Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates ‘Para and Apara Vidya� of the study on the Shaiva Upanishads in English, comparing them with other texts dealing with the Shiva cult (besides the Agamas and Puranas). The 貹Ծṣas are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.
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5.6. ʲ and 貹 Vidyā
[...] cf. Muṇḍaka 貹Ծṣa
ܻṛdⲹ 貹Ծṣa gives the following views “There are two վ to be known. They are ʲ and 貹. 貹 Vidyā is the embodiment of the four Vedas and their six ṅg. They do not deal with the Nature of the Āٳ. But, the ʲ Vidyā is called the Ѵǰṣa-Śٰ. It deals with that supreme philosophy of the Absolute Truth, ununderstandable, impersonal, ṇa, , without ears, without eyes, without hands, without feet, eternal, omnipresent, imperishable, and knowable by the intelligent daring sages. From that Lord Ś who performs a terrible penance in the form of Supreme ñԲ-, this whole world is created which is the food of the mortals. This world is . It seems to appear just like a dream. It is superimposed on the Lord just like a rope on a serpent. This is the eternal Truth. There is no creation in reality. All is absolute. All is Truth. Knowing this, one is liberated at once. Only through ñԲ, you can get rid of this . Only through ñԲ, you can understand this existence and never through Karma. Understand this through the guidance of a Ծṣṭ-Śdzٰⲹ Guru. The Guru will give the disciple all the necessary knowledge of Brahman, the Absolute. By cutting off the bondage of ñԲ or , one should take refuge in Lord ś. This is the real wisdom to be understood by an aspirant seeking after Truth.
The ʰṇa is the bow. The Āٳ is the arrow. The Para-Brahman is the target. Just like the arrow, the Āٳ will become one with Brahman. But all these three, the bow, the arrow and the target are not different from that ś. There do not shine the bodies of the sun, moon or the stars. There does not blow the wind, there do not exist many ٱ𱹲. He, the One Lord only exists. He only, the Purity of purities, shines for ever and ever. There are two birds in this body, the ī and the ʲٳ. The ī eats the fruit of his Karmas, but the ʲٳ is untouched by anything.
The ʲٳ is only the ṣi. He does not do anything. He only assumes the form of the ī through His , just as the Āś inside a pot seems to be different from the Āś outside and assumes the form of the pot. In reality all is Ś, Advaita, the One Absolute. There is no difference of whatever kind. When all is understood to be One, , the Absolute, there is no sorrow, there is no . Then the attainment of the Advaita-ʲԲԻ岹 is very easy. Think that you are the basis of all this universe, you are the One, Kevala, Sat-侱-ĀԲԻ岹. All people cannot understand this Truth. Those devoid of can know this secret.
After knowing this, the Āٳ does not move towards any place at any time. It becomes one with the Absolute, just like ҳṭākś with ʲś. Just as Āś does not move anywhere, similarly this Āٳ does not have any movement. It becomes one with OM.
[...] Rudrahṛdaya 貹Ծṣa verse 51
One who knows this great secret Truth is the real Muni. He becomes the Para-Brahman Itself. He becomes ٳԲԻ岹. He attains permanent peace.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Rudrahṛdaya 貹Ծṣa verse 28-51 [...]