Lesson 8 (Katha Upanishad & Mundaka Upanishad) The Katha Upanishad
This is one Upanishad which is favourite of all ages. Although the
subject matter is almost the same but the way Katha Upanishad
handles it is more interesting than others. We should know that
to get any knowledge asking the right question is like solving half
the problem. If the question is perfect then the answer has to be
perfect too. That's what happens in this Upanishad. The questions
are asked by a teenage boy and the answers are given by Yamraja.
To illustrate this lets us examine the questions.
Who am I? What dies?
What is left? Are we here to suffer or to enjoy? Can we do something
about death when we are still alive? These are the ultimate questions.
And the answers are brilliant and practical.
Katha Upanishad
, is also called Kathakopanishad which belongs to the
Taittiriya school of the Yajur Veda, uses the setting of a story found in
ancient Sanskrit literature (1). A poor and pious Brahmana, Vajasravasa,
performs a sacrifice and gives as presents the priests a few old and feeble
cows. His son, Naciketa, feeling disturbed by the unreality of his father's
observance of the sacrifice, proposes that he himself may be offered as
offering (dakshina) to a priest. When he persisted in his request, his father
in rage said, 'Unto Yama, I give thee.' Naciketa goes to the abode of Yama
and finding him absent, waits there for three days and nights unfed.
Yama on his return, offers three gifts in recompense for the delay and
discomfort caused to Naciketa. For the first, Naciketa asked, 'Let me
return alive to my father.' For the second, 'Tell me how my good
works (ista-purta) may not be exhausted'; and for the third, 'Tell me the
way to conquer re-death (punar mrtyu).'
In the Upanishad, the third request is one for enlightenment on the
'great transition' which is called death. The Upanishad consists of two
chapters, each of which has three Vallis or sections.
There are some passages common to the Gita and Katha Upanishad.
Some Excerpts:
[Like] light and shade [there are] two [selves]
[One] here on earth imbibes the law of his own deeds:
[The other,] though hidden in the secret places [of the heart],
[Dwells] in uttermost beyond.
So say [the seers] who Brahman know,
The owners of the five fires and of the three Naciketa fires.
We may master the Naciketa fire,
[Sure] bridge for men who sacrifice,
Seeking to reach the [further] shore
Beyond the reach of fear, -
[The bridge that leads to] Brahman,
Imperishable, supreme.
Know this:
The self is the owner of the chariot,
The chariot is the body,
Soul is the [body's] charioteer,
Mind the reigns [that curb it].
Senses, they say, are the [chariot's] steeds,
Their object the tract before them;
What, then, is the subject of experience?
'Self, sense and mind conjoined,' wise men reply.
But he who does know how to discriminate,
Mindful, always pure,
He gains [indeed] that [highest] state
From which he's never born again.
Higher than the senses are the [senses'] objects
Higher than these the mind
Higher than mind is soul
Higher than soul the self, the 'great'.
The Mundaka Upanishad
It is one of the more popular Upanishads. It is made popular as it
contains the slogan "Satyameva jayate" (only truth shall prevail and win)
(we see it on the lions of our national emblem).
It deals with the fundamental topic of truth and learning and it gives a
very vivid description of soul and super soul. Lord Krishna says that
he enters into every soul as a super soul and Mundaka Upanishad
describes how these two are related. It compares the two to two birds
who are sitting on a tree. One bird is eating the fruits and the other is
sitting only as witness and a recorder. The witness bird does not
interfere in the activities of the bird who is eating. Only when the
bird who is eating turns towards the other bird then the witnessing
bird (the supersoul starts guiding.)
That beautifully explains why
God does not stop us from doing what we are doing. Only when we
seek guidance He provides.
(I read a long time ago that the first virus in computers was introduced
by 2 Pakistani s/w engineers because their program was rejected and an
Indian was the first to find a solution for that virus and he confessed that
the idea for the solution came to him after reading Mundaka Upanishad)
The Mundaka
Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads.
It is associated with the
Atharvaveda .
It is a Mantra-upanishad, i.e. it has the form of a Mantra. But, as the
commentators observe, though it is written in verse, it is not, like
other Mantras, to be used for sacrificial purposes. Its only object is to
teach the highest knowledge, the knowledge of
Brahman, which cannot
be obtained either by sacrifices or by worship (upâsana), but by such
teaching only as is imparted in the Upanishad. With its beautiful style,
lucid metres, serious wording, and lofty feelings each mantra of this
Upanishad gives joyous reading. It might have derived its name from
the word "Munda" meaning "Shaven Head". The assumption is that if
the principle thought of this Upanishad is understood, the illusions of
material world will be cut like hairs in the process of shaving or because
mostly monks are audience for its teachings, and since usually Hindu
monks will have a shaven head, this name might have something to
do with that background.
It has three chapters and each chapter is divided into sub chapters which
are called "Khanda". In total this Upanishad has 64 Mantras .
As descibed in the beginning of this upanishad, it is said to be first told
by Brahma to his son Atharva and Atharva taught it to Satyavaha and
Satyavaha passed it to Angiras who in turn passes the knowledge to
Shaunaka, dialogue between two forms content of this Upanishad.
This Upanishad divides all knowledge into two categories.
The knowledge that leads to Self Realization is called Para Vidya
or Divine Knowledge
and everything else is called Apara Vidya or Knowledge of Material
world. It is the first text to mention the six disciplines of Vedanga .
Some Excerpts:
Om! O gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears; while
engaged in sacrifices, may we see auspicious things with the eyes;
while praising the gods with steady limbs, may we enjoy a life that
is beneficial to the gods.
May Indra of ancient fame be auspicious to us; may the supremely
rich (i.e. all-knowing) Pusha (God of the earth propitious to us;
may Garuda, the destroyer of evil, be well disposed towards us;
may Brahaspati ensure our welfare.
Om shanti shanti shanti
As long as we think we are the ego, we feel attached and fall into
sorrow. But realiza that you are the self and you will be freed from
sorrow.
The Lord shines in the hearts of all. Seeing Him in all creatures the
wise forget themselves in the service of all. The Lord is their joy
and the Lord is their rest, such as they are the lovers of the Lord.
(Next lesson : Aitareya Upanishad & Taittiriya Upanishad)
