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Guru Vachaka Kovai
Many of Bhagavan’s verbal teachings were recorded during his lifetime, but few of them were reviewed and edited by him. Guru Vachaka Kovai is the biggest collection of Bhagavan’s spoken teachings that was thoroughly checked and revised by him during his lifetime. As such it has a unique place in the Ramana literature.
This book is the translation of Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of the Guru's Sayings), the inspired poetic work of Muruganar. The first Tamil edition of the book, published in 1939, was personally checked and revised by Ramana Maharshi himself. The verses, recorded by Muruganar in the last decades of Ramana Maharshi's life, cover the full spectrum of his teachings.
This new translation of the entire work includes explanatory notes by Muruganar and supplementary teaching material by Sri Ramana that illustrates or expands on the words of the original text. The book also includes comments and explanations by the editor, David Godman.
This book is the translation of Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of the Guru's Sayings), the inspired poetic work of Muruganar. The first Tamil edition of the book, published in 1939, was personally checked and revised by Ramana Maharshi himself. The verses, recorded by Muruganar in the last decades of Ramana Maharshi's life, cover the full spectrum of his teachings.
This new translation of the entire work includes explanatory notes by Muruganar and supplementary teaching material by Sri Ramana that illustrates or expands on the words of the original text. The book also includes comments and explanations by the editor, David Godman.
- GenresSpirituality
598 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Muruganar
15 books9 followersSee biography on Inner Directions website:
http://www.innerdirections.org/journa...
http://www.innerdirections.org/journa...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 31, 2018
If you want a clear and definitive exposition of Ramana Maharshi´s teachings, this is the only bokk you will ever need.
May 30, 2022
Important teachings of Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi
February 14, 2025
I have read countless spiritual books, and if I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one book this would be it. For me, there is no more endlessly subtle, powerful, mind-ending book than this one.
May 2, 2026
I’ve been reading sacred texts obsessively for about 4 decades now. I started reading books about Sri Ramana Maharshi in 1998, the year I first visited the ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Alas, I am one of those people with “a head full of scriptures” that scriptures reliably warn about! It would doubtless be better to know just a few, just “a handful of leaves”, as Buddhists say.
If you are wise, unlike myself, and looking to choose just a few books, this should be one of them. It is so beautiful and so accessible and deserves to be a thousand times better known. Aficionados of ‘I AM THAT’ : here is another book so profound, so natural, that reading it naturally turns into meditation.
The book takes the form of 1254 verses, with abundant commentary, and that form allows one to move so easily from reading to contemplation to meditation. You read a verse and let it dissolve into you like a lozenge -- or better, you dissolve into it!
Crucial distinction : I am recommending ONLY the translation by T.V. Venkatasubramanian, Robert Butler and David Godman. The version published by Ramanasramam is reverent but unreadable, needlessly drenched in imitation Victorian English. It hurts to say that, but it’s true. You need this version of Guru Vachaka Kovai, edited by David Godman, and it can be hard to find. The bookshop across the street from Ramanasramam is the most reliable source, or it can be ordered from Avadhuta Press.
This is a book of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, made in his own language, and revised extensively by him. Thus, it is unlike any other book in the tradition. The more famous books in the tradition -- Talks / Letters / Day By Day -- are by writers who immediately translated Bhagavan’s teachings into English. I adore those books! But this one is very special and uniquely suited to investigation and meditation.
Because it is a giant book, and life is brief, you might want to take a taste of it by reading chapters 32 or 40, which feel like what Buddhists call “pointing out” instructions.
Reading this book every morning for many weeks was one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had as. . . an obsessive reader of spiritual books. Please : it is utterly worth the effort to track down a copy. It has no equal.
May we all discover the truth, casual and obsessive readers both!
If you are wise, unlike myself, and looking to choose just a few books, this should be one of them. It is so beautiful and so accessible and deserves to be a thousand times better known. Aficionados of ‘I AM THAT’ : here is another book so profound, so natural, that reading it naturally turns into meditation.
The book takes the form of 1254 verses, with abundant commentary, and that form allows one to move so easily from reading to contemplation to meditation. You read a verse and let it dissolve into you like a lozenge -- or better, you dissolve into it!
Crucial distinction : I am recommending ONLY the translation by T.V. Venkatasubramanian, Robert Butler and David Godman. The version published by Ramanasramam is reverent but unreadable, needlessly drenched in imitation Victorian English. It hurts to say that, but it’s true. You need this version of Guru Vachaka Kovai, edited by David Godman, and it can be hard to find. The bookshop across the street from Ramanasramam is the most reliable source, or it can be ordered from Avadhuta Press.
This is a book of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, made in his own language, and revised extensively by him. Thus, it is unlike any other book in the tradition. The more famous books in the tradition -- Talks / Letters / Day By Day -- are by writers who immediately translated Bhagavan’s teachings into English. I adore those books! But this one is very special and uniquely suited to investigation and meditation.
Because it is a giant book, and life is brief, you might want to take a taste of it by reading chapters 32 or 40, which feel like what Buddhists call “pointing out” instructions.
Reading this book every morning for many weeks was one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had as. . . an obsessive reader of spiritual books. Please : it is utterly worth the effort to track down a copy. It has no equal.
May we all discover the truth, casual and obsessive readers both!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews