Lctr4.3_KJS_UPNISHADS

8/6/2019 Lctr4.3_KJS_UPNISHADS

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UPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADS

HINDU SCRIPTURESHINDU SCRIPTURESHINDU SCRIPTURESHINDU SCRIPTURES

A PART OF VEDASA PART OF VEDASA PART OF VEDASA PART OF VEDAS

BY

K. J. SHARMA



UPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADSUPNISHADS

•• Upanishads are also called Vedanta.Upanishads are also called Vedanta.

•• The word Vedanta means at the end of The word Vedanta means at the end of Vedas.Vedas.

•• Thus, Upanishad is the last chapter of Thus, Upanishad is the last chapter of Vedas which are known to be the oldestVedas which are known to be the oldest

and original scriptures of Hindus whereand original scriptures of Hindus wherefrom the wisdom of god realization andfrom the wisdom of god realization andreligious practices are derived.religious practices are derived.



•• All the four Vedas including Rig,All the four Vedas including Rig, SamaSama,,Yajur Yajur andandAtharvaAtharva Vedas have around 100,000 verses outVedas have around 100,000 verses out

of which the first 80,000 give us the knowledgeof which the first 80,000 give us the knowledge

of Mantras,of Mantras, YajnasYajnas, Rituals and Prayers., Rituals and Prayers.

•• About 16,000 verses give the knowledge of About 16,000 verses give the knowledge of

material & social sciences including economics,material & social sciences including economics,philosophy, music, dance, health and behaviorsphilosophy, music, dance, health and behaviors

etc.etc.

•• At least 4,000 verses give the spiritualAt least 4,000 verses give the spiritual

knowledge which are at the end of eachknowledge which are at the end of each vedaveda..



ORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDAORIGIN OF VEDA•• Originally Veda was given to Brahma, the firstOriginally Veda was given to Brahma, the first

PrajapatiPrajapati from whom the human race is knownfrom whom the human race is known

to be descended.to be descended.

•• Vedas are also calledVedas are also called ShrutiShruti && SmritiSmriti because inbecause in

ancient days there was no practice of writing butancient days there was no practice of writing butthat to hear and memorize.that to hear and memorize.

•• Later inLater in Dwapar Dwapar yugayuga,, MaharshiMaharshi VedavyasVedavyas, a, agreat scholar/great scholar/rishirishi after having the knowledgeafter having the knowledgepassed down through generations organizedpassed down through generations organizedVeda in four parts.Veda in four parts.



VEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTSVEDAS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTS

•• SamhitaSamhita

•• BrahmanaBrahmana

•• AranyakaAranyaka

•• Upanishads (Vedanta)Upanishads (Vedanta)

– – Thus Upanishads have been extractedThus Upanishads have been extracted

from the end chapters of the 4 Vedas andfrom the end chapters of the 4 Vedas andinterpreted by many scholarlyinterpreted by many scholarly rishisrishis andandsages of ancientsages of ancient AryavartaAryavarta (Bharat), later (Bharat), later called India.called India.



TABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURESTABLE OF HINDU SCRIPTURES



•• There were originally 1180 UpanishadsThere were originally 1180 Upanishadsrelated to 1180 branches if the Vedasrelated to 1180 branches if the Vedas

derived by sages andderived by sages and rishisrishis in differentin different

periods.periods.

•• At present only 200 are available yet it isAt present only 200 are available yet it ismentioned inmentioned in MuktikopnishadMuktikopnishad that 108that 108

Upanishads contain the spiritualUpanishads contain the spiritual

philosophy if god realization and the basicphilosophy if god realization and the basicfacts of the divine world.facts of the divine world.



FOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READFOLLOWING ARE THE MOST READ

UPANISHADSUPANISHADSUPANISHADSUPANISHADSUPANISHADSUPANISHADSUPANISHADSUPANISHADS

•• IshavashyopnishadIshavashyopnishad

•• KenopnishadKenopnishad•• KathopnishadKathopnishad

•• MundakaMundaka

•• MandukyaMandukya•• AitareyaAitareya

•• TaittiriyaTaittiriya

•• ChhadogyaChhadogya

•• PrashnaPrashna

•• ShvetashvataraShvetashvatara

•• BrihadaranyakaBrihadaranyaka





ISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (ORISHOPNISHAD (OR

ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)ISHAVASYOPNISHAD)

ShantiShanti PathaPatha

•• Like all Upanishads this also starts withLike all Upanishads this also starts with ShantiShanti MantraMantra

•• This Upanishad is the 40This Upanishad is the 40thth chapter of chapter of ShuklShukl YajurvedYajurved((samhitasamhita))

•• The first word in this Upanishad isThe first word in this Upanishad is ““IshaIsha or or Ishwar Ishwar ””, thus, thus

the namethe name IshopnishadIshopnishad..•• ““Ishwar Ishwar ”” meaning divine personality of godhead.meaning divine personality of godhead.

•• This Upanishad has 8 verses endorsing the knowledgeThis Upanishad has 8 verses endorsing the knowledgeof God & God realization.of God & God realization.

