Questions tagged [upanishads]
The last part of the Vedas, consisting of dialogues between teachers and students clarifying the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.
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If purusha, prakriti and parmeshwar are eternal, did god not create them?
Once a Christian asked me this question that the Vedic deities did not create anything, because Hindu scriptures say that purusha(soul) and prakriti (matter) are eternal like god.
Mahrishi Dayand ...
3
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2answers
64 views
Does Sankara Bhashyam exist for The Nrusimha Tapani Upanisad?
Does any one know of a source (preferably a publication in print) of 'Sri Sankara Bhashyam' for 'Sri Nrusimha Tapani Upanisad'?
As a background - some people, possibly Vaishnavas, believe that 'Sri ...
2
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1answer
78 views
What should be the daily schedule of a student preparing for an exam, according to Vedas and our ancient teachings? [on hold]
I'm preparing for an exam and my mother told me that I should wake up at 3.30 in morning and chant this shloka and start studying
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती ।
करमूले स्थिता गौरी मंगलं ...
3
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0answers
72 views
To which veda is the Mandukya Upanishad attributed?
To start my elaboration of my question, i am aware that the Mandukya Upanishad is traditionally attributed to the Atharva Veda. Nearly everywhere on the Internet, the text is attributed to Atharva ...
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87 views
Who was the earliest Vedic scholar to think that the Upanishads are not part of the Vedas?
It is a belief among some modern Hindus that the Upanishads in general are not part of the Vedas, nor are they Shruti (apaurusheya), and that they were authored after the Samhitas, which are the truly ...
6
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3answers
372 views
Can you subtract sin with enough virtue? Scriptural quotes/activities/instruction to wipe out any and all sin!
I'm well aware that everyone's driven by the 3 modes of material nature! Reading of ways to get rid of sin is very different from LIVING and DOING the ways to get rid of sin. For instance, if I'm a ...
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1answer
52 views
Rangaramanujacharya's commentary on upanishads
Where can I find Sri Rangaramanujacharya's commentaries on the Upanishads?
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1answer
88 views
What is the meaning of this mantra from Chakshupanishad?
Does anyone know what is the meaning of following mantra?
प्राण विखंडन मन्त्र -
।। ॐ तच्चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुच्चरत् हूं फट् ।।
prāṇa vikhaṃḍana mantra -
।। oṃ taccakṣurdevahitaṃ ...
6
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1answer
156 views
Is the statement 'Gods love the mysterious' also found in the Vedic Samhitas?
The following is from Aitareya Upanishad.
तस्मादिदन्द्रो नामेदन्द्रो ह वै नाम।
तमिदन्द्रं सन्तमिंद्र इत्याचक्षते परोक्षेण।
परोक्षप्रिया इव हि देवाः परोक्षप्रिया इव हि देवाः ৷৷ 1.3.14 ৷৷
...
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2answers
126 views
Liberated souls come back [duplicate]
Do the souls which attained moksha in this creation again come back to earth to undergo birth and death process in the next creation which takes place after mahapralay?
2
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2answers
123 views
English Transliteration of Vedas and Upanishads
Translations of the Vedas and Upanishads are available in great numbers online, but unfortunately, the transliteration of Vedas is rare to find.
Thus, I would like to know where can I find the ...
6
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2answers
182 views
Relationship between waking state and dreaming state?
Our Upanishads talk about four different states, out of which the two are:
Waking state, which basically is the reality experienced externally in the outer world and Dreaming state, which basically ...
4
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2answers
135 views
Why agni is known as jaatavedas? [duplicate]
A shloka of Kena Upanishad says:
tey agnim abruvan jaataveda etad vijaanihi kim etad yaksham iti
tatheti
Agni – Fire, is called jaatavedas – ‘the knower of the Vedas.’
My question: Why is agni ...
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2answers
134 views
Who or what attains moksha?
When we talk about liberation among the living i.e the jeevanmukts, is it their aatman which has achieved realization? If not the aatman, that what/who? For those who have done good karma in this ...
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53 views
Scriptural basis for Ramakrishna's claim about 'inner nerve of memory' (medhā nāḍī)
In The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna / Volume 1 / Rules for Householders and Monks, Ramakrishna Paramahansa makes the following claim.
MAHIMA:
Sir, why does a man become deluded by worldly ...
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1answer
178 views
Timelines of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vedas, and Upanishads
Can someone please give timelines of Ramayana, Mahabharta, Vedas, and Upanishads?
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1answer
132 views
What is the meaning of Katha(कठ) in Katha Upanishad?
I finished reading कठ (Katha) Upanishad sometime back but did not find any mention of "कठ" anywhere in the Upanishad itself.
