Bondage and Release in the Astavakragita

Abstract

The thesis is an inquiry into the nature of bondage and release in the Astavakragita. The focus in the first half of the thesis is upon to the practices of discrimination (viveka) and concentrative absorption (samadhi). In place of discrimination and concentrative absorption the Astavakragita offers naturalness (akrtrima) and spontaneity (yadrccha). The thesis argues that the be understood as a critique of Yogic and Advaitic soteriology as exemplified by texts such as the Vediintasara and Jivanmuktiviveka. The thesis then situates Astavakragita in a 'genre' of literature characterized by the repudiation and abandonment of 'means' to release: 'anarchic spirituality.· Finally, the appearance of Yogic and Advaitic soteriological language in the Astavakragita is accounted for by arguing that it is used to ironic effect by the text.