The Upanishads are the sum and substance of the Veda. All the Vedic doctrines are classified into different categories like the sankhya, yoga, mantra, Atman, Brahman, and the like. Each and every sage who taught these specialized subjects were highly respected for the depth of understanding and experience as could be seen in the case of the principle of tattvamasi by Sage Aruni Uddalaka to his disciple Shvetaketu.
Among the Forty divisions of the entire spectrum bands of knowledge are included the one hundred and eight Upanishads and the six darshan shastra, too. The Upanishads are nothing but the Vedic doctrines only. As the muktikopanishad states, one can attain liberation, salvation, muktii by a careful study of all these Upanishads.
Among the Forty divisions of the entire spectrum bands of knowledge are included the one hundred and eight Upanishads and the six darshan shastra, too. The Upanishads are nothing but the Vedic doctrines only. As the muktikopanishad states, one can attain liberation, salvation, muktii by a careful study of all these Upanishads.
The long list of all the Upanishads are given in the muktikopanishad. It is stated that, after the victory over Ravan, Sri Ram returned from Lanka. Hanuman said, "My Lord Ram, you are not only the King of Ayodhya, but of the entire mankind and, me too, the king of the vanara kingdom. But how can I attain liberation, mukti from this state of existence?
Sri Ram asked Hanuman said, "study Ishavasya Upanishad, you will attain mukti". Hanuman reverently went back and studied the Ishavasya Upanishad and came back and said, "He Ram, I read the Upanishad, but could not make head or tail of it."
Sri Ram said, "Then, you study the ten principle Upanishads- Aitareya Upanishad (Rk), Katha, Taittiriya, Ishavasya and Brihadaranyaka (Yajurveda), Kena and Chandogya (Samaveda), Prashna, Mandukya and the Mundaka Upanishads (Atharvaveda), you will certainly attain liberation from this vanara avatar."
Again, Hanuman returned and said, "My Lord, I read all the ten principle Upanishads, but of no avail. The Upanishads seem to be more complex, often contradictory and confusing!"
Sri Ram said, Hanuman, I advise you to read all the one hundred and eight Upanishads, you ill attain liberation and then enumerated them."
This time, there was total transformation in Hanuman. He realized "Who he really is!" He realized the fact that he is no more the vanara body, mind, buddhi or the ego! He is the very embodiment of the eternal, immortal and the 'truth'!
He came to Sri Ram and addressed him as:
Hey, Mr Ram!
Hearing this, Ram understood the effect of the study of the Upanishads on the Vanara King!
Hanuman continued, "Mr Ram, you are only a King of Ayodhya and you are under eternal bondage. You have no mukti, liberation, salvation from this attachment to your ctizens. See me, how free I am! I am the totally liberated Vayu putran! I am the Anajani suta! I am Maruti and can fly faster than the Mind (manas)! I am the very embodiment of the principles of fire and air and, I can move freely in space (akasha). Thus, I am the liberated soul!
Sri Ram asked Hanuman said, "study Ishavasya Upanishad, you will attain mukti". Hanuman reverently went back and studied the Ishavasya Upanishad and came back and said, "He Ram, I read the Upanishad, but could not make head or tail of it."
Sri Ram said, "Then, you study the ten principle Upanishads- Aitareya Upanishad (Rk), Katha, Taittiriya, Ishavasya and Brihadaranyaka (Yajurveda), Kena and Chandogya (Samaveda), Prashna, Mandukya and the Mundaka Upanishads (Atharvaveda), you will certainly attain liberation from this vanara avatar."
Again, Hanuman returned and said, "My Lord, I read all the ten principle Upanishads, but of no avail. The Upanishads seem to be more complex, often contradictory and confusing!"
Sri Ram said, Hanuman, I advise you to read all the one hundred and eight Upanishads, you ill attain liberation and then enumerated them."
This time, there was total transformation in Hanuman. He realized "Who he really is!" He realized the fact that he is no more the vanara body, mind, buddhi or the ego! He is the very embodiment of the eternal, immortal and the 'truth'!
He came to Sri Ram and addressed him as:
Hey, Mr Ram!
Hearing this, Ram understood the effect of the study of the Upanishads on the Vanara King!
Hanuman continued, "Mr Ram, you are only a King of Ayodhya and you are under eternal bondage. You have no mukti, liberation, salvation from this attachment to your ctizens. See me, how free I am! I am the totally liberated Vayu putran! I am the Anajani suta! I am Maruti and can fly faster than the Mind (manas)! I am the very embodiment of the principles of fire and air and, I can move freely in space (akasha). Thus, I am the liberated soul!
The Upanishads are the means of realization of the Self; it brings salvation, mukti. These simplified versions of the Veda guide us to deeper understaanding of the Self, the means of attaining the 'Knowledge of the Self', atmajnyan. The great Sages like Yajnyavalkya, Aruni Uddalaka, Maitreyi, Jabala and the like have taught the Vedic principles, spiritual knowledge, to their disciples. It is very interesting to note that these Sages were specialists in different branches of the Veda like the Atman and Brahmn, sankhya, yoga, mantra, Vedanta and those that deal with creation, sustenance, salvation, about life and death, etc. The Upanishads are the greatest treasure a great heritage of the Hindus.
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