Dictionary has four meanings:
Distress
Name of the sage
Pupil of sage ...
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What other yoga scriptures has kak bushundi or bhushundi maharaj gifted to mankind?
Kak bushundi or bushunda maharaj or kagabujandar as he is referred to in south India has written yogic scriptures such as
Kagabujandar upanishad.
Kagabujandar pernum noel kaviyam 1000
Yoga vashista ...
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1answer
165 views
Just like there is a Shiva Purana and Vishnu Purana, is there a Purana praising Brahma?
Title. I want a book about Brahma. It can be in the form of a Gita like Shiva Gita or Bhagavad Gita or it can be in the form of a Purana.
Thanks.
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1answer
84 views
Is there anything in our scriptures where it says something similar to “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”
I've read the major parts of the Bhagavad Gita where my interpretation is that 'Anyone who is attached to the FRUITS of the reward, he will dwell in misery always'.
Now I'm reading many books like '...
6
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1answer
100 views
Can one learn the Upanishads (Jnana Kanda) without learning Karma Kanda of Vedas?
Can a person learn Jnana Kanda of Vedas without learning the Karma Kanda? Is there any rule like one should learn the Samhithas and Brahmanas first, then only he can proceed to Jnana kanda?
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0answers
31 views
Who is the first commentator Vishvesvara on Gopala Tapani upanishad?
The first commentator and the only pre gaudiya commentator on Gopala Tapani Upanishad is Vishvesvara. I could find no information about him. His' is mix of monism and theistic commentary as Gopala ...
8
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2answers
232 views
Where is the concept of Prapatti/Saranagati mentioned in the mukhya upanishads, as per the Sri Vaishnava interpretation?
Srivaishnavas, followers of Ramanuja, believe in the concept of prapatti or Saranagati, where, if I understand correctly, God himself becomes the savior after the devotee surrenders completely to God. ...
4
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2answers
150 views
Mention of “Bhagavan” in Upanishads
Brahman / Brahma is frequently mentioned in the Upanishads as in the famous statement from Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.1:
सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म
sarvam khalvidam brahma
All this is Brahman
Is the ...
4
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1answer
87 views
What are the details of this process of identifying a thief in the scriptures?
'A red-hot axe was placed before two persons accused of theft charge and both were asked to touch the axe one by one. The thief got his hand burnt while the other one remained unhurt'
the above is ...
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1answer
173 views
Are Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads one and the same?
I had mistaken Mandukyam and Mundakam as different pronounciations of the title of the same upanishads, but just recently learnt that they are infact different. My questions are as follows:
What are ...
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1answer
155 views
Are people really punished for their bad deeds?
In this world people commit many bad deeds in their day to day life. Some on extreme level, but still those people live their life happily. There are many historical examples of such people for ...
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67 views
What is the earliest reference to the “yo vapyetam” verse of the Katha Upanishad?
The first chapter of the Katha Upanishad, in the recensions commented on by Adi Shankaracharya and Madhvacharya, has 29 verses. But the recension of the Katha Upanishad commented on by the Sri ...
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1answer
79 views
Where can I read Prasthana Trayi from Satya Sai school?
Satya Sai baba advocated Premadvaita and he explained the prasthana trayi very lucidly. Where can I read his works on bhagavad gita, upanishads and vedanta?
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Why Does Torture Exist? [duplicate]
please give me your best explanation from a spiritual point of view (from Brahman's point of view). I am not talking about what can be called "meaningful pain." I am speaking of meaningless pain, ...
5
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1answer
137 views
Who decided to include only three particular texts in the group called “Prasthanatrayi”? [duplicate]
From Wikipedia:
Prasthanatrayi (Sanskrit: प्रस्थानत्रयी, IAST: Prasthānatrayī),
literally, three sources (or axioms), refers to the three canonical
texts of Divine philosophy, especially of ...
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Can Kshatriyas teach Brahmanas some Brahma Vidyas?
According to Hindu scripture, only Brahmanas can teach the Vedas and knowledge that directly comes from Vedic texts:
Manu 1.88 - For the Brāhmaṇas he ordained teaching, studying, sacrificing and ...
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1answer
85 views
In Which Upanishad Can I Find The Story of the Creation of the Universe by Brahman?
I only know a very basic narrative of the Brahman mythology - Brahman splits itself into Trimurti (Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu) and Trimurti give rise to countless other forms and consciousness.
...
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41 views
Is everything fixed and I (as a limited individual) am not the doer in spite of Heisenberg's uncertainty? [duplicate]
Is everything fixed in spite of Heisenberg's uncertainty and the so called 'doer-ship of limited individuals'?
Is there free-will or is life just a movie that we are forced to watch?
