Invocation

Self-sufficiency is an indicator of spiritual development in human beings. 100% development signifies an Enlightened master like Adi Shankaracharya. Adi Shankaracharya is regarded as an Avatara of Lord Shiva. He led his life as a sannyāsī (renunciate) and taught advaita, the philosophy of non-dualism. In him, there was an incredible combination of jñānam (knowledge), bhakti (devotion), and karma (action). The text Atmabodha contains 68 verses. For easier study, these verses are divided into eight topics by Swami A. Parthasarathy. The invocatory prayer praises the Supreme Self shining in one’s heart, expressing the seeker’s intellectual conviction as well as his devotion.