Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣyam
The bhāṣya or commentarial tradition originates in ancient India. An extensive corpus of commentarial literature succeeds many sacred texts revered among the diverse Indian darśanic schools. The creation of commentaries is a perpetual venture fueled by novel interpretations and original reflections. The continued generation of such commentaries is a prominent feature among the diverse branches of the Vedānta Darśana. They formed the kernel from which entire schools of thought sprouted and displayed their unique yet vivid cultural and spiritual bloom. History bears witness to the birth of Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, and various other distinct Vedānta schools from the commentaries of ācāryas. By authoring commentaries on the revered texts of the Prasthānatrayī, these ācāryas grounded their distinct teachings on a shared collection of Vedic revelations, establishing their position within Hinduism.
The Vedanta Darśana’s commentarial legacy of providing an innovative, profound, and unique reflection on the precepts of India’s Vedic Sanātana Dharma continues to this day. The recent creation of the Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya—a comprehensive commentary of the Prasthānatrayī: the Upaniṣads, Bhagavadgītā, and the Brahmasūtras—is a testament to this living commentarial tradition. Authored in 2007, the Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya was created by Mahāmahopādhyāya Sadhu Bhadreshdas Swami with the blessings and inspiration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The ‘Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya’ is a collective designation of the following five volumes: the Īśādyaṣṭopaniṣat-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya, Chāndogyopaniṣad-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya, Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya, Bhagavadgītā-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya, and the Brahmasūtra-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya.
The texts’ remarkable exposition elaborates how the principles of the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana, as established by Bhagavān Swaminarayan, are revealed within the sacred texts of the Prasthānatrayī. Being established on Vedic revelation, the Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya firmly establishes the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana as inherently Vedic and grounds it in the teachings of Sanātana Dharma. The commentary’s profound, insightful, yet simple elucidation of even the most complex discussions has earned it great acclaim by both classical pundits and modern scholars. The five-volume work is a monumental exposition of the unique philosophy of the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana. Contribution to the ongoing exploration of India’s spiritual heritage continues to inspire and illuminate, bridging the timeless wisdom of the Vedas with the contemporary world.
