Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतुः) - Revision history

AnuragV: कैटेगरि जोड़ा

2024-02-06T02:39:49Z

कैटेगरि जोड़ा

Ckanak93: Added template

2018-12-24T11:14:34Z

Added template

Ckanak93: Ckanak93 moved page Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु) to Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतुः) without leaving a redirect: Title edited

2018-12-24T11:13:38Z

Ckanak93 moved page Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु) to Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतुः) without leaving a redirect: Title edited

P16232: /* The Five Questions */

2017-09-14T06:50:15Z

The Five Questions

P16232: /* The Five Questions */

2017-09-14T06:35:32Z

The Five Questions

P16459: Text replacement - "Brahma Vidya" to "Brahmavidya"

2017-08-29T05:53:12Z

Text replacement - "Brahma Vidya" to "Brahmavidya"

P16459: Text replacement - "Uddhalaka" to "Uddalaka"

2017-08-27T12:58:15Z

Text replacement - "Uddhalaka" to "Uddalaka"

P16459 at 12:55, 27 August 2017

2017-08-27T12:55:27Z

P16459: Text replacement - "Swetaketu" to "Shvetaketu"

2017-08-27T12:43:09Z

Text replacement - "Swetaketu" to "Shvetaketu"

P16459: Text replacement - "Svetaketu" to "Shvetaketu"

2017-08-27T12:30:35Z

Text replacement - "Svetaketu" to "Shvetaketu"

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:39, 6 February 2024
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	# The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Volume 1, location 5060		# The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Volume 1, location 5060
	# Sri Aurobindo, ''The Upanishads'' [http://www.sriaurobindoashram.info/Contents.aspx?ParentCategoryName=_StaticContent/SriAurobindoAshram/-09%20E-Library/-01%20Works%20of%20Sri%20Aurobindo/-12_The%20Upanishad_Volume-12]. [[Sri Aurobindo Ashram]], [[Pondicherry (city)\|Pondicherry]]. 1972.		# Sri Aurobindo, ''The Upanishads'' [http://www.sriaurobindoashram.info/Contents.aspx?ParentCategoryName=_StaticContent/SriAurobindoAshram/-09%20E-Library/-01%20Works%20of%20Sri%20Aurobindo/-12_The%20Upanishad_Volume-12]. [[Sri Aurobindo Ashram]], [[Pondicherry (city)\|Pondicherry]]. 1972.
		+	[[Category:Upanishads]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:14, 24 December 2018
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−	श्वेतकेतु \|\| Shvetaketu, the son of [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)\|Uddalaka]] (Aruneya or son of [[अरुणा \| Aruna]]) was a [[ब्राह्मण \|Brahmana]] and the grandson of sage [[Aruni]]. He represents the quintessential seeker of knowledge. The [[Upanishad]]s entail the journey of Shvetaketu from ignorance to knowledge of the self and truth (''sat'').	+	{{ToBeEdited}}श्वेतकेतु \|\| Shvetaketu, the son of [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)\|Uddalaka]] (Aruneya or son of [[अरुणा \| Aruna]]) was a [[ब्राह्मण \|Brahmana]] and the grandson of sage [[Aruni]]. He represents the quintessential seeker of knowledge. The [[Upanishad]]s entail the journey of Shvetaketu from ignorance to knowledge of the self and truth (''sat'').

