Introduction to Sankara\'s Advaitism

Contents: Author\'s foreword. Preface. 1. Adi Sankaracarya. 2. Sankara\'s life, work and achievements. 3. Ferment in early Hinduism and its lack of unitary. 4. Main elements of Sankara\'s metaphysics. 5. The doctrine of Mayavada: its genesis and significance. 6. Brahman and personal God: how does Advaitism reconcile them? 7. Evolution of Advaitism from Gaudapada to Sankara. 8. Sankara: the supreme Karmayogi. 9. From Gita to Advaitism: a continuum. 10. God of Sankara: personal or impersonal. 11. From Upanisads to Advaitism: continuum or transition. 12. The Sankara Bhashyam: Sankara\'s crowning glory. 13. Sankara - the Great Synthesizer.

"This book aims to give an exposition of basic tenets of Advaitism as propounded by Sankara in a succinct yet comprehensive manner. It is often claimed that Sankara looked upon the world as a "Maya" or illusion and rejected Karmayoga. It has been clearly brought out how these widespread beliefs are unfounded. Separate chapters have been earmarked to exposition of Sankara\'s major works like Vivekchoodamani and his seminal commentaries on the Gita, the Upanisads and the Brahma Sutras.

This book highlights the tremendous contribution made by Sankara to the evolution of Hindu metaphysics. It is hoped that through this publication even a lay reader will be able to appreciate why Advaitism has been aptly described as the acme of Indian philosophy." (jacket)