Date
Abhayananda states, "The actual date of authorship of the ''Avadhut Gita'' is unknown, but, judging by its terminology and style, it appears to have been written, not in the millennia prior to the Current Era, as legend would have it, but sometime around the 9th or 10th centuries of our Current Era. This does not, of course, preclude the possibility of an oral transmission to that point in time."Name
The title of the text, ''Avadhuta'' means "liberated soul", while ''Gita'' means song. The text describes the nature and the state of a person who is spiritually free and liberated. The text is also known as ''Avadhuta Grantha'', ''Dattatreya Gita'', ''Datta Gita Yoga Shastra'' and ''Vedanta Sara''.Contents
The ''Avadhuta Gita'' is structured in 8 chapters, wherein Dattatreya—the symbol of the highest yogi and monastic life—describes as the divine master and example, the journey of self-realization, thereafter the nature and state of a person who lives in his soul's truth. Dattatreya asserts in the text, that the self-realized person is "by nature, the formless, all pervasive Self". He is in the state of ''sama-rasya'' or ''samata'', which is where there are no differences between anything or anyone, neither one own's body or another person's, neither class nor gender, neither human being nor other living beings, between the abstract and the empirical universe, all is one interconnected reality, it is the unification of the One and the Beyond. His universe, all of the universe, is within his Atman (soul). "There is never any you and I", states verse 6.22. The chapters discuss 'Translation
*The Brahmavadin journal published an English translation of the separate chapters of the ''Avadhuta Gita'' in Volumes 9 through 11, in early 20th century. *The brief introduction with attendant English translation of the ''Avadhuta Gita'' by Ashokananda (1893–1969) is reproduced in Katz. * Alexandra David-Néel, translated the text from Sanskrit into French, title ''Avadhuta Gîtâ'', 1958.Reception
The text has been influential on the Nath tradition of Hinduism, states Rigopoulos, and its teachings form a foundation of their ''Sama-rasya'' doctrine: Passages of the text are found in numerous Hindu texts, such as in the widely translated Bhagavata Purana, which is the most popular Purana, where verses 8.2 to 8.4 of Avadhuta Gita appear as verses 11.11.29-11.11.31 as one example. The text's ''nirguni'' Brahman ideas influenced the poetry of Kabir, states Rigopoulos. Vivekananda (1863–1902) held the ''Avadhuta Gita'' in esteem and he translated aspects of it in the following talk he gave on July 28, 1895, transcribed by his disciple Waldo:"He who has filled the universe, He who is Self in self, how shall I salute Him!" To know the Atman as my nature is both knowledge and realisation. "I am He, there is not the least doubt of it." "No thought, no word, no deed, creates a bondage for me. I am beyond the senses, I am knowledge and bliss." There is neither existence nor non-existence, all is Atman. Shake off all ideas of relativity; shake off all superstitions; let caste and birth and Devas and all else vanish. Why talk of being and becoming? Give up talking of dualism and Advaitism! When were you two, that you talk of two or one? The universe is this Holy One and He alone. Talk not of Yoga to make you pure; you are pure by your very nature. None can teach you.Vivekananda, Swami (n.d.). ''The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Volume Seven.'' Source: s:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 7/Inspired Talks/Sunday, July 28 (accessed: Monday February 15, 2010
See also
* Bhagawad Gita * Ashtavakra Gita * Bhagavata Purana * The Ganesha Gita * * Self-consciousness (Vedanta) * Uddhava Gita *References
Bibliography
* * * * * * *External links
;Sanskrit editions and English translations