UPANISHADS OF INDIA - 4

KATOPANISHAD

It is in the Katopanishad that we find the famous story of Nachikethas (I have narrated this story in my poem “Call me Nachikethas”, Love poem no. 3) Nachikethas is the embodiment of  inquisitiveness. As a boy he could not tolerate the unjust behavior of his father Uddalaka in offering unwanted objects to God in the Viswajith Yaga (sacrifice). Tormented by ill feelings he asked his father for whom his son is going to be offered. Uddalaka became furious and said he will offer him to Yaman,  the God of death.

            So Nachikethas goes to meet Yaman and spends three days at Yamaloka expecting the arrival of Yama. On his arrival Yama asked the boy the purpose of his journey and he posed the question, what happens to the soul after death?  Yama prompted him to ask for all other pleasures instead, but the boy doesn’t yield. He denied all the riches and sensual offerings and persists in knowing the ultimate truth. Then Yama teaches him agnividya, which enables him to attain heaven.

Stanza 17 of part I prescribes the three fold path of tapam,daanam and yagnam for crossing the ocean of life and death.

Nachikethas explains that some people believe that soul exists even after death but some others conclude that the soul also perishes with death. He wants to know the truth. God Yama replies thus:

“Na narenaavarena proktha esha

Suvijneyo bahudha chinthya maana:

Ananya prokthe gathi rakthra naasthi

Aneeyaan hytharkyamanu pramanaath”   - Part II .8

[This self knowledge is not revealed easily. Those who lack real wisdom may try to explain it in different ways but it is not easy to obtain. It is beyond the reach of ordinary minds. And in Stanza 12 he again states that the wiser ones understand Brahma through aadhyathma yoga. By strenuous spiritual disciplines one can comprehend the secrets of the ‘Paramapada’ or ‘Ohm’.

“Ethadhyevaaksharam Brahma  ethadhyevaaksharam param

Ethadhye vaaksharam njathwa yo yadhichathi thasya tath”.  - Part II: 16

[This is Akshara Brahma, this is Parabrahma. One who discerns this truth will be bestowed with whatever he wishes].

After this Yama reveals the great secret regarding soul.

“ Na jaayathe mryathe vaa vipaschi

Naayam kuthaschinna babhuva kaschit

Ajo nitya: sasvathoyam purano

Na hanyathe hanya maane sareere”-  - Part II. 18

                                                       

[This soul is not born, it never dies, it is eternal. It never perishes even if the body becomes one with the earth].

   In the third part we find the famous sloka

“Uthishtata jaagratha prapya varannibodhatha, kshurasya

 Dhaaraanishitha, dhurathryayadurgam padhastat kavayo vadhanthi    - Part III:14
                                                                                     
                                                                                           

 Rise up, wake up. Gain the soul through the samsarga of great people. The wiser ones understand that this is so difficult a task.

      ‘Katopanishat’ occupies a very prominent position among the great writings of India. 

                                                              
                                                                      Dr. Abraham Karickam