Year end observations# 1

[Guest guest]

1) I want to jot down a few miscellaneous points that came to my mind

as this Year is coming to an end.

 

(1) I just completed a lengthy survey of 17 Sanyasa Upanishads

for the Tattvaloka Journal. I found much of the commentaries

are based on Advaita Vedanta. It is understandable, since the Western Scholars,

The Adyar Library , Chinmaya mission, Mayavati Asrama have done yeoman work in

translating the Advatic commentaries of Upanishad Brahmam of Kanchi on the 108

Upanishads , which is based on the Sringeri Acharya Sankarananda of the

fourteenth century.

 

Although the Dasa Maha Upanishads have been commented on by Sri Ramanuja

in the context of Sri Bhashyam, many other Upanishads known as Minor Upanishads

including the 17 Sanyasa Upanishads have been left out by our Acharyas with the

exception

of Ranga Ramanuja Muni or Periya Jeeyar. One of the activities that the

Vaishnava Thondar

Kuzham can undertake could be to get the rare manuscripts like the above and

make it possible for Western Scholars and Eastern Scholars alike to get access

to them.

 

A Quick summary of the 17 upanishads on Sanyasam

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In earlier postings on Sanyasam, the Praisha Mantram, the use

of Sacred thread and other points were mentioned. These 17 Upanishads

often set in the form of dialog between Lord Narayana and Brahma or

Brahma and Narada or other pairs acting the role of Acharya and Sishya

cover the topics related to the different orders of Sanyasa.

 

Each of the Sanyasa Upanishad belongs to a Veda Samhita and is

found typically in the Aranya section (forest text) . Nirvanopanishad is

associated with Rg vedam as the only Sanyasopanishad.

 

Among the remaining 16, four belong to the Sama Veda(Arunyopanishad,

Kundikopanishad, Maitreyopanishad and Sanyasopanishad).

 

The Krishna Yajur Veda accounts for the following three Upanishads:

Avadhutopanishad, Katharudropanishad

and Brahmopanishad. The largest group of Sanyasopanishads belong to the

Sukla Yajur Veda given to us by Yajnavalkya , after he learnt it from Aditya .

He had

to return the Krishna Yajur Veda back to his Acharya Vaisampaayana as a result

of an angy dispute between the teacher and the student. These SIX Sukla Yajur

Veda Upanishads are : Jabalopanishad, Paramahamsopanishad, Bhikshukopanishad,

Yajnavalkyopanishad, Satyayaniopanishad and Turiyatitopanishad. The Atharva Veda

 

claims the three remaining Upanishads: Narada Parivrajakopanishad ,

Parabrahmopanishad and Paramahamsa Parivrajakopanishad.

 

The message contained in the famous passage in Avadhutopanishad as an

echo from another famous Upanishad is : " Not by Rituals (Karmanaa),

not by progeny(Prajaya) , not by wealth (Dhanena), BUT by Renunciation

(Thyagenaiva) ALONE a few attain immortality." This message is a summary of

the passage in Mundaka (One with Shaven head) Upanishad: " But those, who

in purity and faith live in thesolitude of the forest, Who have wisdom

and peace and long not for earthly possessions , those in radiant

purity pass through the gates of the SUN to the dwelling place of

the Supreme ."

 

The Upanishads talk about the 6 Stages of Sanyasa : Kutichaka

(hut dweller ) , Bhaudaka (Mendicant monk), Hamsa , Paramahamsa,

Turiyatita and Avadhuta . The last stage of Avadhuta is considered as

the highest stage. The rules and regulations on the need for sacred thread,

Tuft,

Kamnadalu, Ochre Cloth, Tri or Eka Danda , the Mantras are spelled out.

The Praisha mantras to be recited at the stage of entering Sanyas is

pointed out. The rules, eligibility for Apat Sanyasa under emergencies such as

those faced by Adi Sankara, Narayana Theertha

of Krishna Leela Tarangini fame as well as the Atura sanyasa taken

for instance by Sri Ramanuja are described.

 

The Narada Parivrajakopanishad is the Longest one with 9 Upadesams and

more than 300 mantras. This Upanishad has enormous details on the Vyashti

and Samashti Pranavam, since the Veda Pranavam of Om is considered

the most important mantra to recite and reflect upon.

 

I would appreciate any information on the availability of the Vishitadvaitic

commentary on these Upanishads by Periya Jeeyar or others..

 

V.Sadagopan