Hindu Mysticism: Philosophy and Religion (According to the Upanisads, Revised and Enlarged Edition)

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ABOUT THE BOOK An outstanding scholar of both Indian and Western Philosophy has elucidated in several separate chapters, the Hindu Mysticism, Philosophy and Religion as reflected in these ancient Upanisadic texts in a very lucid and clear language and flowing style. He has not only crystal clear understanding of the basic doctrines and principles of Hindu view of life as reflected in the Upanişads but also has deep insight into the subject. of exposition. He has very often referred to and compared the philosophical standpoints held by Western philosophers.

To the modern world of science and technology, this basic concept of the Atman or the Brahman would appear to be mystic exposition. The Upanisads presuppose such a kind of mysticism.

The Upanisads are replete with the philosophical speculations. It in fact tries to understand the basic principles underlying life and reality.

The practical way to realize this Ultimate Reality and to obtain Unity with the Brahman is the Dharma. The word Religion is used in the sense of "a sense of duty of reverence towards superior power."

Thus the Upanisads have incorporated not only mysticism but philosophy and practical path of Religion that can lead to personal and social good.

The book incorporates the cream of the Upanisadic knowledge, expounded in small but enlightening twenty-six chapters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR The author, Prof. Dr. Mukund Lalji Wadalar is now General Editor/Professor, Critical Editions Section of the Oriental Institute. He secured first rank with Distinction at B.A. Examination. He maintained the same position and brilliant. record even at M.A. Examination. He has been a recipient of two Gold Medals, several prizes and scholarships.

Dr. Wadekar has been actively engaged in teaching and research since 1977. He has worked in several capacities as Asstt. Editor, Deputy Director, I/C Director of the Oriental Institute of Baroda. Several research papers of the present author have been published in various reputed Journals throughout India. His books "Devalasmrti-Recons India truction & Critical Study Vols.I and II.

"Devimaharmya-with comentary of Nilambaracarya", "Dharme Sarvam Pratisthitam" (edited jointly with Shri PH Joshi) etc. have been warmly received by the world of scholars. He has attended and read papers at several regional. national and international level seminars and conferences.

Last but not the least, Dr. Wadekar has been born, brought up and trained in the atmosphere of traditional scholarship, as his maternal uncle, the late Shri Jagannath Shridhar Padeshastri was a versatile traditional Sanskrit scholar and a great Indologist of International repute.

The present book is an outcome of incessant research endeavor made for more than a decade by the scholar.

FOREWORD Our ancient seers were possessing great intuitive intellec and were endowed with uncommon farsight, foresight and insight. The greatest treatises like the Vedas, the Upanisads etc. are repository of perfect wisdom, which they have seen, experienced and handed down through tradition. These are replete with invaluable thoughts regarding the most inscrutable mysteries of life. The Upanisads, the Bhagavadgita and the Brahmasutras-otherwise known as the Prasthanatreyi are the most authentic and authoritative texts for understanding the Hindu doctrines and theories regarding mysticism, philosophy and Religion. Every Acarya has tried to explain his own vision and system as arising from and based upon these treatises.

Among these three prominent philosophical and mystical treatises, the class of literature known as Upanisads, represent the culmination of knowlege, reached by seers. The esoteric teaching is presented in these small and voluminuous, prose and metrical, simple yet mysterious texts of great antiquity. Prof.N.N. Sircar, the Professor of Sanskrit, Sanskrit College, Calcutta, an outstanding scholar of both Indian and Western philosophy has elucidated in several separate chapters, the Hindu Mysticism, Philosophy and Religion as reflected in these ancient Upanisadic texts in a very lucid and clear language and flowing style. He has not only crystal clear understanding of the basic doctrines and principles of Hindu view of life as reflected in the Upanisads but also has deep insight into the subject of exposition. He has very often referred to & compared the philosophical standpoints held by Western philosophers.

INTRODUCTION The Vedic Literature is generally subdivided into four main heads i.e. the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanisads. The Upanisads are the most outstanding philosophical treatises. The word Upanisad is derived from Upa+ni+sad i.e. knowledge derived by sitting near the preceptor. The secret and esoteric teaching obtained from the preceptor is incorporated in these treatises. The Mundaka Upanisad (1.2.12) says "Tadvijñánártham sa gurumevabhi gacchet samitpanih Srotriyam Brahmanistham (For knowing that secret he should approach politely, with samidhas in hands, the preceptor only who is śrotriya (well-versed in Vedas) and is Brahmanistha (intent on the Brahman). The Upanisads are also known as Vedanta which means not only the last portion of the Vedic literature but also as "Supreme or Ultimate Wisdom". The word Veda derived from the root-vid can be understood in many different shades of meaning like satta (existence), jñāna (knowledge), vicarana (deliberation), prapti (acquisition), cetaná (consciousness), akhyāna (exposition), nivasa (abode). To quote-Sattayam vidyate Jñane vetti vinte vicarane Vindante Vindati Präptau Vedayate (cetanakhyāna nivăseşu).

The word Vedanta can be interpreted in the sense of "end of consciousness" - the Upanisads expound such a supreme wisdom by realizing which there remains no separate identity. One becomes identical with the Brahman. Hence there is none to have separate consciousness, awareness of oneself. The Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (3.3.22) says, "(Yatra) vedă aveda bhavant", (where there is no separate consciousness). As these Upanisads expound such a supermost knowledge, they are also called Vedanta or Vedantic treatises.

Isa-kena-katha-prasna-munda-mandakya-Tittirih

laitareyam ca chandogyam Brhadaranyakam tatha

Though there are hundreds of small and big, ancient and later, prose and metrical Upanisads, the ten principal Upanisads namely, Isa, Kena, Katha, Praśna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brhadaranyaka are mainly exphasised and resorted for their exposition by the Acaryas. Hundreds of other later Upanisads, are considered to be minor Upanisads.

These Upanisads explain in a very lucid but forceful language the secret philosophy regarding the Ultimate Reality the Brahman, the Atman (the Individual Soul), the world and relation between each of them and the practical mode of action to realize the Reality and to obtain the summum bonum of life obtaining the Infinite Bliss. This is traditionally known as adhyatmavidya or adhyatmasastra. Among the two para & Apard vidyas, this adhyatmavidya is Aparāvidya. The Bhagavatagita extols it as the superior to all vidyas (adhyatmavidya vidyanam). Yajnavalkya (Smr. i-106) has laid emphasis on having this spiritual knowledge for the perfection of the Japayajña (the sacrifice in the form of repeating of a mantra) (Japayajñaprasidhyartham vidyam cadhyatmikim japet). He also declares that among other religious activities, it is the supreme dharma (duty) of a person to obtain knowledge of Atman through the practice of yoga. (Yajnavalkya Smr. 1.8). This vidya alone can relieve one from worldly afflictions & discontent and bring forth real happiness, satisfaction, mental peace and tranquility.

**Contents and Sample Pages**