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The Upanishads.

Vedas consist of Samhitas, Brahmanas , Aranyakas and then come Upanishads

It is also said that these four also conform to the four stages of life namely Brahmacharya ( bachelor) , Grihastha ( married) , Vanaprastha (forest Dweller), and Sanyasa. As a bachelor the student was supposed to study the Samhita and Brahmana. As a Grihastha he is supposed to practice the mantras as per rituals prescribed in Brahmana. As the couples enter Vanaprsatha as a forest dweller they are supposed to practice Aranyaka. Aranyaka prescribed the sacrifice by meditation and symbolic worship. The final stage of Sanyasa is the culmination of a way of life where in the Sanyasin is free from all desires, attachments and is absorbed in contemplation of Brahman. It is for him the Upanishads are meant for. Upanishads are concerned about direct experience of Brahman.

Thus Brahmacharin studied Samhita, The householder followed the injunctions of Brahmana, The forest dweller practiced contemplation according to Aranyaka and the Sanyasin was guided by the exalted wisdom of Upanishads'

Upanishads are supposed to number one hundred and eight . One Hundred and eight Upanishads are enumerated in Muktika Upanishad, which belongs to Yajurveda.

The great Sankaracharya wrote his commentaries on Isa, kena, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taitereya, chandogya, and Brihadranyaka Upanishad. These are regarded as major works.

The word Upanishad is derived from Sad with two prefixes Upa and Ni which mean near and totality. The etymological meaning of Upanishad is - 'knowledge which when received from a competent teacher loosens the bondage and enables the student to attain Self'.

In the strict code of the early Aryan life the Upanishads also specify the qualifications of a student of Upanishad (Ref Brihadarnyaka Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad). The student must have attained purity of heart and must be able to discriminate between real and unreal and renounce the unreal,

The aspiring students were also subjected to severe ordeals by the Gurus. Kena Upanishad details the ordeal of Nachiketa in acquiring the knowledge. In Prasna Upanishad the Guru Pippalada demands that his Sishyas spend a year of austerities only, after which they can ask any questions. In Chandogya Upanishad the Guru Prajapati ask Virochna and Indra to go through years of penance before they can receive the knowledge.

The Upanishads are acknowledged as part of the "Prasthana trayas" , which consist of Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavadgita. In fact the later two are also dependent on Upanishads. Hence the Upanishads occupy a central space in Vedanta.

Upanishads are called Sruti-prasthana , being part of Sruti , the one that was revealed. Bhagavdgita is called Smriti-Prasthana , being part of Mahabharata which is called a Smriti . Brahma Sutras are called Nyaya-Prasthana . This is based on the fact that the teachings of Vedanta are presented ina logical order !

World viewof Upanishads:

That Upanishads have been translated into other languages. Shajahan's son Dara Saiko got Upanishads translated to Persian. Anquetil Dupperon translated the Persian version to Latin. Schopenhauer who read the translation was profoundly influenced to say. .. “ In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as the study of Upanishads ”

om tat sat .

That is only one statement !

om tat Sat

The Vedas

The Mahavakyas

Welcome to kasarabada.org :

January 27 , 2012

Good news !! We are starting the new short series on Ramayana this week as annnounced earlier . The content is put together by Shri Turaga Rajendraprasad. All of this is appearing under Ramayanam - Role models. .Shri Turaga has provided two links for further readings.( http://valmiki.iitk.ac.in/index.php?id=sloka1

http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part1/chap1.htm

Without doubt we are starting this series with excitement and some 'Trepidition'. For there can be many views of Rama all of which still admiring Rama as the person to be followed. If we look at the talks on Ramayana by Rt Hon'ble Srinivasa sastry one would be left wondering on the depth of his appreciation though not treating Rama as a 'God'. In any case for millions of us, Rama and Sita remain as Gods personified !! Turagas exposition is on that lines.

The One more thing brings out the the sixteen qualities enumerated by Valmiki as part of his question in search of the person meeting those sixteen qualities. The answer ofcourse is Sri Rama !!.

As already stated the Ramayan and the role models are a perennial fascination for us and we had also published some books ( Raamudu- Sugunaabhiraamudu) and articles earlier !! . This is available for download !!.

This week Bhagavatam continues with Chapter 80 of Dasama Skandha. Chapter 80 details of the "The Story of Sudama" . Most of us would have read the same as the story of Kuchela and his wife is Kshutkshama.In dasamaskandham this story appears in two chapters ( 80 and 81) and we are following the same.

