Bikshukopanishad

“Ohm atha bikshunam

Mokshartheenam kuteechaka

Bahutaka hamasa paramahamsa schethi chatwaaraka”

                This is an Upanishad dealing with the different types of Bikshus or Sanyasis. As seen in the first stanza,  there are four different types of Bhikshus. These are-

1. Kuteechakan

2. Bahudakan

3. Hamsan

4. Paramahamsan

All the qualities of all these different classes of sages are discussed in detail.

                Kudeechakan is in the class of Gauthaman, Bharadwajan, Yajna Valkyan, Vasishtan etc. They eat only 8 mouth fulls of food and they spend their time in meditation.

 Bahudakan will have the following as his mark:

I) The three fold emblematic   staff   

II) Tuft

III) Ochre dress

                He will totally renounce vine and meat. He eats only 8 mouth fulls of food and accepts food from the houses of Brahmarshis.

                The third type of Bikshu is called Hamsan. He stays one night in village and five nights in the city. He also stays seven nights in a temple. He drinks cow’s urine and practices yoga.

 The fourth class is that of Paramahamsan. He belongs to the class of Jadabharathan, Samvarthakan, Aaruni, Swethakethu, Dathaathreyan, Sukadevan, Vamadevan and Bhareethakan. They usually reside in caves or cemeteries and find resting place under the shade of trees. They can be clad or unclad. They also eat only 8 mouth fulls of food and seek the path of yoga alone. They consider stone and gold equal. They are never concerned about profit or loss. They accept alms from everyone irrespective of caste or colour. They see their aatman in every object. They will take shelter in places like temples, deserted places ,under a tree or ant hills. They sleep on the sandy banks of rivers and caves. They will have only one goal in life, which is the realization of Brahma. They live in total renunciation and give up bodies and become one with Brahma.

Aarunikopanishad

            Here the protagonist is Aruni, Son of Aruna, a devotee of Prajapathi. He goes to Brahmaloka and asks Brahman the following question: “Hey Bhagavan, how do I abandon all Karma”?

            Brahma prescribed a series of tenets like abandoning the following:

i) His own sons and relatives

ii) Sikha

iii) Yagnopaveetham

iv) Soothram

Then he has to abandon all the 14 worlds. These are -

1) Earth

2) Bhuvarloka

3) Swarloka

4) Maharloka

5) Janaloka

6) Tapoloka

7) Sathyaloka

8) Athalam

9) Pathalkam

10) Vithalam

11) Suthalam

12) Rasathalam

13) Talathalam

14) Mahaathalam

            All these make the Brahmananda loka. There should not be any desire for any of these worlds. He should be a custodian of only three things:

i) dandam

ii) kaupeenam

iii) blanket

 and he becomes a total sanyasi other requisites are the following:

i) Eat little food just as one takes medicines.

ii) He has to eat whatever he gets.

iii) He follows brahmacharya, ahimsa and sathyam.

            Thus he evolves into a Paramahamsa parivrajaka practicing aasana sayans (yogic postures for sleep). He can keep a pot or vessel. He completely avoids feelings like lust, anger, hatred, contempt, desire, pride, joy and so on. He stays in one place during the rainy season( four months) and travels only eight months during a year. He can travel alone or with a companion. He abandons every one of the relations and all karma. He makes his hands a vessel for receiving alms.

            Finally Brahma says that one who realizes the truth encompassed in this Upanishad becomes a njani or knowledgeable person. He will shine like the Sun because of the inner light. In the end he attains Paramadhama.

Dr. Karickam