Miscellaneous - Religion   

Supreme knowledge

CHENNAI: The term “Upanishad” refers to a class of scriptural texts which deal with the highest knowledge. From our worldly experience we can see that in-depth knowledge of one subject does not give knowledge of another and one has to learn that separately, and specialisation in one subject itself becomes a lifetime undertaking. What then do the Upanishads mean when they state that the knowledge they deal with is the highest?

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said the Mundaka Upanishad began with the declaration that knowledge of the Absolute Reality (Brahman) was the basis of all knowledge. The lineage of teacher (Guru) and disciple (Sishya) from the creator onwards is then given to show the unbroken tradition of this received wisdom. Knowledge of the Self (Brahman, Atman) is said to be the highest because it mitigates the sorrows of worldly life such as old age and disease, liberates man from rebirths, and enables him to be in poised in the Self, which is eternal and blissful.

The Mundaka is in the form of teaching by Angiras to Saunaka, who approached him for knowledge. It embodies the famous dictum about Self-knowledge in the question Saunaka posed to Angiras, “…which is that, knowing which, all this becomes known?”

Angiras then clarified that there were two kinds of knowledge: the higher (Paravidya) and the relative (Aparavidya). Apara subsumes all branches of knowledge including the Vedas (but excluding the Upanishads, which are the culminating portion of the Vedas) and knowledge of the immutable (Brahman) is Para. It is hinted in this context that the Guru is not a provider of information but communicates the highest wisdom in a way that his disciple’s questions are answered.

The opening verse underscores that Brahman is the cause of all. As in cause-effect relationships the cause is pervasive in the effect (when a bar of gold is fashioned into bangles, gold is in the bangles) Brahman has manifested as this manifold universe. So knowledge of the cause (Brahman) of all this manifestation will illumine an individual with the wisdom that will put an end to all his ignorance, doubts, sorrows and fears.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword No. 9187
Solution No. 9186
Supreme knowledge
dated April 2, 1958: Russia’s nuclear proposal
dated April 2, 1958: Political drama in E. Pak
dated April 2, 1958: Import policy
Weather

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu