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Editing श्वेतकेतु

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'').

 

'''Shwetaketu''' (Svetaketu Sanskrit : श्वेतकेतु ''')''', the son of [[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 ==

== Scriptural Context ==

# In Panchagni, पञ्चाग्नि. the fifth ahuti (oblation),  how does Apa Tattva get the name of Purusha?   

# In Panchagni, पञ्चाग्नि. the fifth ahuti (oblation),  how does Apa Tattva get the name of Purusha?   

Shwetaketu 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, Shwetaketu returns home to question his father [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]]: ''Bhagavan, you claimed to have given me all knowledge, yet you did not?''

Shwetaketu 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, Shwetaketu returns home to question his father [[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|Uddalaka]]: ''Bhagavan, you claimed to have given me all knowledge, yet you did not?''

Shwetaketu 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?''

Shwetaketu 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?''

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.

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 Shwetaketu and his father were not there for material wealth, they had come to receive ब्रह्मविद्या from the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King. [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]] humbly requested the King, ''Please bestow upon us, the answer for the questions you asked my son.''

But Shwetaketu 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 Shwetaketu 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|Uddhalaka]] and Shwetaketu as his disciples the King had to set down the rules as the reigning system did not allow knowledge to be imparted to  

* a person who lacks the अधिकार (aptitude) to acquire knowledge.

* a person who lacks the अधिकार (aptitude) to acquire knowledge.

So the King requested [[उद्दालक|Uddhalaka]] & his son to stay at his palace. And through many years the King imparted knowledge to both [[उद्दालक|Uddhalaka]] & Shwetaketu.  

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)|Uddhalaka]] & Shwetaketu.  

Responses to these questions were provided through explanation of [[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]]

Responses to these questions were provided through explanation of [[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]]

==About Shwetaketu==

==About Shwetaketu==

Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharsi.  

Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharsi.  

# '''Birth:''' Svetaketu was the son of the sage Aruni or [[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:''' 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) .

# '''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 [[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 [[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 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.

# '''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, 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).  

# '''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:''' 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.  

# '''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 [[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 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.  

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.  

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==

==References==

# 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.