	== About Shvetaketu ==		== About Shvetaketu ==

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 श्वेतकेतु || Shvetaketu, the son of  [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] (Aruneya or son of [[अरुणा | Aruna]]) was a [[ब्राह्मण |Brahmana]] and the grandson of sage [[Aruni]]. He represents the quintessential seeker of knowledge. The [[Upanishad]]s entail the journey of Shvetaketu from ignorance to knowledge of the self and truth (''sat'').
 == Scriptural Context ==
 The context of Shvetaketu appears in three principal (''[[mukhya]]'') [[Upanishad]]s, namely, the
 # [[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]] S. 6.2.1 to 6.2.8
 # [[Chandogya Upanishad]] S.5.3
-# [[Kausitaki]] Brahmana S.1.
+# [[Kausitaki Brahmana]] S.1.
 Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the Upanishad [[mahavakya]] which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (Prapathaka) of the [[Chandogya Upanishad]].
@@ Line 36: / Line 43: @@
 Responses to these questions were provided through explanation of [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagni vidya]], which also included explanations of[[देवयान | devayan (journey to the deva loka post death)]] and [[पित्रयान | pitruyan (journey to Pitr loka post death)]] as well as of [[पञ्च महा यज्ञ |panca maha yajna]]. This was the explanation provided by the king as the essence of [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|Brahmavidya]]
-As an introduction to पञ्चाग्निविद्या, the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King told the brahmin, "you are the first one amongst the Brahmans to receive the knowledge of this ब्रह्मविद्या, up until now it was known only to Kshatriyas."
+As an introduction to पञ्चाग्निविद्या, the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King told the brahmin,   <blockquote>'''''"you are the first one amongst the Brahmans to receive the knowledge of this ब्रह्मविद्या, up until now it was known only to Kshatriyas."'''''</blockquote>This story clearly reveals that in the Vedic period even Kshatriyas were well versed in Brahmavidya debunking the Caste-system hierarchies of the East India Company Indologists’ insinuation that Brahmins' were the only custodians of knowledge.
 ==References==
 # [https://archive.org/stream/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft_djvu.txt Puranic Encycolpedia by Vettam Mani]
 # The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Volume 1, location 5060
 # Sri Aurobindo, ''The Upanishads'' [http://www.sriaurobindoashram.info/Contents.aspx?ParentCategoryName=_StaticContent/SriAurobindoAshram/-09%20E-Library/-01%20Works%20of%20Sri%20Aurobindo/-12_The%20Upanishad_Volume-12]. [[Sri Aurobindo Ashram]], [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]]. 1972.

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 Shvetaketu thought himself to be a ब्रह्मज्ञानिन् (brahma jnani) yet did not have a clue to the King’s questions. The King so questions his claim to be a ब्रह्मज्ञानिन् and so humiliated, Shvetaketu returns home to question his father [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]]: ''Bhagavan, you claimed to have given me all knowledge, yet you did not?''
-Shvetaketu continued: ''I was not able to answer even one of the questions of that (kshatrabandhu-relative of kshatriya)?'' So saying he put forth the five questions posed by the King to his father. The Father replies: "''I do not know the answer to these questions, if I knew, would I not tell you"?''  So both the father and son go to King Pravahna’s assembly to seek knowledge. The guests were received with hospitality and after that the King humbly requested. ''Bhagavan (as a brahmin usually was addressed), you can ask for any kind of wealth that is within the means of a human being?''
+Shvetaketu continued: ''I was not able to answer even one of the questions of that (kshatrabandhu-relative of kshatriya)?'' So saying he put forth the five questions posed by the King to his father. The Father replies: "''I do not know the answer to these questions, if I knew, would I not tell you"?''  So both the father and son go to King Pravahna’s assembly to seek knowledge. The guests were received with hospitality and after that the King humbly requested, <blockquote>''Bhagavan (as a brahmin usually was addressed), you can ask for any kind of wealth that is within the means of a human being?''</blockquote>Here the implication is that the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] can give material wealth to the Brahmana but '''ब्रह्मविद्या''' as per the prevailing वर्णव्यवस्था (social order) was usually respected as the brahmana’s domain. Notably, contrary to the still continuing popular perception invented by the EIC Indologists and their Indian Sepoys, वर्ण || Varna  (translated wrongly as caste) was determined by संस्कार and not parentage.
 But Shvetaketu and his father were not there for material wealth, they had come to receive ब्रह्मविद्या from the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King. [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] humbly requested the King, ''Please bestow upon us, the answer for the questions you asked my son.''

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 == The Five Questions ==
-As per the [[छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् | छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् (Chandogya Upanishad)]] of the [[सामवेद | Sama Veda]] (5-3), Shvetaketu, once came to the assembly of Panchalas, whose reigning monarch was  [[प्रावहन  जैवली|Pravahana Jaivali]].  The King asks Shvetaketu whether he was initiated in Brahmavidya or given ब्रह्मोपदेशः ''(brahmopadesha).'' To gauge his understanding of ब्रह्मविद्या (Brahma Vidya) the king asks him the following five questions.
+As per the [[छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् | छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् (Chandogya Upanishad)]] of the [[सामवेद | Sama Veda]] (5-3), Shvetaketu, once came to the assembly of Panchalas, whose reigning monarch was  [[प्रावहन  जैवली|Pravahana Jaivali]].  The King asks Shvetaketu whether he was initiated in Brahmavidya or given ब्रह्मोपदेशः ''(brahmopadesha).'' To gauge his understanding of ब्रह्मविद्या (Brahmavidya) the king asks him the following five questions.
 # From here (this लोक-loka) where do the people go (after death)?
 # How do the dead come back?

