Katho:panishad - I

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Respected Ramanuja Bhaktas,

 

Recently Sri Seshagiri started this series of postings on JETUSA on the

wisdom of katho:panishad as provided to us by HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy

in his ongoing lecture series. I am sharing this first insightful post

with the members of this forum, with the request that Sri Seshagiri

include the International Ramanuja Society in the distribution of these

postings.

 

adiye:n ra:ma:nuja da:san

Mohan

 

 

Jeeyar Thiruvadigale: Sharanam

 

Jai Srimannaaraayana

 

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

Adiye:n's humble and respectful Pranamams. Jai Srimannaarayana.

 

By the nirhethuka krupa and blessings of our Acharya, adiye:n is

starting the Katho:panishad lectures. Utter helplessness and utter

disqualification characterize adiye:n fully. Yet, Acharya's Krupa is the

only hope and shelter. Praying to our Acharya's lotus feet, seeking the

permission of all the Vaishnavas, adiye:n is making a small effort to

present our Swamiji's Katho:panishad lectures as they are, very humbly.

 

This mail serves as introduction to Vedas, Upanishads and

Katho:panishad.

 

VEDAS

 

******

 

If the Divya Prabandham of Mother Andal is the seed of the giant

Vedic tree with its multitude of branches and leaves, " Upanishad " s are

very elevated portions of it, like the main branches of the Vedic tree.

As you know, Vedas are " Apaurusheya: " s, meaning they were not composed

by anybody; not even by God. This is the uniqueness, extraordinary

excellence and superiority of Vedic literature. There is no other piece

of work which is " Apaurushe:ya " , in the entire history of the Universe.

 

Generally, any piece of work composed by " purusha " will have 4

in-built defects in it.

 

1) Bhrama (not Brahma): Perceiving something as it really is not.

 

2) Prama:da: Insufficient intelligence to clearly comprehend

something.

 

3) Vipralambha: Biasedness, partiality in our compositions because of

our attachments. If a person is devoted to some devatha, he will glorify

him to be superior to any other God etc.

 

4) Ashakthatha: Inability to express everything we either know or

experience. For instance, you can't explain the taste of a substance

just by your words.

 

Similarly you can't explain your feelings like hunger, thirst etc

just with words. So, Vedas are the ONLY authority for showing things as

they are. They are completely free from any kind of defects whatsoever.

One more logic is also given. How do you find who is your father? It is

impossible to trace your father out without the help of your mother. One

may say, I will find on the basis of genetic fingerprinting etc, but

consider the possibility mathematically; even with reasonable

assumptions, it will take thousands of years for the person to find his

father on this basis and it is extremely complex and painstaking.

 

For a simple minded person, his father is , whomever his mother

shows. IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT LAKHS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE

BELIEVING WHO MY FATHER IS; MY MOTHER'S SINGLE OPINION IS FINAL AND

OUTWEIGHS ALL OTHER OPINIONS. In other words, mother is the ONLY

authority for showing our father. That's all. The only requirement is

one's mother should be chaste and speak the truth. Vedas are often

referred to as " Veda Matha " , for it directs us to the Supreme Father,

Srimannaarayana, without equivocation and duplicity. And Vedas are the

only authority in showing us our Father. Unfortunately we believe the

words of foolish people and think that every Tom, Dick and Harry is

" Bhagavan " . Or sometimes, like that boy, we set out to experiment who

the Lord is, on our own. All those efforts are such a waste of time!

 

Vedas are for humans not for animals, as there is no further

degradation in animal bodies. They naturally follow what they are

ordained to, unlike human bodies which can be used for both improving or

degrading our consciousness. So, for anyone aspiring to improve his

quality of life, an understanding of the imports of Vedas is a

pre-requisite.

 

DIVISION OF VEDAS

 

*******************

 

In olden days, many great people used to excel in their

understanding of the Veda. Hanuman, Bheeshma are examples for this.

Foreseeing the complete inability of the future generations, Veda Vyasa,

so mercifully bifurcated the Vedas into 4 broad categories besides an

indivisible part called " Eka:yana " .

 

Each of the 4 Vedas has two clearly defined portions in it.