•• BhagwadgitaBhagwadgita is also considered as an Upanishad onlyis also considered as an Upanishad onlybecause of the knowledge provided similar to all other because of the knowledge provided similar to all other Upanishads and appears as an extract of that.Upanishads and appears as an extract of that.



CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.

•• LikeLike BhagwadgitaBhagwadgita the knowledge of complete, indivisiblethe knowledge of complete, indivisibleand omniscient supreme being (and omniscient supreme being (paramatmaparamatma) is provided) is providedin this Upanishad.in this Upanishad.

•• This Upanishad teaches us to always remember theThis Upanishad teaches us to always remember theparamatmaparamatma and practiceand practice nishkamnishkam karmayogakarmayoga..

•• The identity of the supreme being is established toThe identity of the supreme being is established tocomprehend with the result of that understanding.comprehend with the result of that understanding.

•• It also teaches what to pray while leaving the body at theIt also teaches what to pray while leaving the body at thelast stage of lifelast stage of life – –

•• ShantiShanti PathaPatha



KENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADKENOPNISHADShantiShanti PathaPatha

•• This Upanishad begins with the wordThis Upanishad begins with the word ““kenken”” therefore, it istherefore, it isnamednamed KenopnishadKenopnishad..

•• This is a part of theThis is a part of the Talavkar Talavkar BhrahmanBhrahman of of SamavedaSamavedathus, also calledthus, also called BrahmanopnishadBrahmanopnishad..

•• Like theLike the SanatanSanatan Learning tradition, this has discipleLearning tradition, this has discipleasking questions and Guru answering with detailedasking questions and Guru answering with detailedexplanations.explanations.

•• It talks of the OmniscientIt talks of the Omniscient ParamatmaParamatma only sensitize our only sensitize our senses (senses (indryasindryas).).

•• JivatmaJivatma is a part of is a part of ParamatmaParamatma & the power in all the& the power in all the

senses to perceive and act are of thesenses to perceive and act are of the ParamatmaParamatma only.only.





KATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADKATHOPNISHADShantiShanti PathaPatha

•• Here the son of Here the son of MaharshiMaharshi ArunArun,, UddalakUddalak & his son& his son

NachiketaNachiketa discuss the norms of discuss the norms of yajnayajna followed byfollowed byGodanGodan..

•• NachiketaNachiketa recognizes the shortcomings of attachmentsrecognizes the shortcomings of attachments

while conductingwhile conducting DaanDaan..

•• NachiketaNachiketa then goes tothen goes to yamalokayamaloka wherewhere YamrajYamrajwelcomes him & asks him to request his 3 boons. Onwelcomes him & asks him to request his 3 boons. On

thisthis NachiketaNachiketa requests the followingrequests the following--

– – To relieve his father of his sinsTo relieve his father of his sins

– – AgniAgni VidyaVidya to attain abode of to attain abode of SwargaSwarga LokaLoka

– – AtmaAtma GyanGyan



CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.CONT.•• On the insistence and dedication of On the insistence and dedication of NachiketaNachiketa,,

YamrajYamraj ultimately gives theultimately gives the AtmaAtma GyanGyan &&

provides the benefit of this knowledge. But to theprovides the benefit of this knowledge. But to theone who does not aspire the knowledge heone who does not aspire the knowledge he

experiences loss and sufferings.experiences loss and sufferings.

•• YamrajYamraj gives the knowledge for prayer as thegives the knowledge for prayer as the

ultimate source or tool for ultimate source or tool for ParamtmaParamtma DarshanDarshan

((AtmaAtma Sakshatkar Sakshatkar ). He guides us to control our ). He guides us to control our senses and dedicate them to thesenses and dedicate them to the ParamatmaParamatma asas

senses are the main hurdle in attaining thesenses are the main hurdle in attaining the

ParamatmaParamatma

TatvaTatva

GyanGyan

.

.



•• The one who attains knowledge seesThe one who attains knowledge sees

ParamatmaParamatma in everything and every excellencein everything and every excellencein the universe to ultimately achievein the universe to ultimately achieve MokshaMoksha..

•• Those who do not attain this knowledge and seeThose who do not attain this knowledge and see

Him as different entities remain stuck in theHim as different entities remain stuck in the

cycle of birth and death.cycle of birth and death.

•• SinceSince NachiketaNachiketa wanted to obtainwanted to obtain

ParamanandaParamananda,, yamrajyamraj gives the knowledge of gives the knowledge of

manifestation of universe in the form of amanifestation of universe in the form of a

reversereverse AshwatthaAshwattha Tree which is also providedTree which is also provided

in thein the BhagwadgitaBhagwadgita..



•• YamrajYamraj also gives the knowledge of Yoga andalso gives the knowledge of Yoga and

process to practice with total devotion toprocess to practice with total devotion toParamatmaParamatma..

•• He also gives the result after death of those whoHe also gives the result after death of those who

are devoted and not devoted.are devoted and not devoted.

•• Attaining the knowledge given byAttaining the knowledge given by YamrajYamraj,,

NachiketaNachiketa achieves the ultimate goal andachieves the ultimate goal and

merges intomerges into ParamatmaParamatma TatvaTatva ((PurnaPurna MokshaMoksha))

•• ShantiShanti PathaPatha

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Lctr4.3_KJS_UPNISHADS