[Hindu] How popular are the book "Yoga Vasistha" among Hindu in India ?

Namaste !!

Greeting from Bali Island. I'm a Hindu from Bali Island, Indonesia. Yoga Vasistha was narrated by sage Vasistha, one of the teachers of Shri Rama, and written by Valmiki. It's a great spiritual book, but it's not so popular here among Hindu in Indonesia. In Indonesia Bhagavad Gita and Upanishad are the most popular Vedanta book.

I wonder how popular are the book "Yoga Vasistha" among Hindu in India ?
Thanks before for your answer my brother and sister in dharma...
Aum Shanti...






Answer :
Namaste Bhagat Ji !
It won't be exaggeration if I say that "Yog Vashishtha" is the only book that contains the all Vedas, Aranyakas and Upanishada inside it in their most genuine form. I mean just read the story of Choodala and Shikhidwaja and know all let alone reading the whole book. Because it is very difficult to understand the depth of this, such scriptures don't get generally popular...............So please don't use the meter of popularity to measure the uniqueness and greatness of Yoga Vashishtha.






Answer :
As since it comprises of lectures of Vashishth to Ram its name is known to majority, but as far as reading to it is concerned it is very rarely read.Let me explain you that normal Hindus are most interested in stories and not in some serious spiritual talks.That is why book like it is not sold much.






Answer :
Great!
I am really pleased to know that in Bali Bhagwat Gita and Upanishads are most popular Vedant Books. In India too these books are popular but with so called secular Govt. policies these things are limited to a few groups. Spirituality and practices are personal choice. Every body is after easy money and power. The livelihood is becoming more and more westernised and west culture is shadowing on every aspect. Yoga Vashishtha, Upanishads and Vedant etc. are deeplu percolated in common man through the seers and saints from ages in simple local languages. A illiterate person will teach you some highest phylosophy with simple local language without knowing the roots of it. You can read Sant Namdev, Sant Kabeer, Guru Nanak Devji, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Eknath etc. etc. in the past and many such saints and seers or Mata Amrutanandmayee or Shri Shri Ravi Shankar in present to get what I mean.

I will give you example of Pasaydaan means it is commentary on Bhagwat Gita and Sant Dnyaneshwarji is asking Parmeshwar to give this in his palms (pasay) a gift (Daan),

1. May the Self of the universe be pleased with this sacrifice of words and bestow His grace on me.

2. May the sinners no longer commit evil deeds, may their desire to do good increase, and may all
beings live in harmony with one another.

3. May the darkness of sin disappear, may the world see the rising of the sun of righteousness, and
may the desires of all creatures be satisfied.

4. May everyone keep the company of saints devoted to God, who will shower their blessings on
them.

5. Saints are walking gardens filled with wish-fulfilling trees, and they are living villages of wishfulfilling
gems. Their words are like oceans of nectar.

6. They are moons without blemish and suns without heat. May these saints be the friends of all
people.

7. May all beings in all the worlds be filled with joy, and may they worship God forever.

8. May all those for whom this book is their very life be blessed with success in this world and the
next.

9. Then, Nivrittinath, the great Master said that this blessing will be granted. This brought great joy
to Jnaneshwar.

Jai Shree Ram!!!!!!







Answer :
no it is not very popular. Majority of Hindus are Bhaktas and are not yet spiritually ripe enough to understand and appreciate the philosophy of Yoga Vashishta.

Still there are 1000s of hindus who read and adore this great book.







Answer :
Greetings. I bought it about 15 years ago and read and re-read it But I live in the US, this is the first I've ever heard it mentioned anywhere. The one I have is called "The Concise Yoga Vasistha" by Swami Venkatesananda, I love the way it opens the mind to transcendence.






