Celebrating Shravan with Shiva -11

 Shiva Day Eleven

The Upanishads are a collection of texts of religious and philosophical nature, written in India probably between c. 800 BCE and c. 500 BCE, during a time when Indian society started to question the traditional Vedic religious order. The Concept of God in Hinduism by Swami Krishnanada describes some relevant Upanishads and the concept of God associated with it and will follow. We would also follow the ‘The Principal Upanishads’ for more insight, https://www.learnreligions.com/the-principal-upanishads-1770572#svetasvatara-upanishad

The Concept of God in Hinduism by Swami Krishnanada

1.  The Isavasya Upanishad says that the whole Universe is pervaded by Isvara or God, who is both within and without it. He is moving and the unmoving, He is far and near, He is within all these and without all these. 

‘The Principal Upanishads’ by Subhamoy Das

The Isavasya Upanishad derives its name from the opening word of the text 'Isavasya' or 'Isa', meaning 'Lord' that encloses all that moves in the world. Greatly revered, this short Upanishad is often put at the beginning of the Upanishads and marks the trend toward monotheism in the Upanishads. Its main purpose is to teach the essential unity of God and the world, being and becoming. It is interested not so much in the Absolute in itself ('Parabrahman') as in the Absolute in relation to the world ('Paramesvara'). It says that renouncing the world and not coveting the possessions of others can bring joy. The Isha Upanishad concludes with a prayer to Surya (sun) and Agni (fire).

Isvara is the lord of the universe. The Upanishads describe him as the witness consciousness (saksi chaitanyam), who controls maya (the power of illusion), wakes up the latent causes that are asleep in Nature, casts the net of illusion upon the mortal world, and subjects them to duality and delusion.  Isvara is thus the weaver of the fabric of time and space and its bearer.

Note;

What are the Vedas and Upanishads?

Originating in ancient India, the Vedas are an ancient and comprehensive collection of teachings from the gurus of the Vedic period. The Vedas themselves predate Hinduism. They contain the mantras, chants, and lessons of the Vedic order.

And the Upanishads are an important part of that order. In fact, they contain some of the most influential philosophical teachings of the age. They discuss things such as meditation, philosophy, a higher state of being, and the nature of our maker. But what’s fascinating about the Upanishads is that even though its teachings are now thousands of years old, they are just as relevant today as they were back then.

So we’re going to dive into the Upanishads to show you what they’re all about and what 5 key lessons we can learn from these ancient, mystical texts today:

·       Samsara

·       Karma

·       Dharma

·       Moksha

·       Atman