AHMEDABAD, Jan 15 : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Thursday unveiled the Gujarati translation of the Granthavali (collected works) of the 8th-century philosopher-saint Adi Shankaracharya. The publication, released by the Ahmedabad-based Sastu Sahitya Mudranalaya Trust, marks a significant contribution to regional language access to foundational philosophical texts. The launch ceremony was attended by a gathering of prominent dignitaries.
Addressing the audience, Shah hailed the translation of Shankaracharya’s “ocean of knowledge” into Gujarati as a landmark event for the state’s literary and spiritual landscape. He described the multi-volume publication as an “intellectual treasure” for Gujarat’s youth and future generations. The Home Minister praised the Trust’s endeavour, stating that such efforts to make profound Sanskrit literature accessible ensure its enduring relevance in national literary discourse.
The Minister paid tribute to the late Swami Akhandanand, popularly revered as Bhikshu Akhandanand, the founder of the publishing trust. Shri Shah noted the Swami’s lifelong dedication to producing and disseminating literature on Ayurveda and Sanatan Dharma for societal benefit. “His vision was to provide Gujarat’s youth with access to exemplary works at an affordable cost,” Shri Shah stated. He highlighted the Trust’s legacy of publishing seminal texts, including the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, the epics, and Kautilya’s Arthashastra, in Gujarati.
“Swami Akhandanand Ji was instrumental in the moral and intellectual shaping of Gujarat,” Shah observed. He credited the sage with distilling the essence of Sanatan philosophy through the works of various seers and providing inspirational literature to stimulate self-reflection.
Commenting on the digital era’s impact on reading habits, the Minister said the publication of this 24-volume set challenges the notion that substantive literature is in decline.He expressed confidence that Shankaracharya’s Gyan Sagar would exert a profound influence on the worldview and conduct of young Gujaratis.
Shah elaborated on Adi Shankaracharya’s historic role, describing the saint as a “peripatetic university” whose philosophical tours fostered a sense of unity across the Indian subcontinent. “He provided not just ideas, but a framework for national integration and intellectual synthesis,” the Minister remarked.
The Home Minister detailed Shankaracharya’s institutional legacy, including the establishment of four monastic seats (Mutts) across India to preserve Vedic knowledge, the creation of akharas for cultural preservation, and the revival of structured theological debate (Shastrarth). He emphasized the philosopher’s syncretic vision, which harmonised the paths of devotion (Bhakti), action (Karma), and knowledge (Gyan) toward liberation.
Shah noted that during a period of doctrinal confusion, Adi Shankaracharya systematically addressed contemporary challenges to Sanatan Dharma through reasoned discourse. He urged the youth to engage with the Gujarati translation of Shankaracharya’s key text, Vivekachudamani.
In conclusion, the Home Minister stated that Adi Shankaracharya’s seminal contribution lay in democratising the profound wisdom of the Upanishads—exemplified by the axiom “Shivoham” (I am Shiva)—and articulating the core principles of Sanatan Dharma, from its philosophical depths to the practice of nature worship, in an accessible manner for the common seeker. (KNS)