Answer :
From amongst the thousands of Hindu scriptures and books that came into being, none of them (in Sanskrit) can be called as 'popularly read' by all Hindus. Sanskrit is no more a common language that people speak. All the 14 (Constitutional) and more principal languages are descended from Sanskrit, though. Almost all Hindu literature is translated into many of them and English.
So, the professional Brahmins (Pandits as they are called in the north) who attend to the rituals are conversant with Sanskrit and recite them if the rirual demands it. People who are into 'Yoga' if they have the courage to put in hardwork and stamina can read 'Yoga Vasistha'; but Patanjali's 'Yoga Shastra' is the preferred text. All others seek someone who read it and interpret it. Reading religious texts and lore consumes a life-time and so the common man for whom leading life with family is ordeal enough, doesn't do it. If ever anyone has that aptitude and would want to pursue, s/he finds it so taxing that a choice needs to be made whether to go for it or lead otherwise a normal/married life.
Yoga as it is, is not followed as per scriptures (like the one you've mentioned) and people congregate to a preceptor and do whatever he says. So such preceptors have proliferated and now there are American, Canadian or Caribbean preceptors (Gurus) and versions!!
Also Yoga, Jyotisha etc are Vidyas (arts) with less on spiritual accent. All thes a re termed 'Vedangas' or limbs of Vedas.
Now, if one needs to grade books as per popularity, I feel this is the way. Ramayana & Maha Bharata are the most popular, but one in ten thousand reads the original Valmiki or Vyaasa's versions. Vedas are used only for rituals and are recited; but least read. Then there are 'Ashtaadasa' (18) puranas, which are stories of gods and goddesses.
Then follow the interpretaions, commentaries adding one's own versions. These are 'Upanishads', 'Aaranyakas', 'Brrahmans' and so on. These are very popular amongst the higher learneds.
Though these do not form part of Vedas (called Veda Samhita), the common man associates them with Vedas and even feel it is a part. Perhaps that is the reason it is called Vedanta (As I am not an Indologist, i can't venture out my opinion). Vedanta means end-portion of Veda. It is the delvings of mind into 'Aadhyatmikata' (can be interpreted as 'spiritual' but I would call 'spiritual philosophy'). In the last 2 centuries vedanta has become popular and fashionable; may be because Vivekaanada Swami made it so in his Chicago lecture, more than a century ago.
The trend after independence is 'Bhagavatgita', which is but a part of one (Bhishm parva) the 18 chapters (or 18 books asyou may call) of Maha Bharata, the longest epic, man has ever written. Now, it is accorded the status of the main book of Hindus, following or copying purely the islamic & Christian tradition.
It becomes impossible for an individual to delve into this mountain load of books of Himalayan proportions. It is called 'Indology', the greatest proponent was the Late (Prof.) Agehananda Bharathi, who was a full-blooded Austrian. He started reading Sanskrit (Hindu) scriptures, then become a Hindu monk in 'Dasanaami' sect. While a practising monk, he taught 'Indology' at Syracuse University (USA). I am lucky and feel privileged to have had listened to his talks when he used to visit Delhi in December-January (to escape American & European winter). Another one is the great spiritual Guru, Late Jiddu Krishnamurthy; whose mother-tongue (Telugu) I share. This man was groomed to be the new Messiah. He rejected all that. While in his rejection he became the spiritual preceptor. Though he didn't quote any scriptures and always evolved his very original version, one cannot miss the underlying Hindu logos!
The tradition if someone wants to know or learn about a particular aspect, he seeks an Acharya, stays with him to serve him and then imbibe the knowledge that he gives out of these books. It has been so for millennia. Even now you'll find it.






Answer :
yoga vasista is popular in India but very few people understand it.
yoga vasista is basically about the discussions between rishi vasista and prince rama.
it contain 29,000 slokas, or verses, is formed as a dialogue between Rama and the sage Vasistha, who says such as, "Talk of duality and non-duality; the enlightened ones laugh at all this."
It teaches Advaita (Non-dualist) Vedanta.
The philosophy behind the Yoga Vasistha is that in truth there is only Brahman or God.

Prince Rama returns from touring the country and becomes utterly disillusioned after experiencing the apparent reality of the world. This worries his father, King Dasaratha. The King expresses his concern to Sage Vasistha, upon his arrival. Sage Vasistha consoles the king by telling him that Rama's dispassion (vairagya) is a sign that the prince is now ready for spiritual enlightenment. He says that Rama has begun understanding profound spiritual truths, which is the cause of his confusion and he just needs confirmation. Sage Vasistha asks king Dasaratha to summon Rama. Then, in the court of king Dasaratha, the sage begins the discourse to Rama which lasts for several days. The answer to Rama's questions forms the entire scripture that is Yoga Vasistha.

The great remedy for the long lasting disease of samsara is the enquiry, 'Who am I?, to whom does this samsara belong?,' which entirely cures it."

"Nothing whatsoever is born or dies anywhere at any time. It is Brahman alone appearing illusorily in the form of the world."

"O Rama, there is no intellect, no nescience, no mind and no individual soul (jiva). They are all imagined in Brahman."

"That consciousness which is the witness of the rise and fall of all beings, know that to be the immortal state of supreme bliss."