Upanishads : "The cream of Vedas"

Mundakopanishad :  CHAPTER-2. SECTION-2. MANTRAM-1.{  Pointers  to  the  nature  of  Brahmam  and  advice  how  to  know  it. } Avih  sannihitam  guhacaram  nama mahat  padam-atraitat  samarpitam, ejat  pranan-nimisac-ca  yadetaj-janatha  sad-asad varenyam  param  vijnanad  yad-varishtam  prajanam. avih  =  bright; sannihitam  =  existing  very  close; guhacaram  =  moving  in  the  cavity  of  heart; nama  =  known  as; mahat  =  great; padam  =  the  support; atra  =  here  ( in  that  Brahmam ); etat  =  this; ( sarvam  =  all ); samarpitam  =  ( in  HIM  ( Brahmam / Lord / God )  is  all  the  universe )  centred  round; ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-10. {  Brahmam  and  the  universe  are  ONE.  Knowing Brahmam destroys  the  knots  of  Ignorance. }  Discussion-2. "PURUSHA ....... The  knot  of  ignorance....." We  think  that  we  are  the  body-mind-intellect-equipment  and  this  constant  thought  is  the  ego  which  is  the  hornet  of  pains  and  limitations. To  rediscover  ourselves  to  be  not  the  body,  mind  and  intellect,  that  we  are  nothing  but  the  Spirit-centre  ---  the PURUSHA,  is  to  end  all  our  self-made  shackles,  the  chains  of  ignorance. The  knot  of  ignorance  is  the ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-10. {  Brahmam  and  the  universe  are  ONE.  Knowing Brahmam destroys  the  knots  of  Ignorance. } Discussion-1. "Spiritual conclusion"   ..... Summarising  these  mantra-s  above,  Sruti  is  here  declaring  the  spiritual  conclusion  that  the  entire  world  of  names  and  forms,  feelings  and  ideas  is  but  a  manifestation  of  the  dynamic  whole  ---  the  PURUSHA. Action  and  thought  ( knowledge )  when  combined  tigether  provide  us  with  different  fields  of  activities  called  Universe. To  know  that  this  PURUSHA  is  the  vital  centre  in  the  i...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-10. {  Brahmam  and  the  universe  are  ONE.  Knowing Brahmam destroys  the  knots  of  Ignorance. } Purusha  evedam  visvam  karma tapo  brahma  paramartam, etad  yo  veda  nihitam  guhayam so  vidya-granthim  vikiratiha  somya. purusham  =  the  Lord; eva  =  alone; idam  =  this; visvam  =  all  the  universe; karma  =  action/activity ( sacrificial works/ rituals ); tapah  =   tapas ( austerity, i.e,  knowledge ); brahma  =  ( all  this  is  ) Bramam; para-amrtam  =  the  highest  and  the  immortal; etat  =  this; yah  =  he  who; veda  =  knows; nihitam  =  seated  in; guhayam  = ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-9. { "Mountains, rivers, plants,  rtc. are also  born  of  Brahmam" }. Discussion-2. "Antaratma"..? The  'antaratma'  ( term used in the end of the fourth line of the mantram )  mentioned  in  the  mantramis  to  be  understood  to  refer  to  the  subtle  body  ( Sushma-sariram )  and  not  to  the  seat  of  Consciousness. In  short,  the  labour  of  mother  'Sruti'  is  to  hammer into  our  understanding  the  idea,  that  all  the  names-and-forms  recognised  by  our  senses,  all  the  mental  emotions  and  intellectual  capacities,  in  short,  the  entire  world  outside  and  within  ourselves, ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-9. { "Mountains, rivers, plants,  rtc. are also  born  of  Brahmam" }. Discussion-1. "Recap of  previous  mantram  and  how  Sruti  takes  you  further  about  the  details  of  creation"... In  the  previous  mantra-s,  we  have  been  told  that  from  the  Supreme  Reality  came  all  the  dynamic  aspects  of  nature  and  the  entire  kingdom  of  living  organisms. This  enumeration  might  leave  in  the  minds  of  the  readers  a  doubt  a  doubt  that  the  inert  'matter'  may  have  a  different  source  of  existence  altogether. In  order  to  remove  an...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-9. { "Mountains, rivers, plants,  rtc. are also  born  of  Brahmam" }. Atah  samudra  girayas-ca  sarve-smat syandante  sindhavah  sarva-rupah, atas  ca  sarva  osadhayo  rasas-ca yenaisa  bhutais-tishthate  hy-antaratma. atah  =  from  Him; samudrah  =  the  occeans; girayah  =  the  mountains; ca  =  and; sarve  =  all; ( utpannah  =  have  originated); asmat  =  from  Him; syandante  =  flow; sindhavah  =  the  rivers; sarva-rupah  =  of all  descriptions; atah  =  from  Him; ca  =  too; sarvah  =  all; osadhayah  =  the  herbs; rasah  =  the  saps; ca  =  and; (sambhavanti  =  originate ); ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-8. { Objects,  organs  and  their  presiding  deities  are  also  the  creation  of  Brahmam }. Discussion-5. "lying  in  the  cave ( heart )" ....... The  vitality  of  these  centres  retires  and  take  rest,  as  it  were,  in  the  cave  of  he  heart  ( where  intelligence  remains )  when  the  individual  is  in  the  state  of  deep  sleep. That  the  word  "Prana"  here  cannot  be  the  vital  air  is  clearly  shown  by  this  suggestive  description  that  they  move  and  function  in  the  cave  of  the  heart. The  pictorial  language, ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-8. { Objects,  organs  and  their  presiding  deities  are  also  the  creation  of  Brahmam }. Discussion-4. "The  seven  loka-s" ...... The  Seven  Loka-s :  In  this  beautiful  metaphor,  maintaining  the  general  spirit  of  poetry  in  the  mantram,  we  must  take  the  word  "Loaka"  here  to  mean  the  sense-centres  in  the  intellect. It  is  known  to  the  scientific  world  that  there  are  definite  nerve-centres  or  the  inner  principles  of  the  senses,  without  which  the  external  senses  cannot  by  themselves  function,  nor  cannot ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-8. { Objects,  organs  and  their  presiding  deities  are  also  the  creation  of  Brahmam }. Discussion-3."Oblations  referred "......       The  oblations  referred  to  here  must  naturally  mean  the  knowledge  gained,  when  the  power  of  cognition  shooting  out  through the  senses,  comes  in  contact  with  their  respective  objects. Oblation  is  that  which  is  thrown  into  the  flames  ( homa-dravyam  poured  in  homakundam ) and  which  sinks  down  into  the  very  source  of  the  flame,  there  to  get  itself  digested  and  burnt  down. Next : Di...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-8. { Objects,  organs  and  their  presiding  deities  are  also  the  creation  of  Brahmam }. Discussion-2. "Supreme  Self" ..... From  the  Supreme  Self  are  born  the  seven-holes  in  the  head  : 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears, and 1 mouth. * ( Swami Adi Sankracharys  explains  these  seven  prana-s  as  the  seven-sense-spots  localised  in  the  head. These  seven  flames  are  referred  to  in  Prasnopanishad  111-5.) The  seven  flames  mentioned  are  the  seven  powers  of  cognition  that  beam  out,  as  it  were,  to  illuminate  their  respective  objects. Thus  through  the b eyes,  in...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-8. { Objects,  organs  and  their  presiding  deities  are  also  the  creation  of  Brahmam }. Discussion-1. "On  a  rough  reading  the  above  ........  