Thursday, March 24, 2016

KATHA UPANISHAD 1



                                                                        
KATHA UPANISHD is one of the most widely studied among all the Upanishads! It was translated into Persian in the 17th century copies of which were translated into Latin and distributed in Europe! Edwin Arnold rendered it in verse as “ The Secret of Death”. The ideas expressed in the Upanishad contrast  Hinduism with Buddhism that asserts the nonexistence of the Soul or Atma! Buddhism expects one to seek ‘emptiness’ or ‘ sunyata’ which is the highest Bliss! The Katha Upanishad is the saga of the son of Vajasravasa who performed a sacrifice as a ‘kamya Karma’ and distributed all his wealth for the sake of heavenly abode. The cows he gave away in charity were all terminally unhealthy! He did not approve of his father’s action and in disgust and anger asked to whom he would give away his son Nachiketas.  Irritated at this question Vajasravas retorted that he was giving him away to Death!
      Nachiketas , obeying his father goes to the abode of YAMA, the god of Death and not finding him there, fasts for three nights when Yama  welcomes him with honor and respect as a deserving guest! Pleased with the nature and behavior of Nachiketas, Yama offers three boons to him! Nachiketas , for the first boon, wants his father to receive him without anger and recognize him after he is released by Yama.  Yama grants he boon immediately. Next, Nachiketas wants Yama to explain’ Fire sacrifice’ which leads one to heaven. He wants to know how the dwellers in heaven gain their immortality, as his second boon. Soon Yama explains to Nachiketas  the nature of fire, the first of the worlds  and the kind  and number of bricks to be used and in what manner. Yama is pleased to give him another boon by which the fire will be known by his name!
      Nachiketas now asks Yama the most important and teasing question affecting the entire humanity!   When people die ,some point out that he exists and a few say that he does not exist. He wants Yama to clarify this doubt which troubles him! Yama tries to evade the answer  by saying that it is too subtle to understand  But Nachiketas says that if Yama cannot answer the question none else can! Yama tempts Nachiketas by offering wealth, longevity, maidens, cattle, horses, elephants,gold and any other thing instead of the answer to the question. But Nachiketas is firm and steadfast in getting the answer. He dismisses all the offers  saying they are all transient and wear out the vigour of all the senses!  Moe over  all  life is short. Nachiketas prevails upon Yama to tell him ‘what there is in that great hereafter.’
       Between the good and the pleasant, ignorance and knowledge Nachiketas has rejected the latter and thus gained the grace of the God of death. He tells Nachiketas that the self is beyond meditation, ‘inconceivable and subtler than the subtle’. Argument cannot reveal it and it can be understood taught by another! Yama compliments Nachketas for holding fast to truth The conversation between Yama and Nachiketas continues when the latter asks ‘what is beyond right and wrong, beyond effect and cause and beyond past and future?’. Yama replies that it is the word AUM which “all austerities proclaim and the Vedas declare. This syllable is the highest and the Brahman. This is also the best and the highest support. The Self is never born nor does it die. It sprang from nothing and nothing sprang from it. It is unborn, eternal, everlasting, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain.” Yama continues and explains,” Smaller than the small and greater than the great, the Self is hidden in the heart of every creature Though sitting still He travels far, though lying down He goes everywhere. The wise man who knows the Self as bodiless within the bodies, as the unchanging among the changing things, as great and all pervading, will never grieve This Self cannot be gained by the Veda, nor by intellectual power, nor by much learning. He is to be gained only by the one whom He chooses. To such a one the Self reveals His own nature.”                                                                    ( Continued)
                                             

        

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