Krishna Seva

[zankhana]

Jai Shri Krishna

It is amazing how much knowledge exists in our scriptures. Thank you Unnatiji for your efforts.
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Sarvada sarva bhaven bhajanio vrajadhipah

Jai Shri Krishna
Zankhana

[unnati]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh

Sanyasa Upanishads (16)

Brahmo Upanishad
Tells us about how the great sage of wisdom comes out of all mundane things and lives a life where there is no need for rituals and no differences exist. The mantra for changing Yagnopavita occurs in this Upanishad.

Jabala Upanishad
This is compiled by Sage Jabala. This gives more emphasis on mediation and the chanting of Rudra. The greatness of concentrating between the centres of eyes is stressed here.

Arunya Upanishad
This Upanishad deals about the teaching of Prajapathi to sage Aaruni. It gives in detail the rules of life to be followed by a Brahmachari and a Sanyasi.

Paramahamsa Upanishad
It deals about the discussion between Sage Narada and God on who is a paramahamsa (sanyasi at an advanced stage) and methods to identify him.

Maitreyi Upanishad
It is the teaching of Lord Parameshwara to sage Maithreya. To a large extent , what is given in Maithrayani Upanishad is repeated. In addition God tells to him in detail about his formless form.

Nirvana Upanishad
Details about the Sanyasa marga involving Nirvana (nudity). Tells about how the people follow it .

Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad
This is the teaching of Narada to the Souunaka Sages. It tells abut the methods to attain salvation, the rules to be followed by a Sanyasi, and the time when a person should enter Sanyasa. It also talks about Karma Sanyasa.

Bhikshuka Upanishad
It defines the different types of Sanyasi like Kuttesaka, Bahoodhaka, Hamsa and Parama Hamsa .

Turiyatita Upanishad
It is taught by Lord Narayana to Lord Brahma and tells us about the rules of the life of an Avadhootha.

Sanyasa Upanishad
Tells who can take Sanyasa and what is the procedure.

Paramahamsaparivrajaka Upanishad
This is taught by Lord Narayana to Lord Brahma. It deals mainly about the procedure of taking sanyasa.

Kundika Upanishad
Tells what al things a Sanyasi should posses. And how he should behave.

Parabrahma Upanishad
Tells what is Yagnopavitha as well as Shika, for the sanyasis as well as people of the world. Gives clearly the total length of the Upavitha. For the sanyasi it is the pranava which acts as Yagnopavitha and Shika.

Avadhuta Upanishad
Dathathreya teaches sage Sankrithi as to who is Avadhootha and how he should behave.

Yajnavalkya Upanishad
The Upanishad tells when to assume sanyasa and also the properties of a sanyasi.

Saatyayani Upanishad
Mind becomes the reason for attachment and salvation. Tells that a real Brahmin should search for Brahmam. Also tells that one taking sanyasa gives redemption for three generation of manes.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[unnati]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh.

Yoga Upanishads(19)

Shwethaswadhara Upanishad
This Upanishad is taught by a sage called Swethaswadhara. More emphasis is given in teaching Sankhya yoga and the philosophy of illusion(Maya).

Hamso Upanishad
This talks about meditation on Hamsa mantra and is being taught by sage Gauthama to sage Sanathkumara. The method of meditating on the Hamsa mantra is fully described.

Amrutha bindu Upanishad.
It gives the knowledge of athma in the tasty form of nectar and gives it as briefly as a dot. It tells us about what is Brahmam and other concepts of hard core Hindu Philosophy.

Amrutha nadopanishad.
This describes the way and detailed method to chant the holy letter "OM', which is called here as the nectar like letter.

Kshurikoupanishad.
Kshrika means knife. It is so called because it cuts ignorance using the knife of wisdom. This is a Upanishad which in detail tells about Yoga and its practice.

Thejo Bindupanishad
This Upanishad is the teaching of Lord Paramashiva to his son Subrahmanya .Talks in detail about Yogic practices, defines Chinmathra Swaroopa ,Athmanubhava , Jeevan Muktha etc.

Nada Bindu Upanishad
Tells in detail about the meditation on Omkara (pranava). The method of meditation and some problems which may occur are pointed out.

Dhyana Bindu Upanishad.
The meditation on Pranava and Ajabha Gayathri is dealt in detail along with the method involved.

Brahma Vidhyoupanishad.
Teaches methods of attaining Brahma through meditation .Emphasizes role of Guru. Tells that Sruthi is more important than pramana.

Yoga Thathwopanishad
This is the teaching of Lord Vishnu to Lord Brahma. It details out the yogic practice. It also tells about the stages in yoga, defines them and tells how to recognize them.

Trisiki Brahmanopanishad.
This is the teaching of Lord Soorya to a Brahmin called Trishiki Brahmana. He clears his doubts about the definition of the body, soul , Karana and yogic practice.