confusion  and  confusion  ....." On  a  rough  reading,  this  would  naturally  confuse  anyone,  for,  in  its  literal  meaning,  it  has  no  sense  at  all. But  it  is  the  style  of  the  scriptures  to  use  such  code-language. The  "Sruti" mantra-s  are,  as  it  were,  very  brief  lecture-notes  taken  down  by  the  most  intelligent  students  while  listening  to  the  discourses  of  the ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-8. { Objects,  organs  and  their  presiding  deities  are  also  the  creation  of  Brahmam }. Sapta  pranah  prabhavanti  tasmat saptarcisah  samidhah  sapta  homah, sapta  ime  loka  yeshu  caranti  prana guhasaya  nihitah  sapta  sapta. sapta  pranah  =  seven  prana-s  or  organs  of  senses; prabhavanti  =  are  born; tasmat  =  from  Him; sapta  arcisah  =  seven  flames  of  the  fire  ( viz. 1.Kali, 2. Karati, 3. etc,.......)  which  are  powers  of  recognition; samidhah  =  ( seven - fold  sense  objects ),  fuel; saptah  =  seven-fold; homah  =  oblations  ( knowledge ); saptah  = ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-6 & 7.  { Rituals  and  means  to  perform  them  are  also  born  from  the  imperishable. } Summation : Thoughts,  when  directed  towards  a  great  ideal  with  reverence  and  love,  gain  for  themselves  a  greater  potency  and  such  thoughts  are  together  called  devotion. He  who  is  thus  devoted  to  a  great  ideal,  divine  and  spiritual,  cannot  but  take  on  himself  vows  of  truthfulness,  and  self-control. He  who  has  these  qualities  will  naturally  have  a  new  code  of  high  values  in  life  and  with  severe  ale...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-6 & 7.  { Rituals  and  means  to  perform  them  are  also  born  from  the  imperishable. } Discussion-2. "In  the  second  mantram,  we  have  ......." In  the  second  mantram,  we  have  the  combination  of the  sequence  of  Creation,  to  emphasize  the fact,  that  every  living  creature  and  its  activities  of  life  have  come  from  that  Supreme  Soul,  the  Eternal  Pure  Consciousness. After  the  corn  and  barley  in  the  above  list,  the  Rishi-s  enumerate,  thought,  devotion,  etc. A few  well  known  critics  seem  to  stumble  here ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-6 & 7.  { Rituals  and  means  to  perform  them  are  also  born  from  the  imperishable. } Discussion-1. "how  from  the  subtler,  grosser  things  evolving ..........." In  these  two  mantram-s,  we  have  the  details  showing  how  from  the  subtler,  grosser  things  have  evolved,  ultimately  to  make  up  our  known  world  of  things  and  feelings. The  first  mantram  is  clear  in  itself,  due  to  the  various  sacrificial  rites  which,  in  this  connection,  may  be  considered  to  incorporate  in  its  scope,  entire  world  of  actions...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-6 & 7.  { Rituals  and  means  to  perform  them  are  also  born  from  the  imperishable. } Mantram-7. Tasmac-ca  deva  bahudha  samprasutah sadhya  manusyah  pasavo  vayamsi, prana-panau  vrihiyabau  tapas-ca sraddha  satyam  brahma-caryam  vidhis-ca. tasmat  =  from  Him; ca  =  and; devah  =  the  Gods; bahudha  =  of  various  orders  ( e.g.  Vasu-s,  Rudra-s,  etc ); samprasutah  =  are  born; sadhyah  =  the  celestial; manushyah  =  the  human  beings; pasavah  =  the  cattle,  beasts; vayamsi  =  the  birds; prana-apanau  =  the  in-breaths  and  out-breaths; vrihiyavau  = ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-6 & 7.  { Rituals  and  means  to  perform  them  are  also  born  from  the  imperishable. } Mantram-6. Tasmad  rcah  sama  yajumsi  diksha yajnas-ca  sarve  kratavo  dakshinas-ca, samvat-saras-ca  yajamanas-ca  lokah somo  yatra  pavate  yatra  suryah. tasmat  =  from  Him; rcah  =  Vedik  hymns  -  the RK; samah  =  the  sacred  chants - the Sama  Vdam; yajumsi  =  the  sacrificial  formulae  of  Yajur  Vedam; diksha  =  preliminary  rites  observed  by  the  sacrificer; yahnah  =  sacrifices  like  Agnihotram; ca  =  and; sarve  =  all; kratavah  =  ceremonies  which  require ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-5. { Sequence  of  Creation  from  the  Imperishable } Discussion-5. "What  Sruti  says  ......." That  from  the  rain,  the  seedlings  grow,  needs  no  commentary. When  these  vegetable  are  eaten,  the  male  secretes  its  seeds  which  are  thrown  in  to  the  womb  of  the  female  where  germination  takes  places. This  is  the  pedigree or  the  sequence  by  which  from  the  Supreme,  the  multiple  plurality  of  created  beings  come  to  exist,  says  the  'Sruti'. Mantram-5. ENDS. Next : Mantram-6. To be continued  ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-5. { Sequence  of  Creation  from  the  Imperishable }  Discussion-4. " From  the  Moon,  the  Clouds  ---  the  Second  Fire" ...... From  the  Moon,  the  clouds  ---the  second  Fire : -  Tis is  to  be  considered  as  the  second  Great  Fire. The  moon  is  consideredas  that  which  causes  the  essence  in  the  herbs  and  the  eeds. Probably  we  will  have  to  wait  for  some  more  years  for  the  West,  to  discover  and  dedeclare  to  us,  that  the  moonlight  has  a  definite  function  in  flourishing  the  seeds  and  the  frui...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-5. { Sequence  of  Creation  from  the  Imperishable } Discussion-3. "The  concept  of  Space  ....." The concept  of  Space  (  and  the  consequent  sense  of  limitation )  has  come  to  us  a  reaction  of  out  past  actions,  for  the  enjoyment  of  which  each  one  of  us  has  taken  this  incarnation. That  moment  any  one  of  us  transcends  the  bondage  of  Space-Time,  no  ore  can  this  world  and  the  experiences  of  this  world  assert  themselves  in  our  cognition. We  have  already  found  that  the  physical  Sun  has ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-5. { Sequence  of  Creation  from  the  Imperishable } Discussion-2. "the Meditation  of  the  Five  Fires"..... In  order  to  understand  this  mantram,  we  must  know  that  in  the  Chandogya  Upanishad,  a  method  called  "the  meditation  of  the  Five  Fires" has  been  advised. Herein,  Mother  Sruti  is  talking  in  the  language  of  the  Upasana. 1. Sky : ..."whose  fuel  is  the  Sun : The  statement  made  is  to  facilitate  the  student's  meditation  for  the  purpose  of  self-purification. Here,  the  word  'Sky' means  the  very  concept  of  Space. We  ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-5. { Sequence  of  Creation  from  the  Imperishable } Discussion-1. "It  is  such  Mantram-s  that  confuse  and  confound  ordinary  reader........we  need  a  guide ( Guru )..." It  is  such  mantram-s  that  confuse  and  confound  the  library  readers  of  the  scriptures. From  every  way-side-book-stall  cheap  editions  of  all  scriptures  in  the  world,  temptingly  invite  the  passers-by. The  publishers  also  see  to  it  that  the  editions  are  within  the  reach  of  all. And  yet,  none  of  the  none  of  the  editors  has  cared  to  see  whether ...

Mundakopanishad : Chapter-2. Section-1. Mantram-5. { Sequence  of  Creation  from  the  Imperishable } "Tasmad-agnih  samidho  yasya  suryah somat  parjanya  osadhayah  prthivyam, puman  retah  sincati  yositayam vahvih  prajah  purusat  samprasutah." [tasmat  =  from  Him; agnih  =the  sky  ( which  is  the  First  fire ); samidhah  =  fuel; yasya  =  whose; suryah  =  the  Sun; somat  =  from  the  moon; parjanyah  =  the  rain  clouds  ( Second fire ) osadhayah  =  the  herbs; prthivyam  =  on  the  earth  ( the  Third  fire ); puman  =  the  man  (  the  Fourth  fire ); retah  =  semen; sincati  =  casts,  sheds; yosi...