MUNDAKA UPANISHAD - 17. Swami Advayananda.

 ========================================================================

Chinmaya Mission :

There goes a Vedic saying, "The Truth is One, the wise speak of it differently." 

While the Lord is One and formless, each of his different forms or manifestations serves a specific purpose for the sadhaka. 

To get a passport renewed, do we go to the Central Government in Delhi? We go to the passport office in our city, isn't it? But these are only different arms of the same Government. 

Similarly, to attain specific desires we devote our minds to specific forms of the Lord whose manifest energy is most suitable for its fulfillment. 

Do you know any other form that we worship for specific desires? Let us know in the comments!

=======================================================================

6 Chapters (64 Mantras)

Chapter-1.

Section-2 : A CLOSE LOOK AT RITUALS : (Mantras 10-22, 13 no.)

=========================================================================

Thursday, December 22, 2022. 06:30.

Post - 17.

========================================================================

Chapter-1, Section-2, Mantras - 8 to 10 : Description of the sad state of knowledge-less (devoid of upasana) ritualists.

Mantram - 2.8 : B. Rituals – Gloating over Ignorance

"Avidyayam-antare vartamanah svayam

dhirah panditam manya-manah

janghanya-manah pariyanti mudha

andhenaiva niyamana yathandhah."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mantram Translation :

1 avidyaayaam antare = In the midst of ignorance,

vartamaanaah, =  those who gloat over such an existence,

2 swayam dheeraah = who fancy themselves to be very wise

 panditam manyamaanaah; =  or consider themselves to be very learned,

3 janghanyamaanaah = who are oppressed and miserable, going

 pariyanti moodhaa, = round and round – such ignorant beings,

4 andhena eva neeyamaanaah = who are blind themselves, lead

yathaa andhaah. =  others who are also blind!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bhashyam (Vyakyanam) :

1 Being in ignorance may be excusable as it is the result of many births, but to be 

proud of it or to gloat over one’s ignorant state is foolhardy, and draws the ridicule of 

others. Such are the people being described here. 

2 Dheera: “wise men”; here the word is used with sarcasm, for men who think they 

are wise out of pride and arrogance. They feel that what they are doing is the only thing 

worthwhile. They have no desire to know any further. They perform these rituals merely to 

‘show off’ in front of other people. This is the sad state of rituals done without any sound 

knowledge. The pride in such people due to their wealth makes them do rituals for the 

wrong reason.

3 Such people are tossed up and down by the waves of emotion, by success and 

failure, by joys and sorrows – and ultimately by birth and death for countless cycles.

Janghanyamaanaah: This is an apt description of the state of mind of these restless 

people. Their lot ultimately is one of misery and oppression. Their misery comes from their 

utter failure to find fulfillment in wealth and power, and oppression comes from subjection 

to the captivity of their own mind.

4 The world is such that men with wealth soon rise to positions of power. They are 

looked upon as leaders, although they themselves are totally ignorant of the Truth. What 

they say goes as the standard which others follow. The result is the blind leading the blind! 

Having no vision beyond the urges of the senses, they feel quite ‘smug’ in their own little 

castles. This smugness is too comfortable to consider exchanging it for real wisdom!

*****

Next
Mantram - 2.9 : C. Rituals – Delusion of Reaching the Goal
To be continued

=========================================================================