Yoga Choodamani Upanishad.
Tells about Yogic practice involving Ajaba Gayatri. Tells about the seats of yoga , tells how to wake up the Kundalani and reach her up to Brahma Randra.

Mandala Brahmanoupanishad.
This is the teaching of Sun God to his disciple Yagna Valkya. This deals with the principle of the soul through yogic practice. Definitions of various terms used in Yoga is also given. Tells in detail about Yogic practice and tells us about what is Sambhavi Mudhra.

Sandilyopanishad
This is taught by sage Atharvana to sage Sandilya. It deals with Ashtangayoga and Brahma Vidhya.

Yogashikopanishad.
This is the teaching of Lord Maheswara to Lord Brahma. It deals with subjects like Mukthi, Shakthi, Nadha , Chaithanya and Yoga.

Yoga kudalinyupanishad.
Tells about Kundalani and yogic practice.

Sri Jabaladarsanopanishad
This is the teaching of Lord Dathathreya to his disciple sage Sankriti. And tells how the yoga should be done in detail.

Mahavakyopanishad
Confirms that the knowledge "That this Sun is Brahma" would be realized by chanting of Ajapa Gayathri. Tells what is the merger of mind with Brahma.

Varahopanishad.
Tells about the Brahma Vidya of the body of Varaha. Lord Vishnu as Varaha tells how he should be meditated upon and worshipped. Also deals in detail about the stages of yoga.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh,

Something on Puranas.

According to Matsya Purana, there are a total of four lakhs (400,000) slokas in the eighteen Puranaas as described below.

The last Purana Vyasa Bhagavan gave us was Bhaagavatha Purana. He was not satisfied even after writing all 17 puranas and Mahabharatha. Narada advised Vyasa to glorify Vasudeva to get the peace and happiness he was searching for:

"o best of sages, since you have broadly described the four goals of human life beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of Vasudeva." (bhagavata 1.5.8-9)

So as the last Purana, Vyasa Bhgavan wrote Bhagavatham which is "as brillianrt as the sun and it has arisen to save us from the darkness of the age of Kali".

Skanda puranan has the highest number of slokas - 81,100.
Next is padma purana with 55,000.
Narada Purana- 25,000
Siva Purana and Varaha Purana- 24,000 each
Vishnu Purana- 23,000
Gatuda Purana- 19,000
Bhagavatha Purana and Brahmavaivartha Purana-18,000 each
Kurma Purana-17,000
Agni Purana -15,400
Bhavishya Purana- 14,500
Matshya Purana- 14,000
Brahmanda Purana- 12,000
Linga Purana- 11,000
Vamana Purana and Brahma Purana- 10,000
Markandeya Purana -9,000
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh,

Vasantji, its really very informative... to add more...

Methodology Of The Upanishads

The Upanishads have their own unique style. Their exposition is in four different ways:

1. Dialogue with questions and answers.
2. Narration and episodes.
3. Similes, metaphors and illustrations.
4. Symbolism.

Normally, it is not difficult to ascertain the purport of the texts in the first two types. In some cases, the questions and answers are of the reductio-ad-absurdum type and the correct conclusion has to be drawn. In the cases 3 and 4, it is more difficult to ascertain the purport, as which aspect or shade of meaning of the simile or illustration is being used to illustrate the meaning. However, clues are available in the wording of similes etc and also in the following passages. These have been exploited effectively by Sri Madhva in his interpretations. Symbolisms employed by the Upanishads are essentially of 3 types -- Nature symbolism, sacrifices and sacrificial items used as symbols, and mystic sound syllables such as Aum being used as symbols. These need careful study. Many symbols, similies, illustrations, and episodes are repeated in different Upanishads, sometimes with slight changes. A good many verses are also repeated. The correct meaning can be derived by applying the supreme test of consistency to the different occurences, in addition to the other criteria mentioned earlier.

The Brahma Suutra indicates three main guidelines to understand the purport of the Upanishads:

tattu samanvayaat.h -- The total material available on the point of study in the entire Shruti literature has to be taken into account and interpreted correctly by applying the canons of interpretation.

gati samaanyaat.h -- All the Shruti literature have the same purport and apparent contradictions are resolved by proper study and interpretation.

sarvavedaantapratyayam.h -- The underlying purport of the Upanishads is found to be one consistent truth, which when understood fully will lead to God-realization.

It is only the lack of utilisation of the guidelines fully and properly that has led many commentators to derive Monism and Absolutism out of Vedanta. Traditional monistic commentators had a committed approach towards "proving" their school irrespective of the actual correct meanings derived from Vedanta texts. Modern neo-Vedantic scholars have very limited equipment in terms of knowledge and intelligence with which to exhaustively use the critical apparatus, and have hence made a thorough mess in their interpretations, which often conflict with or misinterpret the positions adopted by the senior scholars whose lead they are supposed to be following.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia