Naishkarmyasiddhi of Shri Sureshvaracharya

S. S. Raghavachar

Advaita Ashrama (A Publication House of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math)

About this ebook

Naishkarmyasiddhi is a famous Advaita classic of Shri Sureshvaracharya, an immediate disciple of Adi Shankaracharya, and is said to be a manual embodying the quintessence of Vedanta. The work is held in such high esteem in the tradition of Advaita that it is quoted not only by every important Advaita writer but also by the critics of the Advaita philosophy. The author himself says that the work ‘purports to set forth the epitome of the essence of the entire Vedanta’.

This book published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, contains the original Sanskrit text, its English translation, and exhaustive notes.

About the author

Prof. S. S. Raghavachar was born in 1911 in Melkote, in the family of the fourth Sthanikam (Yatirajadasa), tracing his lineage to direct disciples of Sri Ramanujacharya in 10/11th century CE. After studies in the local veda pathashala, he went to Mysore University, completing in 1938 his M.A. in Philosophy with first rank and gold medals. He was already renowned as a debater, and had been elected the Vice- President of the University Students’ Union. In 1939, he presented a paper on the Buddha in Mysore Maharaja’s College Philosophical Association. This paper attracted appreciation from well-known Buddhist scholars like Dr. Kalidas Nag of Calcutta, and was published in a reputed journal. This paper has been quoted by Dr.B.R. Ambedkar in his book, The Buddha and his Dhamma.

Prof. Raghavachar held several teaching positions in Mysore University, becoming, in 1966, the Head of the Department of Post-graduate Studies and Research in Philosophy at Manasa Gangotri, Mysore. He held this position for many years. His several books on Vedānta and Indian Philosophy, covering major works of different schools, are hailed as reference books. His books on Viśiṣṭādvaita and Dvaita won three Golden Jubilee Awards of Mysore University in 1970’s. Even afterwards, he continued to be a much sought-after speaker and research guide in several universities (Madras, Annamalai, Venkateshwara, Benares, Patiala, etc.) The present work, a translation of Naiṣkarmyasiddhi by Śrī Sureśvarācārya had been much appreciated by Advaita scholars worldwide.

Prof. Raghavachar owed much to the Ramakrishna Order from his school days. Almost all his books have been published by Ramakrishna Math and many of his books have gone into reprints.

Prof. S. S. Raghavachar passed away in 1993.