← Older revision	Revision as of 11:13, 24 December 2018
(No difference)

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 But Shvetaketu and his father were not there for material wealth, they had come to receive ब्रह्मविद्या from the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King. [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] humbly requested the King, ''Please bestow upon us, the answer for the questions you asked my son.''
-Before accepting [[उद्दालक|Uddhalaka]] and Shvetaketu as his disciples the King had to set down the rules as the reigning system did not allow knowledge to be imparted to
+Before accepting [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]] and Shvetaketu as his disciples the King had to set down the rules as the reigning system did not allow knowledge to be imparted to
 *anyone who stayed outside the precincts of the गुरुकुल,
 * unfamiliar persons,
 * a person who lacks the अधिकार (aptitude) to acquire knowledge.
-So the King requested [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddhalaka]] & his son to stay at his palace. And through many years the King imparted knowledge to both [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] & Shvetaketu.
+So the King requested [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] & his son to stay at his palace. And through many years the King imparted knowledge to both [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] & Shvetaketu.
 Responses to these questions were provided through explanation of [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagni vidya]], which also included explanations of[[देवयान | devayan (journey to the deva loka post death)]] and [[पित्रयान | pitruyan (journey to Pitr loka post death)]] as well as of [[पञ्च महा यज्ञ |panca maha yajna]]. This was the explanation provided by the king as the essence of [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|Brahmavidya]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the Upanishad [[mahavakya]] which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (Prapathaka) of the [[Chandogya Upanishad]].
-Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22 also talks about Swetaketu's story.
+Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22 also talks about Shvetaketu's story.
 __FORCETOC__
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 # '''Birth:''' Shvetaketu was the son of the sage Aruni or [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] who was born in the Gautama clan. Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. [[Astavakra]] was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus Shvetaketu was Astavakra's maternal uncle. Shvetaketu and Astavakra grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama. (See under Astavakra) .
 # '''Pride perishes:''' Under his father's training Shvetaketu became a great scholar. With the increase in his scholarship, he became very proud. The father who understood this called him to his side and asked him:- ''By studying all about what you can see, hear and understand, have you learnt anything about what you cannot see, hear or understand?'' Shvetaketu admitted that he did not know. Then [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] explained to him the mystery of Paramatma (universal soul) which is without beginning or end. (Chandogyopanisad).   Once an acarya named Jatukarnya became the priest of the Kings of KasI, Kosala and Videha. Shvetaketu who was angry at this complained bitterly to his father. Then [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] reminded his son that priests should yearn for wisdom instead of being attracted by worldly pleasures.
-# '''Acharya of Yajna Rules:''' In Kausitaki Brahmana, Shvetaketu is described as the Acarya of the rules of Yajna. He has laid down definite rules and procedures for priests officiating in Yaygnas along with introducing the different customs and practices to be observed by Brahmacarins and tapasvins. Early dharmasastra which prohibited food of sweet taste to Brahmacharins was repudiated by Swetaketu (Gopatha Brahmana, 1.33 ; Sarhkhyayana Brahmana, 1.33).
+# '''Acharya of Yajna Rules:''' In Kausitaki Brahmana, Shvetaketu is described as the Acarya of the rules of Yajna. He has laid down definite rules and procedures for priests officiating in Yaygnas along with introducing the different customs and practices to be observed by Brahmacarins and tapasvins. Early dharmasastra which prohibited food of sweet taste to Brahmacharins was repudiated by Shvetaketu (Gopatha Brahmana, 1.33 ; Sarhkhyayana Brahmana, 1.33).
 # '''Author of Kamasastra:''' Shvetaketu abridged the original work on Kamasastra by Nandi, into 500 chapters. This was further abridged after some years by Babhravya. It was after abridging it again and adding Dattakacarya's "Vaisika" and Suvarnanabha's ''Samprayogika'' etc., that Vatsyayana composed his famous treatise ''Kamasutra''. It can be said that the basis of Vatsyayana's ''Kamasutra'' was the works of Babhravya and Shvetaketu on Kamasastra.
 # '''Marriage rules :'''  It has been observed that the first person who raised his voice against the evils of drinking and adultery by the Brahmana community was Shvetaketu. There is a story in the Mahabharata about the fact which prompted him to bring marriage within the framework of law. Shvetaketu was [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]]'s son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22). Once his mother was abducted by a Brahmana. This incident inspired him to make stringent laws insisting on monogamy for men and women.

