The Date of Yoga Vashishta

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Dear Benjamin,

 

Dr. B.L Atreya in his Doctoral theses submitted to the University of Allahabad

in 1928 has stated as follows:

 

"The tradition is the it was composed by Valmiki the reputed author of Ramayana.

But there are obvious difficulties in accepting this view about the current

Yogavashishta. There is a close resemblance between the philosophy of this work

and that of Madhyamika and Yogachara schools of Buddhism. There is also a

mention of the names 'Vijnanavada', 'Sunyavada' and 'Madhyamika' etc. in the

work. (V.87.18-20; III.5.6). This cannot be explained away as mere

interpolation, as the philosophy of the work could not remain what it is without

the admixture of idealism and nihilism of later Buddhism in it. The present work

could not therefore have been composed earlier than the close of the 5th century

A.D. This conjecture is strengthened by the presence of the idea of a

'cloud-messenger' in VI.b119.2-5, of Yogavashishta where the famous lyric of

Kalidasa is beautifully summarised in three stanzas which contain some of the

expressions of Kalidasa...."

 

Then follows 5 pages of arguments in support of the above hypothesis which

conclude as follows:

 

"Hence we may place it after Kalidasa and before Bhartrhari i.e. somewhere in

the 6th century A.D".

 

His Doctoral theses is now published in the form of a book, "The Vision and the

Way of Vashsishta" by the Indian Heritage Trust, Madras. I will see if it says

something more about its authorship.

 

Regards,

Venkat - M

 

Benjamin Root <orion777ben wrote:

 

I would love to learn something about its author(s) and date(s). I

have found nothing on the web. It seems like a rather mysterious

text so far. I wish I at least knew the approximate century. I have

the translation by Swami Venkatesananda, which should be quite

reliable.

 

 

 

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