक्तिक्रियाशक्तिद्वयं स्वरूपम्, कूटस्थचैतन्यं प्रमाणम्, कर्तृत्वभोक्तृत्वादिकं च कार्यम् । //

Then, what is the material cause of ahamkAra? What is the nimitta-kAraNa of ahamkAra? What is the swarUpa of ahamkAra? What is the pramANa for ahamkAra? What are the effects of ahamkAra? Whether it exists in deep sleep or not?

In response to these, it is said -

1. Beginningless anirvachanIya-avidyA is the material cause of ahamkAra. 

2. The nimitta-kAraNa of ahamkAra is the locus-hood of avidyA in Parameshwara.

3. The swarUpa of ahamkAra is the conglomerate of kriyA-shakti and jnAna-shakti.

4. The pramANa for ahamkAra is immutable chaitanya.

5. The effects of ahamkAra are kartritva, bhOktritva etc.   

Highlighting is mine. This may be read in conjunction with the following citation from SiddhAnta Bindu , Shloka 1. This further clarifies what the previous quotes above convey.

//  तस्मात्पूर्वपूर्वाध्यासमूल एवायमुत्तरोत्तरोहङ्काराध्यासः बीजांकुरवदनादिः । अविद्याध्यासच एक एवानादिः । //  tasmAtpUrvapUrvAdhyAsamUla evAyamuttarottaroha~NkArAdhyAsaH bIjAMkuravadanAdiH | avidyAdhyAsacha eka evAnAdiH  //.

The same meaning is conveyed by the citation from Prabodha-Parishodhini commentary on Panchapadika given by you.

Therefore, subsequent ahamkAra-adhyAsa is rooted in prior-adhyAsa and is beginningless like that in the case of seed and seedling. And only avidyA-adhyAsa alone is beginningless. 

Please state your concurrence to my summarization of your view and the translations. I will offer my comments subsequent thereto.

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.