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1answer
67 views
Why according to Vyasadeva, Shaiva-mata is inconsistent with the Vedas?
In our Vedas/ Upanishads, Vishnu/Narayana, Shiva/Rudra and Uma/Devi are all names of the Supreme Godhead. They same holds for different Puranas also.
Why does then Vyasadeva declare the Shaiva Mata ...
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44 views
In garbha upanishad, in what way the seven types of colors were classified? And what are the significant of it?
In garbha upanishad it says,
the colors are basically of seven types viz., white, red, black, smoky gray, yellow and golden white.”
What are these seven types? How these are categories in 7 types?
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1answer
85 views
How many verses are there in the Mukhya Upanishads?
Wikipedia says the following 13 Upanishads are the Mukhya Upanishads:
Isha Upanishad
Kena Upanishad
Kaṭha Upanishad
Praṣna Upanishad
Muṇḍaka Upanishad
Māṇḍūkya Upanishad
Taittirīya Upanishad
Aitareya ...
2
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1answer
109 views
What are the dates of Subala and Mudgala Upanishads?
Scholarly opinion is as follows:
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Mudgala_Upanishad.html
The author or composition date of Mudgala Upanishad is unknown. Jan ...
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1answer
117 views
Why do people perform rites and meditate if its a hindrance?
According to the īśā Upaniṣad and the latter Śrī Śaṅkarācārya (of Advaita) commentary:
अन्धं तमः प्रविशन्ति येऽविद्यामुपासते । ततो भूय इव ते तमो य उ
विद्यायां रताः ॥
andhaṃ tamaḥ praviśanti ...
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0answers
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What is this verse in Garbha Upanishad trying to say?
Garbha Upanishad mentions following:
If the father’s seed is more potent, it becomes male; if the mother’s
seed is stronger, it becomes female. If the seeds are equal, it
becomes an intersexual....
3
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1answer
166 views
Are there any Gaudiya Vaishnava commentaries on the Upanishads?
Sri Adi-Sankaracharya's commentaries on the Upanishads are most popular in present time. Are there any Gaudiya Vaishnava commentaries available on the Upanishads?
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1answer
139 views
Are there English translations of Upanishad bhAshyas from dvaita and vishishtha advaita perspectives?
Sri Madhva wrote commentaries on upanishads from dvaita perspective.
Sri Ranga Ramanuja wrote commentaries on upanishads from vishishtha advaita perspective.
Are these commentaries available in ...
4
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1answer
87 views
In which scripture does the word “Bhagavan” appear first?
We all know that the words Bhagavan and Ishwar are used in many Hindu scriptures. They give their meanings also. I want to know, in which scripture did the word "Bhagavan" appear first?
2
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3answers
755 views
What is the original Hare Krishna mahamantra [duplicate]
The Hare Krishna mahamantra which I have heard from my family and saints is the following:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Wikipedia ...
5
votes
2answers
377 views
Is sannyasa a Vedic way of life? Is it recommended by the Vedas, the ten authentic Upanishads or Grhyasutras?
Sannyasa is BELIEVED to be the so called "fourth stage" of life, i.e after brahmacharya, grihastha, and vAnaprastha. However, when one has ALREADY moved to the forest in seclusion after retiring from ...
4
votes
1answer
218 views
Why the three levels of reality of Advaita Vedanta are not mentioned in any scriptures?
According to Advaita Vedanta, there are three levels of reality:
Pāramārthika (Absolute reality)
Vyāvahārika (Relative reality)
Prāthibhāsika (unreality)
Now, as far as I know, this concept is not ...
4
votes
2answers
171 views
How do the traditional Vedic commentators interpret VajraSuchika Upanishad?
Traditional Vedanta commentators and Acharyas like Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, etc always held that Varna system is based on birth. However, Vajrasuchika Upanishad goes to another extreme and ...
5
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0answers
83 views
Are the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads revealed texts, or are they composed?
No Hindu disputes that the mantras in the Samhita part of the Vedas are direct revelations by Rishis.
But what about the texts of the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads? These don't seem to be ...
6
votes
1answer
129 views
Do the Karma Kanda of Vedas themselves anywhere say performing rituals won't give us liberation?
Karma Kanda of Vedas, Vedangas are treated as Apara Vidhya and Upanishads are treated as Para Vidhya, since the former only give us rebirth and Upanishads provide us Knowledge of Brahman, through ...
4
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0answers
133 views
Differences in explanation for this verse “Yato vā imāni bhutāni jāyante” which describe the parabrahman
In few upanyasams by Srivaishnava scholars, on the question of what is Brahman, I have come across this verse from Taittirīya Upanishad -
Yato vā imāni bhutāni jāyante; yena jātāni jivanti; yat ...