 

Poorva Bhaga:

 

----------------

 

This part describes the methods of observing different Karma in a

religious way. It discloses the consequences of proper conduct,

observance of actions and improper conduct, improper observance of

actions. How one should perform different sacrifices, Karmas in this

world in a Vedic, ethical and lofty manner are described. Obviously, the

knowledge disclosed in these portions doesn't go beyond bodily platform.

It only shows how to fulfill our bodily necessities and desires in a

proper way.

 

Uthara Bhaga:

 

---------------

 

When one keeps on observing the actions in a religious manner for

quite some time, one definitely becomes inquisitive as to what might be

the reason behind all this manifestation? One ponders more and more

about our existence, the identity and nature of souls and their

relationship with the Prakruthi, Devathas and the Lord. Naturally, as

his consciousness evolves, he becomes " Uth " , higher, more mature and

wants to know about the " Thathva " that supervises the whole Universe and

its affairs. One wants to become detached and wants to experience that

continuous, pure, uncontaminated happiness ( " Thara " ). So, this part of

the Vedas are for " Uthara:s " . Those who are more evolved in

understanding and try to become situated in their natural pure bliss

position are fit to study this portion of the Vedas.

 

So, Uthara Bhaga is also called Brahma Bhagam, as " Brahma " means

that which is full of happiness and that which can grant such bliss to

all if they approach it in a proper way.

 

In other words, if Poorva Bhagam gives an indirect, myopic view of

the Absolute Truth, Brahma Bhaga gives a more direct description of the

Lord and the secrets of His dealings with this world through the agency

of the devathas. The most confidential knowledge about Lord is

accessible directly in this Uthara Bhaga.

 

UPANISHADS

 

*************

 

Upanishads fall in the category of Brahma Bhaga. " Upa " means near,

" Nishanna " , means showing, disclosing. Upanishads bring Lord closer to

our understanding by describing Lord with different examples and

beautiful analogies, hence the name.

 

Katho:panishad

 

------------------

 

Katho:panishad is identified as the third of the Upanishads, Isha,

Kena being the first two. So, for all those desirous of learning the

most confidential understandings of the Vedas, who really want to

experience that eternal Anandam, Katho:panishad study and meditation on

its meaning is essential.

 

Under the brilliant guidance of the lotus feet of our Acharya, let us

be determined to learn this Upanishad step by step.

 

Kindly forgive adiye:n for adiye:n's ignorance and any lack of

understanding.

 

Jai Srimannaarayana,

 

adiye:n.

 

REVIEW QUESTIONS (For adiye:n's own benefit, adiye:n wrote these. May

be, they will become useful to some of you.)

 

*******************

 

1) For Sri Vaishnavas, what is considered to be the seed of Vedas?

 

2) What are the 4 defects in the works of human beings? Can you think

of an example for each defect? Discuss how modern literature is hoax, in

the light of these 4 defects.

 

3) If that is the case (refer to Q.3), how Valmiki's Sri Ramayana,

Parashara Maharshi's Vishnu Purana etc are considered to be " Pramanas "

for us? Were they not penned by human beings? [Clue: Something can be

called Pramana when it doesn't say anything against what Vedas declare.

Also, it should have been accepted by our pu:rva Acharyas.]

 

4) Why there is no degradation of consciousness in animals? Is there

degradation of consciousness in devathas? What is the unique facility

offerred in human birth?

 

5) If somebody has to categorize something, there should be some basis

for such categorization. On what basis Vedas were classified and

labelled by Veda Vyasa?

 

6) Match the following:

 

(i) Uthara Bhagam 1. Deals with Yagnam, methods of

performing activites in a religious manner

 

(ii) Apaurusheya 2. Quantum Electro Dynamics

 

(iii) Upanishads 3. Belong to Brahma Bhagam of

Vedas.

 

(iv) Paurusheya but Pramana 4. Also called Brahma Bhagam

 

(v) Poorva Bhagam 5. Vishnu Puranam

 

(vi) Not a pramanam at all 6. Should consult Uthara Bhagam

 

(vii) Intelligent Man 7. Vedas

 

(viii) " Purusha " 8. Should consult Poorva

Bhagam

 

9. Male

 

10. Any soul living in

the body of nine gates.(Nava Dvaara Puri....)

 

11. Should simply waste

his life in earning money.

 

 

 

 

 

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