Upanishads – Introduction

Monday, May 21, 2012

An Introduction to the Dasopanishads

“In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and elevating as that of
the Upanishads. It has been the solace of my life; it will be the solace of my
death.”
Schopenhauer - A German philosopher 

Upanishads are the full blossomed flowers on the tree of Vedas. They are
also called Vedanta, which really means the goal of Veda. The word
Upanishad means ‘sitting devotedly near.’ It is the secret teaching of
spiritual wisdom imparted in private to worthy pupils.
The works that go by the name Upanishad exceeds 1000 in number. But
only few are available today. MUKTIKOPANISAD gives a list of 108
Upanishads. Even the introduction to all the Upanishads, will surely
occupy many a voluminous text.
JAGADGURU SRI ADI SANKARACHARYA, the earliest commentator,
wrote his commentary on ten Upanishads (DASOPANISADS). SRIMAD
RAMANUJACHARYA tried to amplify some of their concepts in his
'Vedartha Sangraha'. SRI MADHVACHARYA wrote the brief
commentaries on these ten Upanishads.
The trend of the Upanishads is generally against ritualism and strongly
favors Upasana and Jnana (Meditation and Wisdom). Here we must note
that for the one who has transcended the worldly affairs, all rituals are but
the secondary details.
The great masters say that the study of the Dasopanishads will reveal to
the student the nature of Individual Self and the Supreme Self, and thus
help in the path of self realization. The names of the ten Upanishads
respectively are-
“Isa Kena Katha Prasna Mundaka Mandukya thithiri
Aitareyancha Chandogyam Brihadaranyakam dasa."
ISAVASYA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad is in the end of the Sukla Yajurveda Samhita. This is a
small Upanishad with 18 mantras. This Upanishad starts with the words
‘Isavsyam Idam Sarvam….’ hence the name Isavasya Upanishad. Many
scholars wrote their commentaries on this Upanishad.
It says that the whole world is pervaded by the Isa of the Supreme
Brahman. It advocates that one should not cease the actions (Karma) but
should work and live the full span of life. It beautifully describes the nature
of Atman and declares that the one who has realized this Atman
transcends sorrow and delusion.
KENA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad is in the Talavakara Brahmana of Jaimini sakha of
Samaveda. This is also called Talavakara Upanishad. This has four chapters
and 35 mantras. This Upanishad gets its name by its very first word ‘Kena’
which means ‘by what.’ The question which is the base of depth
psychology was asked in the very opening verse of this Upanishad ‘Willed
by whom does the directed mind goes towards its Object ?
This Upanishad has a beautiful exposition on the Self, which is the eye of
the eye, ear of ear, mind of the mind etc.
The Supreme Self can only be experienced. One can never become the
knower of the Self, for to know one must inevitably be separate from the
Self ! This Upanishad says- “It is known to him to whom It is unknown; he
does not know to whom It is known. It is unknown to those who know
well and known to those who do not know”.
The second half of this Upanishad has a didactical parable of the gods and
the Brahman. All gods became very much elated after being victorious in
the battle against the demons. In their joy of victory, they forgot that this
victory was due to the grace of the Brahman. To teach them a lesson the
supreme Brahman appeared before them in the form of a Yaksha. They
could not exhibit their super natural potentials before that Yaksha. Finally
Indra, the chief of gods went to inquire. From him the Yaksha vanished
away and in that very place appeared the divine mother Uma Haimavathi
and taught Indra about Brahman.
This Upanishad specially mentions the basic disciplines needed to attain
knowledge of Brahman and ends with these following words - “Any one
who knows Brahman to be supreme reality, he, having dispelled sin,
remains firmly seated in the boundless, blissful and the supreme
Brahman".
KATHOPANISHAD
This Upanishad is in the Kathaka sakha of Krishna Yajurveda. It is also
called Kathakopanishad. This Upanishad has 6 chapters and 119 mantras.
This Upanishad starts with the story of Vajassravasaan and his son
Nachiketa. This story is very symbolical. Nachiketa goes to Yamaloka, the
abode of the god of death.
The main teaching of this Upanishad is in the form of a dialogue between
the small Nachiketa and Yama raja, the god of death. Yama raja teaches his
the spiritual wisdom.
“Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached”
Swami Vivekananda’s call to the nation was a reflection of a verse of this
Upanishad.
The gist of the teachings of this Upanishad:
1. The Self cannot be known through much study or through the
intellect or through much hearing.
2. Know the Self as the master of the chariot, and the body as the
chariot. Know the intellect as the charioteer and the mind as verily
the bridle.
3. In Brahman the sun does not shine, neither do the moon and the
stars; nor do these flashes of lightning shine. How can this fire? He
shining all these shine; through His luster all these are variously
illuminated.
4. When all desires clinging to one’s heart fall off, then a mortal
becomes immortal and he attains Brahman here.
PRASNA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad belongs to the Atharvana Veda. This is in the form of
questions and answers. Hence it has been named as Prasnopanishad.
(Prasna means a “Question”)
This has 6 chapters and 67 mantras. Six aspirants approached a great sage
called 'Pippalada' and requested Him to answer their queries. The sage,
after testing their sincerity for one year, consented to answer their
questions. The six questions which this Upanishad answers are:
1. From what indeed are all these beings born?
2. How many in fact are the deities that sustain a creature? Which
among them exhibit this glory? Which again, is the chief among
them?
3. From where is this Prana born? How does it come into this body?
How again does it dwell by dividing himself? How does it deport?
How does it support the external things and how the physical?
4. Which are the organs that go to sleep in the person? Which keep
awake in him? Which deity experiences dream? To whom occurs this
happiness? In whom do all get merged?
5. Which world does one really win thereby who among men, intently
meditates on OM in that wonderful way till death?
6. Where does the Purusha exist?
MUNDAKA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad is in Atharvana Veda. It has 3 chapters with 6 sections and
64 mantras. The word ‘Mundaka’ means a cleanly shaven head. This
Upanishad might have derived this name because of its teachings which
can be comprehended only by the refined minds.
This Upanishad tells us about the Akshara Para Brahman, which is beyond
dissolution and destruction. Akshara means imperishable. Here it means
both ‘sound and letter’. OM is the origin for the both. OM is the greatest
medium to reach this Akshara Para Brahman. Hence this Upanishad says
OM is the bow, the soul is the arrow; and Brahman is called its target. It is
to be hit by an unerring man. One should become one with it just like an
arrow.
This Upanishad very beautifully gives the distinction between the
individual self and the supreme self.
Two birds that are ever associated and have similar names cling to the
same tree (body). Of these, one (the Individual Self) eats the fruit of
diverged tastes, and the other looks on without eating. The Individual Self
remains drowned in the waters of ignorance and means, being worried by
its impotence. When it sees the other the adored lord and His glory, then it
becomes liberated by the sorrow.
The great declaration that the truth alone triumphs and not untruth
(SATYAMEVA JAYATE NAANRUTHAM) is in this Upanishad.
MANDUKYA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad belongs to the Atharvana Veda. This is a very small
Upanishad comprising of only 12 mantras. Though it is very small, the
potency of its teaching has occupied a very prominent place.
‘Manduka’ means Frog. A frog will not move step by step. It jumps.
Similarly this Upanishad takes a leap from the three states of consciousness
(Jagrat, Swapna and Sushupti) and deals about the Turiya, the fourth state,
also called the transcendental state of consciousness.
Some scholars argue that this Upanishad was revealed to Varuna Deva, the
god of rains, who is in the form of a frog and hence the name Mandukya
Upanishad.
This Upanishad delves straight away into the sublime philosophy of
Pranava (Om), the Atman and the Brahman. It says that it is impossible to
describe the nature of the eternal truth called Brahman since He is
Achintya (beyond thought) and Alkshana (beyond characteristics).
TAITTRIYA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda. This is the most widely
studied Upanishad. This has 3 chapters called Shikshavalli, Anandavalli
and Briguvalli.
Shikshavalli speaks about the instruction of Education. The last part of this
Shikshavalli is the parting message to the student, who, having finished his
study, is about to leave the Gurukulam. This is called Sishyanusasanam.
The teacher instructs the student about the necessary duties:
“Speak truth. Practice righteousness. Make no mistake about the study….
