The Panentheistic Vedanta of Isopanisad Ever since the dawn of thought, the Indian mind is distinguished for its natural inclination towards spiritualistic metaphysical reflections the combination of which is reached in the Vedanta system. The philosophy of Vedanta is the highest formulation of the Vedic wisdom and that is why it is given this nomenclature. It is also the highest exposition of the Indian philosophical thought in its theoretical as well as practical aspects. It is a living philosophy of India. Its enduring popularity is due to its being a view and a way of life, an inquisitive enquiry into the nature of reality and a way of spiritual realization of the same as the goal of life. It has been acclaimed by many knowledgeable people all over the world that there is nothing more elevating and beneficial than this. It is therefore quite essential for a seeker after truth and eternal happiness to know and to appreciate the meaning and significance of Vedanta, the most precious gift of India to the humankind.
The philosophy of Vedanta is basically contained in the Upanisads, the Brahmasutra and the Bhagavadgita, technically known as "Prasthanatraya, teaching the same philosophical truth in mystical, metaphysical and moral settings and forms respectively. These three together constitute the foundation and supreme authority of Vedantic thought.
Among the prasthanatraya, the Upanisads are the most revered texts as they are parts of sruti or the Veda. The Brahmasutra composed by Badarayaņa occupy a place of prominence as it presents the most authoritative and systematic exposition of Vedanta available in the Upanisads. The Bhagavadgita is a synoptic and condensed presentation of the same philosophical truth.
The Vedas are the records of the subliminal intuitive realizations of the nature of Reality apprehended by the 'realized seers' known as 'Rsis'. They are the "Mantrades and not ordinary humans who approach the reality through finite senses and mind. Their deliverances are therefore infallible, non-descriptive and not amenable for evaluation in terms of being empirically true or false or doubtful. They are beyond the ken of human thought and language. The Vedic utterances are only to be experienced or realized through proper discipline of body, senses, mind and intellect. They cannot be adequately expressed in concepts and words and they are not purported for this venture. However, it is a human weakness to describe the indescribable and to speak the unspeakable. The present write-up is to be taken only in this spirit.
The Vedas inculcate a healthy and robust attitude towards life and reality. The aim of life is attainment of fullest possible material prosperity and abundance without at the same time ignoring the higher demands of ethics and spirituality. The Vedic philosophy is not anti-matter but anti-materialism, not anti-reason but anti-rationalism, not anti-world but anti-worldliness. It is holistic, integral and all-inclusive approach to life and reality.
The Upanisads have been termed as Himalayas of the soul. They contain experience of seers and saints of India who lived thousands of years ago. They are one of the most brilliant in the annals of mankind.
Kavasya Upanisad is the only Upanisad which forms part of any Samhita. Thus chronologically, it is recognized to be the first among the Upanisads but there are also controversies, Appearing as chapter 40 of Yajurveda, it has only 17 mantras instead of the generally accepted 18 mantras in different recensions. Also, sequence of mantras is not the same. Then, these mantras are also found in other scriptures though in somewhat different contexts: 15., 09 and IS.. 15,16.17.18 appear in Brhadarnyaka Upanisad (mantras 4.4.10 and 5.15.1) and verse 8.1.10 in Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana is similar to 13., 01.
Although there are several translations in English and other languages, the purport of the verses and the common theme that links them is not easy to comprehend. RTH Griffith in summarizing the contents of Chapter 40 of Yajurveda wrote, "Although simple in language, it presents difficulties in explaining apparently conflicting sentiments". For example, it is declared (Isa, 09,10,11) that avidya (ignorance) leads to blinding darkness which is understandable, but how is it that vidya (knowledge) leads to greater darkness and how the two practised together, by the same person, lead to overcoming death by practice of avidya and to immortality by practice of vidya. Also, literal translation invariably prevents lucidity of presentation.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has the privilege of having published more than twenty-seven books on Upanisads. Many of them have undergone several reprints and about three lakh copies have already been sold.
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