Krishna Upanishad
Krishna Upanishad | ||
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Veda Atharvaveda[1] | | |
Chapters | 2[2] |
Part of a series on |
Vaishnavism |
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The Krishna Upanishad (
The Upanishad narrates how the god Rama took birth as Krishna, and how various divinities and virtues became people or objects in Krishna's life.
Development
The date or author of Krishna Upanishad is unknown. It is likely a late medieval era text.
Structure
The text is structured into two khanda (parts).[3] The first part is in verse form, the second in prose form.[2] However, some manuscripts of the Krishna Upanishad lack the second part.[7]
Contents
Book I
The Upanishad starts with the prelude tale when the rishis (sages) come to meet the god Rama (Vishnu's seventh avatar) in the forest. Enthralled by the sight of Rama, the sages express their wish to hug him.[8] Rama advised them to wait for making such an expression of divine love. Rama said, that even if the sages used Yoga to assume the form of females, he is unable to grant them their wish, because it would inappropriate given the vow he has given to his wife Sita.[8][9] He added that he would take the avatar of Krishna and the sages will be reborn as gopis (milkmaids) when they can choose to embrace him.[8][10] The sages, asserts the text, were delighted with Rama's offer.[11]
Then the Upanishad describes the avatar of Krishna and those in his life. Krishna's childhood home
Mercy was born as his "mother"
Book II
The second part of the text describes a symbolic reality of how living beings and virtues emerged in the universe.[20][21] The text asserts that Vishnu as ultimate reality was first born into a living creature named Sanskarsana, who desired and begot offsprings, starting with god of love (Pradyumna), who himself procreated Aniruddha (unrestraint), Ahamkara (ego) and Hirangarbha (golden womb).[20] The last procreated and produced Prajapatis, Marici, air, Sthanu, Daksha, Kardama, Priya-vrata, and Uttanapada. It is these, asserts the text, who procreated all life in the universe.[20][21]
The remnants of Vishnu's Shesha asserts the text is all matter and life, as well as knowledge, and meta-knowledge.[20][21] He is the embodiment of skill, and dharma (virtues) too, states the Upanishad.[20] Meditating on this origin of the universe, of the ultimate nature of Vishnu, repeatedly muttering his name and attributes, is the path to liberation, asserts the text.[20][21]
Commentary
The celestials descend on Earth to be with Krishna, experience Bliss through their love of Krishna.[22] The Upanishad advocates Bhakti yoga, serving God by love and bhakti (devotion) to achieve emancipation.[23] [24]
The Vaishnava philosopher
References
- ^ a b c Tinoco 1996, p. 88.
- ^ a b c Raghunandan 1996.
- ^ a b Ayyangar 1941, pp. 22–31.
- ISBN 9789519380391.
- ^ Vedic Literature, Volume 1, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, p. PA338, at Google Books, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 338-339
- ^ Deussen 1997, pp. 556–557.
- ^ Ayyangar 1941, p. 31.
- ^ a b c Ayyangar 1941, pp. 22–23.
- ISBN 978-0-89281-354-4.
- ^ a b c d Raghunandan 1996, pp. 1–2.
- ^ Ayyangar 1941, p. 23.
- ^ Ayyangar 1941, pp. 24–25.
- ^ a b Ayyangar 1941, p. 25.
- ^ Ayyangar 1941, p. 26.
- ^ a b Ayyangar 1941, pp. 25–27.
- ^ Ayyangar 1941, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Ayyangar 1941, pp. 27–28.
- ^ P. R. Ramachander. "Krishna Upanishad". Vedanta Spiritual Library. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ A Study of the Bhagavata Purana. Madras Theosophical Publishing House. 1950. p. 449.
- ^ a b c d e f Ayyangar 1941, pp. 29–31.
- ^ a b c d Raghunandan 1996, pp. 3–4.
- ISBN 978-0-595-35075-9.
- ISBN 978-1-60444-009-6.
- ISBN 978-81-7488-168-7.
- ISBN 978-81-7030-788-4.
Bibliography
- Ayyangar, TRS (1941). The Vaisnavopanisads. Jain Publishing Co. (Reprint 2006). ISBN 978-0895819864.
- Deussen, Paul (1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
- Raghunandan, HP (1996). "श्रीकृष्णोपनिषत् (Sri Krishna Upanishad)" (PDF) (in Sanskrit). Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- Tinoco, Carlos Alberto (1996). Upanishads. IBRASA. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.
External links
- Krishna Upanishad in Sanskrit