Questions tagged [upanishads]
The last part of the Vedas, consisting of dialogues between teachers and students clarifying the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.
2
votes
2answers
50 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
99 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
44 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
107 views
Timelines of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vedas, and Upanishads
Can someone please give timelines of Ramayana, Mahabharta, Vedas, and Upanishads?
6
votes
1answer
126 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
144 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.
2
votes
1answer
73 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
votes
1answer
88 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?
3
votes
0answers
28 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
votes
2answers
188 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
votes
2answers
139 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
82 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
76 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
59 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
70 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?
0
votes
0answers
34 views
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
votes
1answer
115 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
51 views
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
64 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.
...
1
vote
0answers
40 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?
0
votes
1answer
63 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
40 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?
0
votes
1answer
64 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
votes
1answer
94 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
110 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
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
votes
1answer
142 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?
2
votes
1answer
106 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
votes
1answer
78 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
votes
3answers
570 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
352 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
176 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
157 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
votes
0answers
78 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
118 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
votes
0answers
127 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 ...
6
votes
0answers
98 views
How many upanishads were there traditionally?
As per Muktika Canon, there are 108 upanishads. Is it the exact number or this is just 108 important upanishads. I read elsewhere that each branch of 4 Vedas have one upanishad each. Traditionally, ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Why is Isha upanishad in two recensions?
It seems Isha upanishad is available in Kanva and Madhyandhina recensions. These two appear to be two shakas. How can same upanishad be available in two shakas? Which version is generally used while ...
11
votes
2answers
364 views
On what basis are 4 mahavakyas chosen?
There are many upanishadic statements.
I want to know why these four only are considered mahavakyas?
Prajnanam Brahma (प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म)
Aham Brahma Asmi (अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि)
Tat Tvam Asi (...
3
votes
1answer
90 views
On what basis Vedas, Upanishads etc. are named?
The names of Vedas are Rig, Sama,etc.. Similarly upanishads like Isha, Kena, Katha etc.. How exactly are they named the way they are? What about brahmanas, samhitas etc?
5
votes
1answer
148 views
Are the upanishads later to the Vedas?
This question is in connection with my previous question related to Puranas and upanishads. It is also a follow up to my another question.
Chhāndogya Upanishad verses 7.1.2 and 7.1.4 mention the ...
3
votes
0answers
89 views
Any Vedantic messages from Karma Kanda of Vedas?
It is well known that Upanishads contain Vedantic statements, but I want to know Vedantic statement from Karma Kanda of Vedas if any.
-5
votes
1answer
217 views
Which scripture is Zakir Naik referring to here?
In his website, Zakir Naik claims that the name Allah appears in Upanishads:
"Allah" in Rigveda Book 2 Hymn I verse II
Even in the Rigveda which is
the most sacred scripture of the Hindus, one ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
Where can I find a good comparitive study of the prasthana trayi commentaries?
Are there any good editions of texts available online or offline that provide a side by side, comparative study of the commentaries on the Prasthana trayi (Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita)?...
9
votes
3answers
314 views
Who is offering prayers in Isha Upanishad and to whom?
From the last few mantras in Isha Upanishad, it is clear that all mantras are offered as a prayer?
Who is praying and to whom?
6
votes
5answers
343 views
As per Hindu scriptures does lord Śiva explicitly claim himself to be a deity that has to be worshiped?
Note: I have limited knowledge in these matters. But I am a curious person and go with reasoning.
I want to know that in which all Hindu's divine/sacred scriptures lord Śiva has claimed or explicitly ...
1
vote
2answers
579 views
What does the word Shambhu mean? [closed]
Shambhu is modified word from Swayam bhu which means "Self Born" and is another name of Brahman or Purush from Upanishads. No other Deity is called Shambhu or has a Nirakaar form like Shiva Lingam. ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Are there any references to Niralambopanishat and SukaRahasyopanishat prior to Adi Shankaracharya?
Among Vedantins; Advait is a widely followed philosophy.
The famous quote of Shree Adi Shankaracharya goes:
Brahma Satya, Jagat Mithya.
Now many Advaitins have mentioned that the verse was not ...
