Friday, 29 November 2013

Upanishads of India - 15


Mukthikopanishad – Part I

            This occupies a very prominent position among the 108 Indian Upanishads. It tells the story of Hanuman encountering Sri Rama with the most important question of moksha or salvation.. He states the following:

 “Hey Raghu sreshta, I bow down before you again. I would like to know about your real nature for the sake of my deliverance. I want to know about the easiest method of freeing myself from this worldly bondage. Kindly advise me.”
         
   In the following stanza, Sri Rama advises him about the attainment of moksha:

“Saadhu Prashtam mahaabaho vadaami srino tatwatha:
Vedante supratishtoham vedaantam samupaasraya”.

[Hey Mahabaho, this is the most important question that you have asked. I will divulge you the ultimate secret. I am immerged in Vedanta. You have to depend fully on Vedanta.]

            Hanuman then asked about the intricasies of Vedanta and Sri Rama explains to him about the importance of Vedanta thus:

“Vedantas are so vast. They have originated from my breath. It is just like the oil in sesame seed. “

Then Hanuman asked about the number of Vedas and its ramifications. Sri Rama says that there are four vedas and several branches for the same, which include so many of the Upanishads. Rigveda has 21 chapters and Yajurveda contains 109 subsections. Saamaveda has 1000 divisions and Atharvaveda has 50 branches. Each of these branches has one Upanishad. One who studies any of these will attain sayugya (moksha) which is even beyond the reach of great Sages.

Dr. Karickam


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