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Skanda Upanishad (स्कन्दोपनिषद्) (view source)
Revision as of 15:11, 24 December 2018
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{{ToBeEdited}}The text emphasizes there is no difference between [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]]. The ideal worship, states the Upanishad, is to see one's innermost self as not different from Skanda, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahman.
==History==
The author and the date of composition of ''Skanda Upanishad'' are known. Manuscripts of this text are also found titled as ''Aksyupanisad''.<ref name="vedlit584">Vedic Literature, Volume 1, {{Google books|2YIoAAAAYAAJ|A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts|page=PA584}}, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 584-586</ref> It is listed at number 51 in the Telugu language [[anthology]] of 108 Upanishads of the [[Muktika]] canon, narrated by [[Rama]] to [[Hanuman]].
==Contents==
The ''Skanda Upanishad'' is written in the voice of [[Kartikeya]] (Skanda), the [[Hindu]] god of war and the son of [[Shiva]]. The Upanishad is narrated in 15 [[shlokas]] or verses. Skanda addresses his father Shiva as the Great God (Mahadeva) and says that he is a superior being due to Shiva's grace. He declares himself as ''[[Vijñāna|vijnana]]'' (knowledge) and Shiva himself. Internal organs conceal the Truth and after their destruction, the god [[Vishnu]] emerges from the ''[[Samvit]]'' (Consciousness or knowledge). Skanda declares himself as the Unborn one and part of the ''Samvit''. All inert things, except the ''[[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atman]]'' (soul), are destroyers. The "imperishable" ([[Achyuta]], a name of Vishnu) who discerns between consciousness and inertness is identified with ''[[jnana]]'' (knowledge), Shiva, Vishnu, [[Parameshwara (God)|Parameshvara]] (the Supreme God), the Light of Lights and Supreme ''[[Brahman]]'' (Absolute Reality). Skanda declares he is that Brahman.<ref name="warrier">{{cite web | url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/krishna_yajur_veda/skanda.html | title=Skanda Upanishad | publisher=The Theosophical Publishing House | accessdate=16 January 2015 | author=Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier}}</ref><ref name="iyer">{{cite book | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/tmu/tmu10.htm | title=Thirty Minor Upanishads | author=K. Narayanasvami Aiyar | year=1914}}</ref> He says that he is indestructible.
Skanda says that ''[[jiva]]'' (a living being) is Shiva. Just as before husking, it is [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]] and after husking, a grain is [[rice]], similarly bound by [[karma]], it is a ''jiva'' and when liberated from karma, it becomes Shiva. Skanda then pays his respects to Shiva, who is a form of Vishnu and Vishnu, who is a form of Shiva. Further, Vishnu is said to dwell in the heart of Shiva and vice versa. Shiva and Vishnu are the one and the same.<ref name="warrier" /><ref name="iyer" />
The ''Skanda Upanishad'' further compares the body to the temple and the ''jiva'' (life-force) to Shiva. Like old flower offerings are cast away from the temple, ''ajnana'' (ignorance, absence of ''jnana'') should be thrown out from the body. God be worshipped by the thought that one is same as Him, which is ''jnana''. ''[[Dhyana in Hinduism|Dhyana]]'' (mediation) should be to rid the mind of objects. Bathing is removing the dirt in the mind. Cleanliness is control over the senses. One must consume the drink of Brahman. One must live on alms and in a solitary place alone and realize the [[Advaita Vedanta|non-duality]] of the Soul and Brahman. Thus, one attains emancipation ([[moksha]]).<ref name="warrier" /><ref name="iyer" />
A prayer in first person follows. Obeisance is offered to the Supreme Light, wishing for prosperity and longevity. Vishnu as [[Narasimha]] and Shiva as Mahadeva are addressed. The hymn declares that by their grace, people realize the incomprehensible Brahman, which transcends thoughts, is unmanifest and infinite and indestructible, but takes the form of the deities, [[Brahma]], Vishnu and Shiva.<ref name="iyer" />
==Commentary==
Two aphorisms from the ''Skanda Upanishad'': "Shiva is Jiva" and "the body is said to be the temple" are quoted repeatedly. [[Aurobindo]] interprets them to convey that the unmanifested soul within a person should be united with Shiva, that is, Brahman.<ref name="Ananda2013">{{cite book|author=Sri G. Ananda|title=Shiva: A Rediscovery of the Holy Spirit|date=3 December 2013|publisher=Art of Unity|isbn=978-1-4943-6868-5|page=135}}</ref>
The unity and sameness of Vishnu and Shiva, gods of the rival Hindu sects of [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Shaivism]] respectively, in the text are also emphasized.<ref name="iyer" /> This identification of the two gods is said an attempt of syncretism of the warring sects, similar to the icon of [[Harihara]], the combined form of Vishnu and Shiva.<ref name="Bhaṭṭācāryya1969">{{cite book|author=Haridāsa Bhaṭṭācāryya|title=The Cultural Heritage of India: The religious. 1956|year=1969|publisher=Ramakrishna Mission, Institute of Culture|page=50}}</ref>
==References==
<references />
==History==
The author and the date of composition of ''Skanda Upanishad'' are known. Manuscripts of this text are also found titled as ''Aksyupanisad''.<ref name="vedlit584">Vedic Literature, Volume 1, {{Google books|2YIoAAAAYAAJ|A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts|page=PA584}}, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 584-586</ref> It is listed at number 51 in the Telugu language [[anthology]] of 108 Upanishads of the [[Muktika]] canon, narrated by [[Rama]] to [[Hanuman]].
