The Upanishads is meant for understanding and identifying the Shiva in the Aham (heart). The journey to understand the truth is the process of going through the Upanishads. These blessings of Maharishis lead us to reach the path where we understand ourselves as complete, Purnam.
The Isha vaasya Upanishad starts with the peace invocation sloka. We do all actions for the peace of mind. This invocation sloka makes it clear that we are complete within us. When we understand we don’t perform any action to add or to leave something into our life. All desires, differences end with this one conviction – Poornatvam. This knowledge alone brings peace into our life. Peace in Body, peace in Mind, Peace in the Self.
This Upanishad explains us the Supreme Truth in 18 slokas. Read the rest of this entry »
AGNE NAYA SUPATHAA RAAYE ASMAAN
VISHVAANI DEVA VAYUNAANI VIDVAAN
YUYODHY’ASMAJ JUHURAANAM ENO
BHOOYISTHAAM TE NAMA UKTIM VIDHEMA (18)
Agne – O Agni; asmaan – us; raaye – to the enjoyment of the fruits of our karma; supathaa – by the fair path; naya – take, lead; deva – O Lord; vishvaani – all; vayunaani – deeds; vidvaan – knowing; asmat – from us; juhuraanam – crooked going, deceitful; enah – sin; yuyodhi – destroy; te – to Thee; bhooyishtaam – very many; nama uktim – words of salutations; vidhema – do we offer.
O AGNI, LEAD US BY THE FAIR PATH THAT WE MAY REAP THE GOOD WE HAVE SOWN. THOU KNOWEST OF ALL OUR DEEDS. LORD, DESTROY ALL CROOKED-GOING SINS IN US. WE SALUTE THEE WITH OUR WORDS AGAIN AND AGAIN.
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The last two slokas of the Ishopanishad refer to the death of a sage who has lived a life of righteousness and devotion. This devotee has given his mind and understanding to the Lord alone. These slokas along with the meaning if it is read to a person on the death bed, it is believed that his last thoughts rest on the Lord.
SLOKA 17:
VAAYUR ANILAM AMRTAM ATHEDAM BHASMAANTAM SHAREERAM
OM KRATO SMARA KRTAM SMARA KRATO SMAR KRTAM SMARA (17)
Atha – now; vaayuh – the breath; amrtam – the eternal; anilam – the all-pervading air; idam – this; shareeram – body; bhasmaantam – reduced to ashes; om – om; krato – O mind; krtam – deeds; smara – remember.
NOW LET MY BREATH BE MERGED IN ALL PERVADING IMMORTAL PRAANA, AND THE BODY BE REDUCED TO ASHES. OM. MIND! REMEMBER, PAST DEEDS REMEMBER! MIND! REMEMBER, PAST DEEDS REMEMBER!
Svethaketu was the son of sage Uddaalaka. The sage sends his son to an able Guru to attain knowledge. After twelve long years Swathaketu learnt all kinds of arts and he had a thought in his mind that he has mastered everything that a man can study. When he came back to the father after the studies the father noticed the pride in his son’s speech and behavior. The presence of pride showed that he is still in ignorance.
To make the son understand that he is in ignorance he puts a question to the son, “Dear son, you say you know everything that can be known. Then do you have the knowledge or wisdom by which what is unknown becomes known and what is unseen becomes seen?” Swethaketu could not find the answer for this question and humbled, fell at his father’s feet.
Once there was a king called Janashruti who was a benevolent and generous ruler. He ruled the country according to dharma and thereby he was adored by all his subjects. As a result, pride crept in him.
One evening, when he was relaxing on the terrace of his palace, he saw two swans fly by him. One of the swans remarked to the other, “Beware of flying over king Janashruti! The halo that emanates from him will burn you to ashes”. The other swan replied, “The king may be great but not greater than Raikva”. The king who overheard the conversation became very thoughtful and was restless. The next day, he sent his kinsmen in search of Raikva. One of his ministers happened to find Raikva and was disillusioned to see that Raika was an ordinary cart driver. He went back to the king and described his meeting with Raikva.
This week we will meditate on slokas 12, 13 and 14. These slokas talk about the ones who perform work with desires and the one who gets attached to the result of the worship. But the state of Jivanmukta is different from this. These slokas make us understand that one should not get stuck in the way (Prajapathi) and be focused in reaching the goal. The one who kills desire in this very body becomes a Jivanmukta.
There was an artist who travelled far and wide and had built up for himself an extensive reputation. One day he got an appointment with Lord Krishna, met Him and requested Him to stay still so that he could paint His picture. He prepared an outline and told Krishna that he would get ready with the final painting in a week’s time. Krishna knew the ego of the painter. After a week, the painter brought the portrait of Krishna covered with a white cloth. In Krishna’s presence when he uncovered the painting, the painter himself was shocked at the lack of similarity between Krishna and the painting. The painter asked for another week’s time to get the job done. The painter tried several times but every time the result was equally disappointing. In complete frustration, he wanted to leave the city and go away. Read the rest of this entry »
Last week: Sloka 9 explained the nature of people who worship Avidya (into karma/rituals alone) and who worship Vidya (scriptural knowledge without practice) are in darkness.
This week we shall do slokas 10 and 11 together and also recall sloka 9 which is the base for the discussion of today’s slokas. Sloka 10 explains the result of worship of the Vidya and Avidya. Sloka 11 concludes on this theme, how one can reach the ultimate life of human birth through Vidya and Avidya.
SLOKA 10:
ANYADEVAAHUR VIDYAYAA ANYAD AAHUR AVIDYAYAA
ITI SHUSHRUMA DHEERAANAAM YE NAS TAD VICACAKSHIRE (10)
Vidyayaa – by vidya; anyat – a different (result); aahuh – they say; avidyayaa – through avidya; anyat – a different (result); eva – verily; aahuh – they say; iti – thus; dheeranaam – from the wise; sushruma – we have heard; ye – who; nah – to us; tat – that; vicacakshire – explained.
This story is called ‘anda pangu nyaayaa’.
Once there was a lame man. He wanted to go to Badrinath. He started his journey dragging himself all the way. But he was unable to go fast. He prayed to Lord, “If only I had legs, Lord! I would have come for your darshan faster”. When he was thinking about the Lord, somebody kicked him strongly from behind. The lame man got hurt and became angry. He shouted at that man, “Are you blind or what?” The other man said “yes sir”.
The blind man said, “Now, what we have to do? Should we have to fight or should we have to unite? By being separate neither of us can reach anywhere. If we decide to unite, what is the way we can get united?” Accordingly, the blind man suggested, “You don’t have legs; I don’t have eyes. I will take you on my back. You become my eyes and I will become your legs and together we will reach our aim of reaching Badrinath”.
Thus they reached their goal; their destination. Read the rest of this entry »
SLOKA 8 PURPORT
He, the self-existent, is everywhere, without a body, without muscles, and without the taint of sin; radiant, whole, and pure, Seeing All, Knowing All, And Encompassing All, He Duly Assigned Their Respective Duties To The Eternal Prajapathis. Read the rest of this entry »
