Questions tagged [upanishads]
The last part of the Vedas, consisting of dialogues between teachers and students clarifying the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.
365
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Ramana Maharshi and Free Will
I have been listening to a Q&A session with David Godman in which he states that Ramana believed that everything in our lives is predetermined from birth and that we only have two choices to ...
2
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1answer
109 views
Query on the Mandukya Upanishad, verse no. two?
I have looked at a number of translations, and I'm still unclear as to what verse two is saying.
What is it that subsists in the four states? Is it Atman, is it Brahman, or is it Atman/Brahman?
Thanks....
3
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43 views
Recreational activities
Can someone please provide the recreational activities suggested by ancient sages for students so that I can focus better. I mean how students in ancient India, while staying away from cities used to ...
3
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73 views
On what basis are parts of the Vedas classified as Upanishads, etc. as per the explanation of Adi Shankara?
The Vedas in their entirety are supposed to sing of Brahman. However, the main portions which directly do are the Upanishads or the Vedanta.
In this regard Puri Shankaracharya talks of the explanation ...
3
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1answer
60 views
Who was the father of Sage Kavasa?
This story comes in Aitareya Brahmana
the Risis, called the "middle ones" (Gritsamada, Visvamitra,
Vaniadeva, Atri, Bharadvfija, Vasistha, see Asv. Grihya Sutras, 3, 4),
hold once a ...
2
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0answers
41 views
Is Ajanu (At / Below the Knees) Arms From Birth or can they be developed over time
We all know that the human body is temporary and changes over time (infant --> child --> adolescence --> adult ---> old ---> cadaver). We also know that practicing spirituality can ...
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31 views
Shankaracharya on performing activities with meditation
I have read in multiple places that Shankaracharya champions the idea that whereas mere works (that is, those that are not accompanied with meditation) lead one only to the worlds of manes to the ...
8
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1answer
230 views
Kashmir Shaivism on 10 major Upanishads
Bhagavadpad Adi Shankaracharya commentary on Upanishads is no doubt a masterpiece, but it is very detailed, sometimes so much detailed that a beginner like me feel completely lost in a completely ...
2
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1answer
177 views
Definition of a Father in the Scriptures?
Father is one of the most important figures for anyone. Especially within the Hindu traditions, he's accorded an almost divine status, especially for his Child.
I'm interested in the scripturally ...
2
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0answers
54 views
Is the concept of divine retribution(punishment) mentioned in the Vedas and upanishades?
Divine retribution : Divine retribution is supernatural punishment of a person, a group of people, or everyone by a deity in response to some action. Many cultures have a story about how a deity ...
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258 views
How to reconcile Rama's Vishwaroopa, Upanishads and Krishna saying he is Rama only among warriors?
Lord Rama is often known as the supreme being according to Vaishnavism. This is evidenced by many scriptural refereces:
Brahma in Valmiki Ramayana 6.117.31-32 calls Rama the first/primeval and ...
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1answer
133 views
Who is the lord in Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.18?
Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.18 : Seeking Liberation, I take refuge in the Lord, the revealer of Self—Knowledge, who in the beginning created Brahma and delivered the Vedas to Him.
Who is the lord in ...
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Which Upanishad is this from and what does it mean: "When a blade of grass is cut, the whole universe quivers"?
When a blade of grass is cut, the whole universe quivers.
The internet claims that this is from an Upanishad. Which Upanishad is it from, what is the exact phrase in Sanskrit, and what does it mean?
5
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2answers
174 views
Do Principal Upanishads mention Sat Chit Ananda as attributes of Brahman?
In Principal Upanishads(Not Minor like Tejobindu) is Brahman mentioned as Sat Chit and Ananda? Please include Sanskrit verse to highlighten them with along with English translation.
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4answers
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What are Sat Chit and Ananda attributes of Nirguna Brahman?
Upanishads do say Brahman is formless. So how can formless Brahman be Sat(Existence) Chit(Consciousness) Ananda(Bliss)? Without attributes how can we define these 3 features for Brahman?
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66 views
What are some verses about(against) materialism in upanishad and vedas?
Hinduism is against materialistic people and materialism, so what are some verses from Upanishads and vedas the condemns it.
1
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1answer
127 views
What is the explanation for the following vedas?