==Contents==
The ''Skanda Upanishad'' is written in the voice of [[Kartikeya]] (Skanda), the [[Hindu]] god of war and the son of [[Shiva]]. The Upanishad is narrated in 15 [[shlokas]] or verses. Skanda addresses his father Shiva as the Great God (Mahadeva) and says that he is a superior being due to Shiva's grace. He declares himself as ''[[Vijñāna|vijnana]]'' (knowledge) and Shiva himself. Internal organs conceal the Truth and after their destruction, the god [[Vishnu]] emerges from the ''[[Samvit]]'' (Consciousness or knowledge). Skanda declares himself as the Unborn one and part of the ''Samvit''. All inert things, except the ''[[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atman]]'' (soul), are destroyers. The "imperishable" ([[Achyuta]], a name of Vishnu) who discerns between consciousness and inertness is identified with ''[[jnana]]'' (knowledge), Shiva, Vishnu, [[Parameshwara (God)|Parameshvara]] (the Supreme God), the Light of Lights and Supreme ''[[Brahman]]'' (Absolute Reality). Skanda declares he is that Brahman.<ref name="warrier">{{cite web | url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/krishna_yajur_veda/skanda.html | title=Skanda Upanishad | publisher=The Theosophical Publishing House | accessdate=16 January 2015 | author=Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier}}</ref><ref name="iyer">{{cite book | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/tmu/tmu10.htm | title=Thirty Minor Upanishads | author=K. Narayanasvami Aiyar | year=1914}}</ref> He says that he is indestructible.
Skanda says that ''[[jiva]]'' (a living being) is Shiva. Just as before husking, it is [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]] and after husking, a grain is [[rice]], similarly bound by [[karma]], it is a ''jiva'' and when liberated from karma, it becomes Shiva. Skanda then pays his respects to Shiva, who is a form of Vishnu and Vishnu, who is a form of Shiva. Further, Vishnu is said to dwell in the heart of Shiva and vice versa. Shiva and Vishnu are the one and the same.<ref name="warrier" /><ref name="iyer" />
The ''Skanda Upanishad'' further compares the body to the temple and the ''jiva'' (life-force) to Shiva. Like old flower offerings are cast away from the temple, ''ajnana'' (ignorance, absence of ''jnana'') should be thrown out from the body. God be worshipped by the thought that one is same as Him, which is ''jnana''. ''[[Dhyana in Hinduism|Dhyana]]'' (mediation) should be to rid the mind of objects. Bathing is removing the dirt in the mind. Cleanliness is control over the senses. One must consume the drink of Brahman. One must live on alms and in a solitary place alone and realize the [[Advaita Vedanta|non-duality]] of the Soul and Brahman. Thus, one attains emancipation ([[moksha]]).<ref name="warrier" /><ref name="iyer" />
A prayer in first person follows. Obeisance is offered to the Supreme Light, wishing for prosperity and longevity. Vishnu as [[Narasimha]] and Shiva as Mahadeva are addressed. The hymn declares that by their grace, people realize the incomprehensible Brahman, which transcends thoughts, is unmanifest and infinite and indestructible, but takes the form of the deities, [[Brahma]], Vishnu and Shiva.<ref name="iyer" />
==Commentary==
Two aphorisms from the ''Skanda Upanishad'': "Shiva is Jiva" and "the body is said to be the temple" are quoted repeatedly. [[Aurobindo]] interprets them to convey that the unmanifested soul within a person should be united with Shiva, that is, Brahman.<ref name="Ananda2013">{{cite book|author=Sri G. Ananda|title=Shiva: A Rediscovery of the Holy Spirit|date=3 December 2013|publisher=Art of Unity|isbn=978-1-4943-6868-5|page=135}}</ref>
The unity and sameness of Vishnu and Shiva, gods of the rival Hindu sects of [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Shaivism]] respectively, in the text are also emphasized.<ref name="iyer" /> This identification of the two gods is said an attempt of syncretism of the warring sects, similar to the icon of [[Harihara]], the combined form of Vishnu and Shiva.<ref name="Bhaṭṭācāryya1969">{{cite book|author=Haridāsa Bhaṭṭācāryya|title=The Cultural Heritage of India: The religious. 1956|year=1969|publisher=Ramakrishna Mission, Institute of Culture|page=50}}</ref>
==References==
<references />