Sectarian Upanishads
SAKTA UPANISHADS: Rs. 250.
SAIVA UPANISHADS: Rs. 400. With commentary of Sri Upanishad Brahmayogin, complied by A. Mahadev Sastry, (Sanskrit): Both the books pub. by Oriental Book Centre 5824, Near Shiv Mandir, New Chadrawal, Jawahar Nagar, New Delhi-110007.
Pappu Venugopala Rao
The Vedic literature is classified into the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and the Upanishads. The Upanishads form the last part of the Vedas and are hence known as Vedanta. There are different kinds of classification of the Upanishads. They basically deal with the Jivatma (the individual Self) and the Paramatma (the Absolute Self), and the concept of Brahman. There are 108 Upanishads. A large number of them are in both the branches of the Yajur Veda. Another classification of the Upanishads is based on the theme and classified as Yoga, Saiva, Vishnu and Sarira. They are basically organised sections dealing with spiritual discussions. Most of the teachings equate Atman with Brahman.
There are a number of Upanishads dealing with the Sakti faith. The first book, Sakta Upanishads, deals with eight of them. Most of them are very brief and require interpretations and commentaries. The book carries a very lucid and highly enlightening commentary of Sri Upanishad Brahma Yogin in chaste and simple Sanskrit.
Sakta Upanishads
The eight Upanishads are Tripuropanishad, Tripuratapinyupanishad, Devyupanishad, Bahvruchopanishad, Bhavanopanishad, Sarasvati Rahasyaupanishad, Sitopanishad and Soubhagya Lakshmiupanishad. The Sakta tradition has a dominant tantric component and these Upanishads very elaborately deal with it. At the same time, there is a lot of secrecy involved. To decipher them one needs the help of a commentary and or initiation by and tutelage under a Guru.
The Tripuropanishad deals with Sivakama Sundari and the presiding deities of the enclosures of the Sri Chakra. The Tripuratapinyupanishad deals with the 15-lettered Mantra and its relation with Gayatri. It also deals with the nature of worship of Sri Chakra. The Bhavanopanishad emphasises the correlation between the body, the Mantra and the Yantra.
Saiva Upanishads
The book Saiva Upanishads deals with 15 Upanishads including Ganapatyupanishad, Jabaliupanishad and Swetasvatarapanishad. Though these are predominantly Saivite in nature, they deal with many interesting components of spiritualism.
For example, the Atharvasiraupanishad deals with Omkara — the primordial sound and the nature of sound itself in a very intricate manner. The Kaivalya Upanishad deals with non-dualism between the individual soul and the Ultimate. The Ganpaty Upanishad reveals the secrets embedded in Ganpaty Gayatri and the Mantras related to Ganesa. Upanishads like Bruhat Jabali Upanishad are elaborate with as many as eight Brahmanas incorporated. Each one of these Upanisads encompasses a great deal of knowledge related to spirituality from the basic to the most intricate. They are a treasure for the readers interested in Saiva and Sakta traditions. The editor/compiler has done a commendable job in compiling them without any anomalies.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Book Review