Athato Brahmajignyasaa continues . with elaboration on Upanishads in continuation of the earlier elaboration on the "the Vedas", and the "Mahavakyaas".

We continue our requests for contributions and suggestions .

Om Tat Sat

_________________________________________________

Witty Wisdom !

- contributed by KamarajuTuraga

__________________________________________________

Welcome to Kasarabada.org: ARCHIVES

Valmiki asks Narada whos is that man who has the following sixteen qualities namely:

There is an elaboration on each of the sixteen characterestics. That formed the text of an earlier publication(1991)

(Ramudu-Sgunaabhiramudu)

This was an extract of Shri Bhashyam Apalacharyulugaru's book on Valmiki Ramaayanam. We had the Blessings of Shri Bhashyam Appalaacharyulugaru, in that he wrote an introduction too for that publication.

These qualities were covered in the form of a Question where in Valmiki asks who is "Gunavaan , Viryavan,Dharmagyah, Krutagyah, Satyavakyah
DruDhavrataha , charitravan , sarvabhutahitaha , Vidvan
samarthah , Ekapriyadarsanaha , Atmavan , Jitakrodhaha
Dyutiman , anasuyaha , jataroshah." ??

The answer is Rama the son of Dasaratha in the line of Ikshwakus !!

om tat sat !!

______________

Sahasavidadhita na kriyam..

... 'no not in a hurry'!

Aham nasyaami .. I destroy !! contributed by Tuaraga Rajendraparasad.

"It is not that the holy waters are not altogether Holy

An intelligent man should follow those actions that are consistent and within his realm of action ..( more)

.. I am enquiring , that should be clearly explained! …." Thus spoke Krishna.(more.).

" Peace does not drop from the sky" says Dalai Lama.

Passing away of a stalwart:

Prof Bhavaraju Sarveswara Rao

. ............

unison of thought speech and action

Jewel of jewels'

Who is Poor ?

Green message from Bhagava...

Music in our Epics

what is kasara ?

