MUNDAKA UPANISHAD ( “For the Shaven-Headed” ) - 2.

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Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the Series of 54 Lectures by Swami Advayananda ji Acharya mji of the 15th Batch Sandeepany Vedanta Course held at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai. From 16th December, 2012 – 13th February, 2013

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Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda

SERVE  LOVE  GIVE  PURIFY  MEDITATE  REALISE

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Saturday, February 26, 2022. 19:00.

MUNDAKA UPANISHAD : 6 Chapters (64 Mantras)

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Chapter-1.

Section-1.

Mantram - 1.

Guru Parampara : Lineage of Teacher :

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Mantram - 1.1.

1 Om, brahma devanam prathamah sambabhuva,

2 vishvasya karta  bhuvanasya gopta;

3 sa brahma-vidyam  sarva-vidya pratishtham,

4 atharvaya  jyeshtha-putraya praha.

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Translation :

1 Om, brahma devanam prathamah sambabhuva,    =   Om. Of the Gods, Brahmaji (Ishwara) was the First; he was Self-born (i.e. born directly of Brahman).

2 vishvasya kartaa  bhuvanasya gopta; =  He is the Creator of this Universe;  He is the Protector of the worlds. He is the Creator of this Universe;  He is the Protector of the worlds.

3 sa brahma-vidyam  sarva-vidya pratishtham, = He is the Knowledge of Reality (Brahma Vidya),  the foundation for all sciences,

4 atharvaya jyeshtha-putraya praha.                 = He gave it out to His own eldest son, Atharva.  (i.e. to Hiranyagarbha, the First-Born).

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Commentary :

The Benefits & Wisdom of the Parampara System :

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1-2 The student does not think that he is ‘big’ when he learns. By remembering the Parampara, credit is given to all those who have learnt this before him. A humble spirit is engendered in the heart of the student. They became great who studied this knowledge, and, yes, indeed we too can become great by doing the same. But that greatness belongs to the Lord who gave this knowledge to us. That is the spirit of the first two mantras.

3 There is also the suggestion in this “lineage of knowledge”, that one has to devote one’s life towards the cause of promoting the wealth of wisdom treasured in the scriptures. We should not be the cause of breaking the chain of knowledge that has been set up. 

4 Brahmaji’s son, Atharva, wanted this knowledge and wa willing to pay the full price for it. “I want God and God alone” is strongly fostered by this lineage. “I want world” is incompatible with this divine wisdom. Thus one is urged to reduce his anchorage to the world and fasten himself to God, to Brahma Vidya, to this supremely divine knowledge. That is the price to be paid by the student of this Vidya.

There is no set time for the study of this knowledge. Time and place considerations apply only to Karma Vidya or secular knowledge. In Jnana Vidya such conditions do not apply. The student decides from his own experience when his mind is most fit and receptive to this knowledge. Of course, youth or the stage of Brahmacharya would be the ideal time to start. Householders also study this Brahma Vidya when they experience the need for it.

NEXT : 2 Mantram 1.2: Lineage of Teachers (contd.)

To be continued....

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