From the Anandavalli section of the Taittiriya Brahmana:
आकाशाद्वयुः । वायोरग्निः । अग्नेरापः । अद्भ्यः पृथिवी । पृथिव्या ओषधयः ।
From ether came air. From air came fire. From fire came water. From ...
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1answer
79 views
Who wrote the commentaries on principal Upanishads according to Vishistadvaita tradition?
Ramanujacharya did not write commentaries on Upanishads. He only wrote commentaries on Gita and Brahmasutra. Then there must be somebody in Vishistadvaita tradition who did the job. Who is the person?
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66 views
What is the meaning of term "ignorance" in Upanishads and Vedas?
The word ignorance is related to knowledge of Brahman or what.
2
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1answer
87 views
What is the difference between atma gayan and the knowledge of the Upanishads?
What is the difference between Atma gayan(the knowledge of Self) and the the knowledge of upanishad.
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1answer
83 views
Do Gita talks about or mention Upanishads?
Gita talks about Vedas
BG 10.22: I am the Sāma Veda amongst the Vedas, and Indra amongst the celestial gods. Amongst the senses I am the mind; amongst the living beings I am consciousness.
It also ...
6
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1answer
165 views
What is the correct order for reading shastras? [duplicate]
There are lots of shastras in hinduism. Mahapurans and Upapurans, lots of geetas, dharma shastras, shad darshan, agamas, upanishads and vedas.
Please tell the correct order to read them to grasp it in ...
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0answers
67 views
Is the atman in every being eternally unique and fundamentally individual?
In the Gita Krishna uses the word soul seemingly ambiguously, as it might be taken to mean the universal soul in the first few chapters, and the individual soul in the later chapters when he is ...
2
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1answer
59 views
What is mimamsa interpretation of upanishadic verses that are against ritualistic part of the Vedas?
The eighteen persons necessary for the performance of sacrifice are
transitory and not permanent and karma in its nature inferior, has
been stated as resting upon these. Those ignorant persons who ...
1
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1answer
75 views
Verses similar to Gita 2:42 in the Vedas and Upanishads?
[BG 2:42] : Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, ...
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1answer
77 views
What are some verses that are dedicated to nirguna Brahman in the Upanishads?
What are some verses that are dedicated to nirguna Brahman from the Upanishads?
2
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1answer
81 views
Do any post-RigVedic deities appear in the principal upanishads?
I am taking
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
Chandogya Upanishad
Taittiriya Upanishad
Aitereya Upanishad
Kausitaki Upanishad
Kena Upanishad
Katha Upanishad
Isha Upanishad
Svetasvatara Upanishad
Mundaka ...
3
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1answer
123 views
Are minor Upaniṣads Shruti?
Upaniṣads like Maha Upaniṣad [linked with Samaveda], Narayana Upaniṣad [linked with Krishna Yajurveda] and Tejobindu Upaniṣad [linked with Yajurveda] all are minor Upaniṣads.
So are they (minor ...
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1answer
185 views
Is the famous sanskrit phrase - Vasudhaiva Kuṭumbakam, found in the RigVeda and Maha Upanishad?
The famous Sanskrit phrase is almost used by many people as an an aphorism-maxim proverb, to signify the presence of global acceptability as an Indian value.
Commonly translated as:
Vasudhaiva ...
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39 views
Is there any verse in the Vedas that talks about foreigners or foreign land?
Is there any verse in the Vedas or upanishades that talks about foreigners or foreign land, language, customs.
2
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1answer
149 views
Does the Katha Upanishad verse 2.3.1 contradict the immortality verses about Devatās?
ūrdhvamūlo'vākśākha eṣo'śvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ |
tadeva śukraṃ tadbrahma tadevāmṛtamucyate |
tasmiṃllokāḥ śritāḥ sarve tadu nātyeti kaścana | etadvaitat || 1 ||
Root up and branches down is this ancient ...
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Learning the Vedas and other scriptures [closed]
I would like to read and learn our Hindu scriptures. I do not know where to start at. As I understand the primary source of all knowledge is from the Vedas. I have a very basic understanding of ...
1
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1answer
117 views
Is Consiouness Eternal? Does it remain even after death (When we don't have a body?) If yes how can it be known?
Yajnavalkya says in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.4.12 " The self comes out as a separate entity from these elements, and this separateness is destroyed with them. After attaining this oneness it ...
