UPANISHADS

 UPANISHADS

The word “Upanishad” consists of three words. “Upa” means “near”, “ni” means “down” and “shad” means “be seated”. So, “Upanishad” means, “be seated at the feet of the Guru to receive the teaching.”

The Upanishads constitute the Vedanta (Veda-Anta), the end of the Vedas. The most ancient Upanishads are, in fact part of the Vedas, and are therefore considered as part of the Sruti. The Upanishads constitute the fundamentals, the essence of the Sanatana Dharma philosophy. The main topic of the Upanishads is the Ultimate Knowledge: the identity of the Brahman and the Jivatman, the explanation of the origin of the Universe, the relation between the mind and matter, etc. 

The main theme of the Upanishads:       

“The main theme of the Upanishads is to surrender to God and receive liberation from the bondage of Maya (the cosmic power or the material power) and enter into the eternal state of the Divine Bliss. The Upanishads distinguish the celestial gods from the Divine forms of God.”

The Upanishads may have been composed around 800 BC. There have been several later additions during 563-483 BC, leading to 113 Upanishads being available today; however, only ten to thirteen are generally accepted as primary. The oldest and longest of the Upanishads are the Brihad-Aranyaka and the Chandogya from around seventh century BC.

Brief info on Major Upanishads:

Isha Upanishad

·        Isha means "Lord" and marks the trend toward monotheism in the Upanishads.

·        It emphasizes the identity of the human soul with the divine soul

·        It has 18 verses (mantras).

·        It starts with the very first word Ishwar which means the Divine Personality of God

·    It describes the philosophy of God and God realization which is the essence of the Upanishadic philosophy 

Katha Upanishad

·        It has six chapters in two sections, and is in the form of question and answer. 

·        Nachiketa is questioning and the god of justice, Yamraj is answering.

·        It discusses death and the permanence of the soul (Atman).

·        The Kathopnishad says:

“Human body is the only chance where a person could receive liberation from the eternal bondage and the inflictions of maya. If you do not realize God before death overtakes you, it would be the greatest disaster of your life and you will be suffering for uncountable lifetimes by taking birth in various species.”

Chandogya Upanishad

·        It emphasizes the importance of chanting the sacred Aum.

·        The chanting of Aum is associated with the life breath (prana)

·        It has three parts.

1.  The first is sacrifice, study of the Vedas, and giving alms;

2.  The second is austerity; and

3.  The third is studying the sacred knowledge while living in the house of a teacher

·        It contains the doctrine of Reincarnation, a consequence of one's actions (karma).

Kena Upanishad

·        The word Kena means "by whom"

·     It discusses the qualities of the divine essence (Brahman) and the relationship of the gods to the divine essence.

·     The Kena Upanishad concludes that austerity, self-discipline, and work are the foundation of the spiritual doctrine; the Vedas are its limbs, and truth is its home. The one who knows it strikes off evil and becomes established in the most excellent, infinite, heavenly world.

Shvetashvatara Upanishad

·        It has six chapters and is one of the important Upanishads.

·        It explains the definite characteristics of: Soul, Maya, and God;

·   The person (Purusha) is distinguished from nature (Prakriti), which is conceived of as illusion (Maya).

·        In describing the human body as a tree, the Shvetashvatar Upanishad says,

"Two birds, which are eternal friends, live on the same tree, whereas one bird (the soul) is enjoying eating the fruit (sensual pleasures) of that tree and the other one (God) is simply watching the first one."  

Krishna Upanishad

·        It reveals the supremacy of Shri Krishna

·     It has the example of the devotees of Dandak forest of Tretayuga when Lord Rama, during His descension period, came to Grace them.

·        It further contains the details of the descension period of Shri Krishna, the eternal Divine existences, powers, and the Divine personalities also descended in Braj to serve Shri Krishna and to experience the sweetness of Shri Krishna love.

Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad

·       One of the oldest and longest of the Upanishads

·        It bears the message of the completeness of the divine essence, and the associated peace

·    The first chapter of the Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad describes the world as represented by the horse-sacrifice

·        It says:

"From the unreal lead me to the real!
From darkness lead me to light!
From death lead me to immortality!"

Mandukya Upanishad

·        It has only 12 verses and explains the Nirakar (Impersonal) aspect of God.

·        This is the only Upanishad that truly defines the Nirakar Brahm.

·        Other Upanishads relate to the personal form of God, which is the main form of God.

·        It delineates four levels of consciousness: waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and a fourth mystical state of being one with the soul.

Mundaka Upanishad

·        It has six chapters in three sections called Mundak.

·        It declares Lord Brahma the first of the gods, the creator of all and the protector of the world

·        Sage Angira is telling about God and the method of God realization to Shaunak.

·        Shaunak desired to know as to what is the absolutely knowable truth.

·        In one of the verses of Mundakopnishad, Sage Angira says,

"The ritualist brahmans discovered that the vedic discipline of observing yagyas only provides celestial luxuries which is only mayic and does not take the doer to God, so they renounced it. To know and to realize God one should with dedication go and surrender to such a God realized Saint who has also full knowledge of the scriptural secrets." 

Prashna Upanishad

·        Prashna means question. This Upanishad contains six questions.

·        Six men approached the teacher Pippalada with sacrificial fuel in hands and questions in their minds. Pippalada agreed to answer their questions if they would live with him a year in austerity, chastity, and faith.

Yogshikha Upanishad

·        It relates to the yogic practices for the attainment of true Brahm Gyan

·        Brahm Gyan ensures kaivalya mokch (the liberation of Gyanis).

·        It has its importance, as it is said by Lord Shiva Himself, Who is (Yogishwar).
  

Note: This post is based on reading of various articles related to Upanishads on Internet and some books.  Still if it contains any mistake. 
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