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ==About Shwetaketu==
 Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharsi.
-# '''Birth:''' Svetaketu was the son of the sage Aruni or [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] who was born in the Gautama clan. Svetaketu had a sister named Sujata. [[Astavakra]] was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus Svetaketu was Astavakra's maternal uncle. Svetaketu and Astavakra grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama. (See under Astavakra) .
+# '''Birth:''' Shvetaketu was the son of the sage Aruni or [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] who was born in the Gautama clan. Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. [[Astavakra]] was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus Shvetaketu was Astavakra's maternal uncle. Shvetaketu and Astavakra grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama. (See under Astavakra) .
-# '''Pride perishes:''' Under his father's training Svetaketu became a great scholar. With the increase in his scholarship, he became very proud. The father who understood this called him to his side and asked him:- ''By studying all about what you can see, hear and understand, have you learnt anything about what you cannot see, hear or understand?'' Svetaketu admitted that he did not know. Then [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] explained to him the mystery of Paramatma (universal soul) which is without beginning or end. (Chandogyopanisad).   Once an acarya named Jatukarnya became the priest of the Kings of KasI, Kosala and Videha. Svetaketu who was angry at this complained bitterly to his father. Then [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] reminded his son that priests should yearn for wisdom instead of being attracted by worldly pleasures.
+# '''Pride perishes:''' Under his father's training Shvetaketu became a great scholar. With the increase in his scholarship, he became very proud. The father who understood this called him to his side and asked him:- ''By studying all about what you can see, hear and understand, have you learnt anything about what you cannot see, hear or understand?'' Shvetaketu admitted that he did not know. Then [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] explained to him the mystery of Paramatma (universal soul) which is without beginning or end. (Chandogyopanisad).   Once an acarya named Jatukarnya became the priest of the Kings of KasI, Kosala and Videha. Shvetaketu who was angry at this complained bitterly to his father. Then [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]] reminded his son that priests should yearn for wisdom instead of being attracted by worldly pleasures.
-# '''Acharya of Yajna Rules:''' In Kausitaki Brahmana, Svetaketu is described as the Acarya of the rules of Yajna. He has laid down definite rules and procedures for priests officiating in Yaygnas along with introducing the different customs and practices to be observed by Brahmacarins and tapasvins. Early dharmasastra which prohibited food of sweet taste to Brahmacharins was repudiated by Swetaketu (Gopatha Brahmana, 1.33 ; Sarhkhyayana Brahmana, 1.33).
+# '''Acharya of Yajna Rules:''' In Kausitaki Brahmana, Shvetaketu is described as the Acarya of the rules of Yajna. He has laid down definite rules and procedures for priests officiating in Yaygnas along with introducing the different customs and practices to be observed by Brahmacarins and tapasvins. Early dharmasastra which prohibited food of sweet taste to Brahmacharins was repudiated by Swetaketu (Gopatha Brahmana, 1.33 ; Sarhkhyayana Brahmana, 1.33).
-# '''Author of Kamasastra:''' Svetaketu abridged the original work on Kamasastra by Nandi, into 500 chapters. This was further abridged after some years by Babhravya. It was after abridging it again and adding Dattakacarya's "Vaisika" and Suvarnanabha's ''Samprayogika'' etc., that Vatsyayana composed his famous treatise ''Kamasutra''. It can be said that the basis of Vatsyayana's ''Kamasutra'' was the works of Babhravya and Svetaketu on Kamasastra.
+# '''Author of Kamasastra:''' Shvetaketu abridged the original work on Kamasastra by Nandi, into 500 chapters. This was further abridged after some years by Babhravya. It was after abridging it again and adding Dattakacarya's "Vaisika" and Suvarnanabha's ''Samprayogika'' etc., that Vatsyayana composed his famous treatise ''Kamasutra''. It can be said that the basis of Vatsyayana's ''Kamasutra'' was the works of Babhravya and Shvetaketu on Kamasastra.
-# '''Marriage rules :'''  It has been observed that the first person who raised his voice against the evils of drinking and adultery by the Brahmana community was Svetaketu. There is a story in the Mahabharata about the fact which prompted him to bring marriage within the framework of law. Svetaketu was [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]]'s son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22). Once his mother was abducted by a Brahmana. This incident inspired him to make stringent laws insisting on monogamy for men and women.
+# '''Marriage rules :'''  It has been observed that the first person who raised his voice against the evils of drinking and adultery by the Brahmana community was Shvetaketu. There is a story in the Mahabharata about the fact which prompted him to bring marriage within the framework of law. Shvetaketu was [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]]'s son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22). Once his mother was abducted by a Brahmana. This incident inspired him to make stringent laws insisting on monogamy for men and women.
 This story clearly reveals that in the Vedic period even Kshatriyas were well versed in Brahma-Vidya debunking the Caste-system hierarchies of the East India Company Indologists’ insinuation that brahmins were the only custodians of knowledge.
 ==References==