Online International Textual Workshop on Dasasloki

International School of Sree Sankaracharya Studies (ISSS) established by the Govt. of Kerala in 2014, to engage the philosophy of Acharya Sankara and allied streams of thought, plans to organize an Online International Textual Workshop on The Dasasloki, a work on Advaita Vedanta composed by Sree Sankara from 21^st December 2021. Interested Scholars / Students / Teachers are invited to register free via Google form, before 15^th December 2021.

Dr. K. Srinivasan, Former Principal, RKM Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai would be the resource person. The proposed dates of the online classes are 21^st, 24^th, 27^th, 28th & 31^st December 2021 from 4pm - 6 pm IST.

The Dasasloki, a noteworthy prakarana text by Sree Sankara is an exposition of the teachings of Advaita in ten beautiful verses. The story behind the composition of The Dasasloki runs thus: After seeking permission from his mother for sanyasa, little Sankara travelled towards north in search of a real preceptor. On the banks of the river Narmada he saw Govindacarya sitting in deep meditation. Sankara patiently waited for the saint to wake up from meditation, and spend time serving the Acarya. When the Saint woke up, he was pleased with the services of Sankara and asked him, 'Who are you?’ In response to this query Sankara uttered ten profound verses, explicating the real nature of Self. Realizing the caliber of Sankara in grasping the spiritual wisdom Govinda Bhagavatpada accepted him as his disciple.

The text expounds the whole teachings of Advaita Vedanta in simple and lucid manner. The fact that Madhusudanasaraswati, a sixteenth century Advaitin, wrote an elaborate Commentary called The Sidhantabindu on The Dasasloki attests the significance of this text in the Advaita textual tradition.