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41 views
Dharma sandeham [duplicate]
1:
I hear many people telling things like there is no need for women in periods to not work and be normal but sanatana dharmam strictly says women should not do any kind of work for those three day.
2:...
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1answer
182 views
Is the eternality of the Vedas contradicted by brihadaranyaka upanishad 2.4.10?
As from a fire kindled with wet faggot diverse kinds of smoke issue, even so, my dear, the Rg-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, Atharvahgirasa, history, mythology, arts, Upanishads, verses, aphorisms, ...
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40 views
What are the sastras or Vedas or Upanishads of taxashila or Nalanda University destroyed by foreigners? [closed]
I have heard most of the people saying some Greek, Persians etc invaded India and burnt Vedas Upanishads etc or the knowledge present in the form of books.
Why and who destroyed them?
And, what ...
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2answers
119 views
Where can I find upanishad's verse in vedas?
Upaniṣads are the part of vedas. Is it possible to find the verse of upanishad in vedas.
For example :
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad
Chapter I > Section IV - The Creation and Its Cause
In the beginning,...
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1answer
107 views
Do Early Upanishads say World is Real and hence conflicting with Advaitha's doctrine of World as Unreal?
Richard Jones in his Morality and Shankara's Advaitha Vedanta writes
The earlier Upanishads took the phenomena of the world to be real —
Brahman is merely the root (KU II.3.1), “the real of the real”
...
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2answers
104 views
Do Mahavakyas and World as Illusion in Advaita contradict each other?
Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.1 says
All this is Brahman. Everything comes from Brahman, everything goes
back to Brahman, and everything is sustained by Brahman. One should
therefore quietly meditate on ...
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2answers
114 views
When Mind and Space aren't Brahman why does Chandogya Upanishad ask to meditate on Mind and Space as Brahman?
The mind is Brahman—this worship is called adhyātma. Next is that called adhidaivata: Space is Brahman. That is, meditate on space as Brahman. These two ways of meditation are advised: adhyātma and ...
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146 views
Is consciousness temporary? How can Brahman exist eternally?
After Moksha, since we don't have a body, we have no Consciousness or Existence , then how can we conclude that Brahman exists? Because Consciousness and Existence cease to exist after death. I am not ...
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1answer
146 views
Do Upanishads say that they shouldn't be taught to people who don't study or ineligible to study Vedas?
Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.10 says "This is explained by the mantra “who perform the karma enjoined, who are srotriyas, who are centred in the Brahman (lower) and who with faith, offer oblations ...
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1answer
63 views
What are some verses from upanishad that say God is all powerful or omnipotent?
What are some verses that clearly say God is all powerful from upanishad?
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1answer
81 views
What should be order of reading Hindu scriptures and texts for understanding Soul, God, Karm, Moksha and purpose of creation? [duplicate]
I do want to understand fundamental concepts like Soul, God, Karm, Moksh and of course purpose of this life or creation that include everything at more deeper and detailed level.
I guess main sources ...
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3answers
710 views
Why is a major upanishad called "major upanishad"?
There are over 200 Upanishads but the traditional number is 108. Of them, only 10 are the principal Upanishads: Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashan, Mundaka, Mandukya, Tattiriya, Aitareya, Chhandogya and ...
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1answer
198 views
Is there a contradiction between Atharvaveda 8.6.23 and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 6:4:18?
We ought to destroy those who eat cooked as well as uncooked meat, meat involving destruction of males and females, foetus and eggs.(Atharvaveda 8.6.23)
So in this verse meat is bad.
But
He who ...
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2answers
500 views
How has Hell been described in the Vedas and Upanishads?
How has Hell been described in the Vedas and Upanishads?
Whether Hell has mental torture or physical torture?
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4answers
387 views
How can Brahman/consciousness be all pervading including living and non living things?
Brahman is defined as Existance,Consiouness and Bliss(Satchitananda). Aitareya Upanishad 3.1.3 says Brahman is consciousness and pure awareness. Isa Upanishad 1 says its all pervading.
1)But how can ...
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2answers
144 views
Do the Vedic Samhitas mention the Mahakavyas? [duplicate]
The following are the 4 Mahakavyas, mentioned in the Upanishads, taking about the Advaita Philosophy:
Prajñānam Brahma (प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म) - "Insight is Brahman," or "Brahman is ...