Do not terminate the line of progeny. There should be no inadvertence
about truth. There should be no deviation from righteous activity. There
should be no mistake about your protection. Do not neglect propitious
activities. Do not be careless about learning and teaching………. Let your
mother be a goddess unto you. Let your father, your teacher and your
guest be a god unto you.”
Anandavalli describes the eternal Bliss which shines above the
Anandamaya Kosa(the sheath of Bliss which transcends the other four
called Annamaya Kosa - the sheath of food, Pranamaya Kosa - the sheath of
mind and Vignamamaya Kosa - the sheath of intellect). It also describes the
other four sheaths.
It also says that one is not subjected to fear at any time if one knows the
Bliss that is Brahman, failing to reach which, words along with the mind
turn back.
Brighuvalli is the teaching given to sage Brighu by his father Varuna. This
teaching is not mere information but the instruction to experience the
divine by ones own efforts. He encourages his son Brighu to do penance
and get the experience of the Brahman. Brighu in course of his penance
transcends all Kosas and finally gets established in the supreme Brahman.
This Upanishad has not neglected the earthly life. It says that one, having
established in supreme Brahman should not deprecate and discard food
(i.e., the earthly life). One should make food plentiful.
AITAREYA UPANISHAD
Aitareya Upanishad is in the end of the Aitareya Aranyaka of the Rigveda.
This Upanishad has 4 chapters with 6 sections and 33 mantras. As this was
revealed to a sage called Mahidasa Aitareya, this Upanishad is called
Aitareya Upanishad.
This Upanishad says that the Supreme Lord desired to create the world
and has created this without the aid of any other thing, by Himself. It also
describes the birth, the metamorphosis, the death and the rebirth of the
Jeevatman. It contains a story of sage Vamadeva who succeeded in getting
the spiritual wisdom even while in the womb of his mother and became
free.
The last section of this Upanishad gives a clear exposition about the direct
experience of the supreme self and also on the distinction between the
mind and pure consciousness.
It declares that the pure consciousness is Brahman - (Prajnanam Brahma)
CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad is in the Chandogya Brahamana of Samaveda. This has 8
chapters with 154 sections and 628 mantras.
It begins with the Upasana of OM. It speaks of so many Vidyas like Aksi
Vidya, Akasa Vidya, Madhu Vidya, Sandilya Vidya, Prana Vidya,
Panchagni Vidya etc., These Vidyas help us to realize the Paramatman or
Supreme Self. The last chapter talks about the Dahara Vidya, which is the
meditation on the self within the small space of the heart.
This Upanishad contains didactical stories of Satyakama and Swethakethu .
One of the chapters of this Upanishad is in the form of a dialogue between
sage Sanathkumara and his disciple Narada. Sanathkumara takes Narada
step by step from Ahara Suddhi (purifiction of food) to the realization of
Bhooma or Brahman.
This Upanishad concludes with a statement of a liberated soul about His
being free from all sins and attaining the abode of Brahman.
BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD
This Upanishad is the Aranyaka of Sukla Yajurveda with 6 chapters, 47
sections and 435 mantras. ‘Brihat’ means very big. This Upanishad is the
biggest of all the ten Upanishads. Generally an Upanishad is seen in the
end of the Aranyaka part of the Veda. But this Upanishad is the total
Aranyaka itself.
The first two chapters of this Upanishad are called Madhu Kanda. The next
two are called Muni Kanda and the last two Khila Kanda.
Madhu means nectar. Madhu Kanda describes the Atman, which is even
beyond the gods. For the One, who has realized this Atman, the whole
world will appear as a divine entity. He enjoys constantly the nectar of
Bliss of Immortality.
Muni Kanda presents sage Yajnavalkya at His best. His teachings on
Vedanta have been very effectively presented in this Kanda. He establishes
the true nature of the Atman, by an analysis of the three states of
Consciousness, as the ever free blissful self. A description of the Jiva
suffering at the time of death and his transmigration also find a place in
these teachings, to induce Vairagya.
The last kanda contains all those teachings which are in a scattered form.
‘Khila’ means that whichis scattered. (If the scattered parts are brought
together, then it is called Akhila).This contains a number of Upasanas. It
talks about the need to have self -control, to inculcate the divine qualities
like compassion and giving gifts to the needy and Panchagni Vidya (The
doctrine of five fires).
This Upanishad ends with a long list of great Rishis.