Tattvabodha or Awakening to Reality (With Special Reference to the Vedas and Upanisads)

I am thankful to Prof. Nabanarayan Bandyopadhyay, Director, School of Vedic Studies, for asking me to deliver a lecture in the Tattvabodha series of National Mission for Manuscripts at Rabindra Bharati University. The lecture was delivered on 15th March, 2010, at the School of Vedic Studies. The topic was Tattvabodha itself with special reference to Vedas and Upanisads. I take this opportunity to express my thanks to the authorities of National Mission for Manuscripts for sponsoring the programme, to Prof. B.B. Chaubey for presiding over the lecture, and to Prof. Bandyopadhyay for arranging the same and for now undertaking publication of the lecture by the School of Vedic Studies in the form of a small book.

The following pages contain a revised version of the lecture together with the text and translation of the small text called Tattvabodha, ascribed to Samkaracarya. Were not otherwise specified, the translations are mine. This insignificant contribution is most humbly dedicated to Srimat Swami Atmananda Tirthaji Maharaj, who very kindly graced the occasion by his holy presence.

I am thankful to Ms. Indira Sengupta, Project Assistant at the School of Vedic Studies, for her valuable assistance rendered in preparing the press copy and typesetting.