Shukarahasya Upanishad
Shukarahasya Upanishad | |
---|---|
Chapters | 6[2][3] |
Philosophy | Vedanta[1] |
The Shukarahasya Upanishad (
The text is a mix of prose and verses. It asserts that it has six parts and is structured as a discourse between
The text is notable for extracting and describing four
History
The author and the century in which Shukarahasya Upanishad was composed is unknown. Manuscripts of this text are also found titled as Rahasyopnisad and Sukarahasyopanisad.
Contents
What is Brahman?
Truth, knowledge, infinity is Brahman.
The text opens with sages asking Hindu god Brahma to teach them the Rahasya Upanishad.[3] Brahma replies that he will recite to them what Vyasa, the compiler of the four Vedas, once learnt from Shiva when Vyasa asked for advice on educating his own son named Shuka.[3] The text thereafter presents a mix of prose and verses as discourse between Shiva and Shuka, with Vyasa listening and Shiva stating that this Upanishad is in six parts.[5][9]
The Pranava (Om) starts the text, consists of knowledge, poetic meter, seed, goal and the power of liberation. It is Brahman, which the text defines as truth, knowledge, infinity, eternal joy, plenitude, one, nondual, svaha to the head, vasat to the hair, and that which resides in the heart.[8][9]
The path to liberation, states the Upanishad, is meditation on Mahāvākyas on self and Brahman,[10] particularly listing these four sacred statements:
Shukarahasya Upanishad Text[11][12] |
Translation | Reference[11][12] |
---|---|---|
प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म prajnānam brahma |
"Knowledge is Brahman" | [13] |
अहं ब्रह्म अस्मि aham brahmāsmi |
"I am Brahman" | [14] |
तत्त्वमसि tat tvam asi |
"Thou art that" ("You are Brahman") | [15][16] |
अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म ayam ātmā brahma |
"The Atman (Self, soul) is Brahman" |
[17] |
Tat symbolizes
The meditation must focus on the silent witness within, the Brahman, the unity and nonduality between them, states the Upanishad.
This knowledge, states Shukarahasya text, is to be heard from the guru, then thought about, meditated upon, till one fully comprehends it.[23] One who comprehends the ultimate Brahman becomes Brahman, asserts the text.[23] Shuka followed this guidance from Shiva, states the text, and became one with the universe, became detached from the world at a young age and began living the free liberated life of a Jivanmukta. Though initially Vyasa was affected by his son's separation, the entire universe and he rejoiced Shuka's monastic achievement.[6][24][22]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Tinoco 1996, p. 87.
- ^ a b Hattangadi 2000, p. 2.
- ^ a b c Warrier 1967, p. 240.
- ^ a b Mahadevan 1975, pp. 184–186.
- ^ a b c d Warrier 1967, pp. 240–245.
- ^ a b c Vedic Literature, Volume 1, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, p. PA533, at Google Books, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 533-535
- ^ Deussen 1997, pp. 556–557.
- ^ a b Warrier 1967, pp. 241–242.
- ^ a b Hattangadi 2000, pp. 1–6.
- ISBN 978-0816073368.
- ^ a b Warrier 1967, p. 242.
- ^ a b Hattangadi 2000, p. 3.
- ^ Sanskrit: ऐतरेयोपनिषद् Wikisource
English Translation:Max Muller, Aitareya Upanishad 3.3.7, also known as Aitareya Aranyaka 2.6.1.7 Oxford University Press, page 246 - ^ Sanskrit and English Translation: S Madhavananda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - Shankara Bhashya, page 145
- ^ Sanskrit: छान्दोग्योपनिषद् १.२ ॥षष्ठोऽध्यायः॥ Wikisource
English Translation:Robert Hume, Chandogya Upanishad 6.8, The Thirteen Principal Upanishads, Oxford University Press, pages 246-250 - ^ AS Gupta, The Meanings of "That Thou Art", Philosophy East and West, Vol. 12, No. 2, pages 125-134
- ^ Sanskrit and English Translation: S Madhavananda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - Shankara Bhashya, pages 711-712
- ^ a b c Warrier 1967, pp. 242–243.
- ^ a b c Hattangadi 2000, pp. 3–4.
- ^ a b Warrier 1967, pp. 243–244.
- ^ Hattangadi 2000, pp. 4–5.
- ^ a b c Hattangadi 2000, pp. 5–6.
- ^ a b c Warrier 1967, pp. 243–245.
- ^ Warrier 1967, pp. 244–245.
Bibliography
- Deussen, Paul (1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
- Hattangadi, Sunder (2000). "शुकरहस्योपनिषत् (Shukarahasya Upanishad)" (PDF) (in Sanskrit). Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- Mahadevan, T. M. P. (1975). Upaniṣads: Selections from 108 Upaniṣads. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1611-4.
- AM Sastri, ed. (1921). The Samanya Vedanta Upanishads with the commentary of Sri Upanishad-Brahma-Yogin. Adyar library seriesno. 7 (in Sanskrit). Adyar Library (Reprinted 1970). .
- Tinoco, Carlos Alberto (1996). Upanishads. IBRASA. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.
- Warrier, AG Krishna (1967). Sāmanya Vedānta Upaniṣads. Adyar Library and Research Center. OCLC 29564526.