Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates 鈥楢 gist of Shaiva Upanishads鈥� 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 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲s are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.
8. A gist of 艢补颈惫补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲s
1 Ak峁m膩lik膩 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In Ak峁m膩lik膩 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 笔谤补箩腻辫补迟颈 learns from Guha the details concerning rosaries: their kinds and constituents, the inner significance of the various parts, the mantras that are to be used while telling the beads, their fruit, etc.
2 Atharva艣ikh膩 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In Atharva艣ikh膩 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 , Atharvan teaches the Significance of 鈥�Om鈥� and the meditation theron; and 艢颈惫补 is declared to be the supreme object of meditation.
3 Atharva艣ira 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In Atharva艣ira 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 Rudra declares himself to the gods to be all in all. The gods in turn pray to Rudra identifying him with the Supreme.
4 碍腻濒腻驳苍颈谤耻诲谤补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In K膩lagnirudra 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 , 厂补苍补迟办耻尘腻谤补 learns from 碍腻濒腻驳苍颈谤耻诲谤补 the method to be followed in smearing ashes.
5 Kaivalya 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In Kaivalya 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 , 艢颈惫补 is identified with the Supreme Brahman, the source of all; the non difference between the 箩墨惫补 and the Lord is declared; and the experience of non difference is explained.
6 骋补峁嘺辫补迟颈 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
The 骋补峁嘺辫补迟颈 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 is the only 艢补颈惫补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲, that has no direct learning on 艢颈惫补-Rudra concept of Brahman. However, based on 辫耻谤腻峁噄肠 legend, that 骋补峁嘺辫补迟颈 is the son of Lord 艢颈惫补. This 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 is included in 艢补颈惫补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲.
7 闯腻产腻濒颈 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In 闯腻产腻濒颈 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 the terms 鈥�笔补艣耻辫补迟颈; (God) and 鈥�笔补艣耻鈥� (soul) are explained; smearing of ashes is declared to be the means to knowledge; and the method of smearing is also set forth.
8 顿补办峁峁嚹乵奴谤迟颈 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In 顿补办峁峁嚹乵奴谤迟颈 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 , 艢颈惫补 is identified with 顿补办峁峁嚹乵奴谤迟颈. Knowledge of this identity is said to be the supreme secret, the harbinger of longevity and of ultimate release.
9 笔补帽肠补产谤补丑尘补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In 笔补帽肠补产谤补丑尘补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲, 惭补丑腻诲别惫补, the supreme God, teaches the five forms of Brahman that arose at first: 厂补诲测辞箩腻迟补, Aghora, 痴腻尘补诲别惫补, 罢补迟辫耻谤耻峁, and 莫艣腻苍补. 莫艣腻苍补 is the highest form; but all the five are to be resolved in the supreme Brahman which is really without form.
10 B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 are set forth the greatness of the sacred ash, the significance of its various names, the mode of its production, the rite of bathing in ash, the way of smearing the ash on the different parts of the body, the mantras to be used in these rites, etc. There is also to be found the derivative meaning of the world 鈥�搁耻诲谤腻办峁鈥�
11 Bhasmaj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In Bhasmaj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 up the method of wearing the ash marks is explained; the various rites connected therewith are described; the worship of 艢颈惫补 in according to rule is prescribed; and life in Benares is enjoined on those who are incapable of higher worship.
12 Rudrah峁沝aya 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In Rudrah峁沝aya 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 , Rudra is declared to be of the nature of all; 艢颈惫补, 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, 叠谤补丑尘腻, and Um膩 regarded as different manifestations of the same Spirit; the difference between the higher knowledge and lower knowledge is explained; the difference between the 箩墨惫补 and the Lord is characterised as apparent; and the knowledge of non-difference is said to remove sorrow and delusion.
13 搁耻诲谤腻办峁j膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In 搁耻诲谤腻办峁j膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲, Bhusu峁囜笉a learns from 碍腻濒腻驳苍颈谤耻诲谤补 details regarding the Rudra beads, their origin, eligibility to wear them, conditions of wearing them, etc.
14 艢补谤补产丑补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲
In 艢补谤补产丑补 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲, the creator 叠谤补丑尘腻 proclaims Rudra to be the Supreme God; it is also said that Rudra in the form of a 艢补谤补产丑补 (a fabulous animal considered to be stronger than the lion) killed a 狈峁泂颈尘丑补; the gods praise Rudra who has assumed this great form; and finally it is declared that there is no difference between 艢颈惫补 and 痴颈峁ａ箛耻.