Home Ramayanam Bhagavatam Trust Contacts

	Athato Brahma Jig... Athato Brahma jignyasaa The *Upanishads.* Vedas consist of *Samhitas, Brahmanas , Aranyakas* and then come *Upanishads* It is also said that these four also conform to the four stages of life namely *Brahmacharya* ( bachelor) , *Grihastha* ( married) , Vanaprastha (forest Dweller), and Sanyasa. As a bachelor the student was supposed to study the Samhita and Brahmana. As a Grihastha he is supposed to practice the mantras as per rituals prescribed in Brahmana. As the couples enter Vanaprsatha as a forest dweller they are supposed to practice Aranyaka. Aranyaka prescribed the sacrifice by meditation and symbolic worship. The final stage of Sanyasa is the culmination of a way of life where in the Sanyasin is free from all desires, attachments and is absorbed in contemplation of Brahman. It is for him the Upanishads are meant for. Upanishads are concerned about direct experience of Brahman. Thus *Brahmacharin* studied Samhita, The householder followed the injunctions of Brahmana, The forest dweller practiced contemplation according to Aranyaka and the Sanyasin was guided by the exalted wisdom of Upanishads' Upanishads are supposed to number one hundred and eight . One Hundred and eight Upanishads are enumerated in Muktika Upanishad, which belongs to Yajurveda. The great Sankaracharya wrote his commentaries on Isa, kena, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taitereya, chandogya, and Brihadranyaka Upanishad. These are regarded as major works. The word Upanishad is derived from Sad with two prefixes *Upa* and Ni which mean near and totality. The etymological meaning of Upanishad is - 'knowledge which when received from a competent teacher loosens the bondage and enables the student to attain Self'. In the strict code of the early Aryan life the Upanishads also specify the qualifications of a student of Upanishad (Ref Brihadarnyaka Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad). The student must have attained purity of heart and must be able to discriminate between real and unreal and renounce the unreal, The aspiring students were also subjected to severe ordeals by the Gurus. Kena Upanishad details the ordeal of Nachiketa in acquiring the knowledge. In *Prasna Upanishad* the Guru Pippalada demands that his Sishyas spend a year of austerities only, after which they can ask any questions. In Chandogya Upanishad the Guru Prajapati ask Virochna and Indra to go through years of penance before they can receive the knowledge. The Upanishads are acknowledged as part of the *"Prasthana trayas"* , which consist of *Upanishads, Brahma Sutras* and *Bhagavadgita.* In fact the later two are also dependent on Upanishads. Hence the Upanishads occupy a central space in Vedanta. *Upanishads* are called Sruti-prasthana , being part of Sruti , the one that was revealed. Bhagavdgita is called Smriti-Prasthana , being part of Mahabharata which is called a Smriti . Brahma Sutras are called Nyaya-Prasthana . This is based on the fact that the teachings of Vedanta are presented ina logical order ! World viewof Upanishads: That Upanishads have been translated into other languages. Shajahan's son Dara Saiko got Upanishads translated to Persian. Anquetil Dupperon translated the Persian version to Latin. Schopenhauer who read the translation was profoundly influenced to say. .. “ In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as the study of Upanishads ” om tat sat . That is only one statement ! om tat Sat The Vedas The Mahavakyas	Welcome to kasarabada.org : January 27 , 2012 Good news !! We are starting the new short series on Ramayana this week as annnounced earlier . The content is put together by Shri Turaga Rajendraprasad. All of this is appearing under Ramayanam - Role models. .Shri Turaga has provided two links for further readings.( http://valmiki.iitk.ac.in/index.php?id=sloka1 http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part1/chap1.htm Without doubt we are starting this series with excitement and some 'Trepidition'. For there can be many views of Rama all of which still admiring Rama as the person to be followed. If we look at the talks on Ramayana by Rt Hon'ble Srinivasa sastry one would be left wondering on the depth of his appreciation though not treating Rama as a 'God'. In any case for millions of us, Rama and Sita remain as Gods personified !! Turagas exposition is on that lines. The One more thing brings out the the sixteen qualities enumerated by Valmiki as part of his question in search of the person meeting those sixteen qualities. The answer ofcourse is Sri Rama !!. As already stated the Ramayan and the role models are a perennial fascination for us and we had also published some books ( Raamudu- Sugunaabhiraamudu) and articles earlier !! . This is available for download !!. This week Bhagavatam continues with Chapter 80 of Dasama Skandha. Chapter 80 details of the "The Story of Sudama" . Most of us would have read the same as the story of Kuchela and his wife is Kshutkshama.In dasamaskandham this story appears in two chapters ( 80 and 81) and we are following the same. Athato Brahmajignyasaa continues . with elaboration on Upanishads in continuation of the earlier elaboration on the "the Vedas", and the "Mahavakyaas". We continue our requests for contributions and suggestions . Om Tat Sat _________________________________________________ Witty Wisdom ! - contributed by KamarajuTuraga __________________________________________________ Welcome to Kasarabada.org: ARCHIVES	One More thing Ramudu Sugunaabhi Raamudu !! Valmiki asks Narada whos is that man who has the following sixteen qualities namely: There is an elaboration on each of the sixteen characterestics. That formed the text of an earlier publication(1991) (Ramudu-Sgunaabhiramudu) This was an extract of Shri Bhashyam Apalacharyulugaru's book on Valmiki Ramaayanam. We had the Blessings of Shri Bhashyam Appalaacharyulugaru, in that he wrote an introduction too for that publication. These qualities were covered in the form of a Question where in Valmiki asks who is "Gunavaan , Viryavan,Dharmagyah, Krutagyah, Satyavakyah DruDhavrataha , charitravan , sarvabhutahitaha , Vidvan samarthah , Ekapriyadarsanaha , Atmavan , Jitakrodhaha Dyutiman , anasuyaha , jataroshah." ?? The answer is Rama the son of Dasaratha in the line of Ikshwakus !! om tat sat !! ______________ Sahasavidadhita na kriyam.. ... 'no not in a hurry'! Aham nasyaami .. I destroy !! contributed by Tuaraga Rajendraparasad. "It is not that the holy waters are not altogether Holy *An intelligent man should follow those actions that are consistent and within his realm of action* ..( more) *.. I am enquiring , that should be clearly explained! …."* Thus spoke Krishna.(more.). " Peace does not drop from the sky" says Dalai Lama. *Passing away of a stalwart:* Prof Bhavaraju Sarveswara Rao . ............ unison of thought speech and action Jewel of jewels' Who is Poor ? Green message from Bhagava... Music in our Epics what is kasara ?
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Athato Brahma Jig...

Welcome to kasarabada.org :

January 27 , 2012

One More thing