A Conversation About Srividya [ Question ]

[Guest guest]

"That birth ALONE does not give any right is spoken to in various

shrutis and smritis. Birth gives you a higher place to start off;

that is all. The story of Satyakama Jabala is an example"

 

A young sadhak asked me to explain this further via chat, especially

about the Story of Satyakama Jabala. I thought I let our more

experience members to tackle this.

[Guest guest]

I am not qualified to discuss this isue in any depth, but I would

note that the story of the sage Satyakama Jabala is contained in the

Chandogya Upanisad, 4.4.1-5. It is a very concise statement about

the ultimate irrelevance of our temporal identity:

 

4.4.1. Once upon a time a boy addressed his mother, saying, "Mother!

I wish to live the life of a student of sacred knowledge. Of what

family am I, please tell me?"

 

4.4.2. And she said to him: "I do not know of what family you may

be, my dear. You see, in my youth, I went about a great deal serving

as a maid in various households, and somewhere along the way I ended

up with you. So I do not know of what family you are. However, I am

Jabala by name, and you are Satyakama by name. So you may speak of

yourself as Satyakama Jabala."

 

4.4.3. Then the boy went to Haridrumata Gautama and said, "I would

like to live the life of a student of sacred knowledge. I would like

to become a student of yours, Sir."

 

4.4.4. He was asked: "Tell me, of what family are you, my child?"

 

4.4.5. And he replied: "I do not know sir, of what family I am. I

asked my mother. She answered me: 'I do not know of what family you

may be, my dear. You see, in my youth, I went about a great deal

serving as a maid in various households, and somewhere along the way

I ended up with you. So I do not know of what family you are.

However, I am Jabala by name, and you are Satyakama by name.' So I

am Satyakama Jabala, Sir."

 

Despite his beginnings as the illegitimate son of a itinerant

housemaid, Satyakama Jabala later became famous as an Upanisadic

sage.

 

, "N. Madasamy"

<ashwini_puralasamy> wrote:

> "That birth ALONE does not give any right is spoken to in various

> shrutis and smritis. Birth gives you a higher place to start off;

> that is all. The story of Satyakama Jabala is an example"

>

> A young sadhak asked me to explain this further via chat,

especially

> about the Story of Satyakama Jabala. I thought I let our more

> experience members to tackle this.