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| The primary question that is often referred to in Vedanta is that of [[प्रकृति|Origin of Creation]]. This is explained through the [[श्रुति|Shrutis]], which is directly heard or experienced by intuition. The dharmic perspective views every action as [[यज्ञ|Yagya]], unlike the Western's who view action as Labour. [[यज्ञ|Yagya]] means प्रीणनम् ("prinanam" or to satisfy). Performance of Yagna brings about complete mental, physical and spiritual development of a human being. It is a continuous activity that living beings offer to [[दिव्य|divinity]]. | | The primary question that is often referred to in Vedanta is that of [[प्रकृति|Origin of Creation]]. This is explained through the [[श्रुति|Shrutis]], which is directly heard or experienced by intuition. The dharmic perspective views every action as [[यज्ञ|Yagya]], unlike the Western's who view action as Labour. [[यज्ञ|Yagya]] means प्रीणनम् ("prinanam" or to satisfy). Performance of Yagna brings about complete mental, physical and spiritual development of a human being. It is a continuous activity that living beings offer to [[दिव्य|divinity]]. |
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− | A Kshatriya could teach vedanta to a Brahmana or vice versa. An example is [[उद्दालक|Uddalalaka]] and [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]], both from the Brahmana [[वर्ण|Varna]] (social or economic status) learning ब्रह्मविद्या (Brahma Vidya-spiritual knowledge) from the Kshatriya King [[Pravahana Jaivali]]. In छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् (Chandogya Upanishad) of सामवेद (Sama Veda, 5-3), [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]]’s story is mentioned. | + | A [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] could teach vedanta to a Brahmana or vice versa. An example is [[उद्दालक|Uddalalaka]] and [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]], both from the Brahmana [[वर्ण|Varna]] (social or economic status) learning ब्रह्मविद्या (Brahma Vidya-spiritual knowledge) from the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King [[Pravahana Jaivali]]. In छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् (Chandogya Upanishad) of सामवेद (Sama Veda, 5-3), [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]]’s story is mentioned. |
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| A similar event King Janaka of Videha also imparted the Agnihotra ritual to his spiritual teacher. | | A similar event King Janaka of Videha also imparted the Agnihotra ritual to his spiritual teacher. |
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| == The Myth of Caste Debunked == | | == The Myth of Caste Debunked == |
− | In all humility, both [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]] and [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]] go to King Pravahna’s assembly to seek knowledge. Offering all hospitality, the King humbly addresses [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]] thus: "Bhagavan (as a brahmin usually was addressed), you can ask for any kind of wealth that is within the means of a human being". But [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]] and his father requested the Kshatriya to impart ब्रह्मविद्या to them and accordingly the King lays down the rules or अधिकार (aptitude) to acquire knowledge. | + | In all humility, both [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]] and [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]] go to King Pravahna’s assembly to seek knowledge. Offering all hospitality, the King humbly addresses [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]] thus: "Bhagavan (as a brahmin usually was addressed), you can ask for any kind of wealth that is within the means of a human being". But [[श्वेतकेतु|Shwetaketu]] and his father requested the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] to impart ब्रह्मविद्या to them and accordingly the King lays down the rules or अधिकार (aptitude) to acquire knowledge. |
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| Here the implication is that the ruler, Kshatriya, according to his dharma is bound to provide material wealth to a Brahmana for Yagnas but ब्रह्मविद्या as per the prevailing वर्णव्यवस्था (social order) was usually respected to be in the brahmana’s domain. Notably, this is view is contrary to the presently continuing popular perception invented by the East India Company Indologists and their Indian Sepoys, Varna (translated wrongly as caste) was determined by संस्कार and not parentage. | | Here the implication is that the ruler, Kshatriya, according to his dharma is bound to provide material wealth to a Brahmana for Yagnas but ब्रह्मविद्या as per the prevailing वर्णव्यवस्था (social order) was usually respected to be in the brahmana’s domain. Notably, this is view is contrary to the presently continuing popular perception invented by the East India Company Indologists and their Indian Sepoys, Varna (translated wrongly as caste) was determined by संस्कार and not parentage. |
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− | Through the explanation of [[पञ्चाग्नि विद्या|Panchagni vidya]], which 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]] the king imparted the essence of [[Brahmavidya]]. As an introduction to पञ्चाग्निविद्या, the Kshatriya King told [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]], "You are the first one amongst the Brahmans to receive the knowledge of this ब्रह्मविद्या, up until now it was known only to Kshatriyas". Within the Bharatiya tradition, everyone irrespective of their [[वर्ण|Varna]] (social or economic status) had access to Divine Knowledge. | + | Through the explanation of [[पञ्चाग्नि विद्या|Panchagni vidya]], which 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]] the king imparted the essence of [[Brahmavidya]]. As an introduction to पञ्चाग्निविद्या, the [[Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) | क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya]] King told [[उद्दालक|Uddalaka]], "You are the first one amongst the Brahmans to receive the knowledge of this ब्रह्मविद्या, up until now it was known only to Kshatriyas". Within the Bharatiya tradition, everyone irrespective of their [[वर्ण|Varna]] (social or economic status) had access to Divine Knowledge. |
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| Hence "Brahmavid brahmana" was the definition given, One who knows Brahmavidya is a brahmana irrespective of the varna or gender. | | Hence "Brahmavid brahmana" was the definition given, One who knows Brahmavidya is a brahmana irrespective of the varna or gender. |