Changes

[[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka]] (आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) and [[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु)|श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu]] (आरुणेयः ॥ Aruneya) are the father and son pair, whose quest for [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या ॥ Brahmavidya]] is recounted in the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad]] of [[Sama Veda (सामवेदः)|सामवेद ॥ Sama Veda]]. Brahmavidya is the highest and most difficult level of metaphysical knowledge or ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana to be acquired by any spiritual knowledge seeker. And [[The four Vedas (चतुर्वेद)|वेदाः ॥ Vedas]] and [[Upanishads|उपनिषदः ॥ Upanishads]] are the one and only source for this Jnana.  Though Upanishads explain this knowledge, it lies ultimately with the individual to attain this knowledge by साधना ॥ sadhana.

[[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka]] (आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) and [[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु)|श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu]] (आरुणेयः ॥ Aruneya) are the father and son pair, whose quest for [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या ॥ Brahmavidya]] is recounted in the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad]] of [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|सामवेद ॥ Sama Veda]]. Brahmavidya is the highest and most difficult level of metaphysical knowledge or ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana to be acquired by any spiritual knowledge seeker. And [[Vedas (वेदाः)|वेदाः ॥ Vedas]] and [[Upanishads (उपनिषदाः)|उपनिषदः ॥ Upanishads]] are the one and only source for this Jnana.  Though Upanishads explain this knowledge, it lies ultimately with the individual to attain this knowledge by साधना ॥ sadhana.

==  परिचयः || Introduction ==

==  परिचयः || Introduction ==

#  छान्दोग्य-उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad (Chapter 6)

#  छान्दोग्य-उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad (Chapter 6)

#  Kaushitaki Brahmana (S.1.)

#  Kaushitaki Brahmana (S.1.)

Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the [[Mahavakyas|उपनिषद्-महवाक्यानि || Upanishad mahavakya]] which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (प्रपाठकः || Prapathaka) of the Chandogya Upanishad. Apart from Upanishads, Uddalaka and Shvetaketu are also mentioned in महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] in different पर्व-s || Parvas such as सभापर्वः || Sabha Parva, शल्यपर्वः || Shalya Parva, and शान्तिपर्वः || Shanti Parva.

Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the [[Mahavakyas (महावाक्यानि)|उपनिषद्-महवाक्यानि || Upanishad mahavakya]] which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (प्रपाठकः || Prapathaka) of the Chandogya Upanishad. Apart from Upanishads, Uddalaka and Shvetaketu are also mentioned in महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] in different पर्व-s || Parvas such as सभापर्वः || Sabha Parva, शल्यपर्वः || Shalya Parva, and शान्तिपर्वः || Shanti Parva.

==  उद्दालकः || Uddalaka : The Father ==

==  उद्दालकः || Uddalaka : The Father ==

उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka (also called आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) was the disciple of the teacher अयॊधाधौम्यः || Ayodhadhaumya. He is very famous for his devotion to his Guru Dhaumya.   

उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka (also called आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) was the disciple of the teacher अयॊधाधौम्यः || Ayodhadhaumya. He is very famous for his devotion to his Guru Dhaumya.   

It is stated in Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 7, Stanza 12 that this hermit Uddalaka was a prominent figure in the सभा || sabha of Indra. Uddalaka had a son called श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu and a daughter called सुजाता ॥ Sujata. He gave his daughter Sujata in marriage to his favorite disciple कहोदकः ॥ Kahodaka. The hermit अष्टावक्रः ॥ [[Ashtavakra (अष्टावक्रः)|Ashtavakra]] was their son. (Mahabharata. Vana Parva, Chapter 132).  

It is stated in Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 7, Stanza 12 that this hermit Uddalaka was a prominent figure in the सभा || sabha of Indra. Uddalaka had a son called श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu and a daughter called सुजाता ॥ Sujata. He gave his daughter Sujata in marriage to his favorite disciple कहोदकः ॥ Kahodaka. The hermit अष्टावक्रः ॥ Ashtavakra was their son. (Mahabharata. Vana Parva, Chapter 132).  

Once Uddalaka caused the [[Sarasvati River|river सरस्वती ॥ Sarasvati]] to appear at the place of sacrifice. From that day onwards, Sarasvati got the name मनोरमा || Manorama because when the thought came to his मनस् || manas (mind), the river made its appearance. (M.B. Shalya Parva, Chapter 33).  

Once Uddalaka caused the [[Sarasvati River|river सरस्वती ॥ Sarasvati]] to appear at the place of sacrifice. From that day onwards, Sarasvati got the name मनोरमा || Manorama because when the thought came to his मनस् || manas (mind), the river made its appearance. (M.B. Shalya Parva, Chapter 33).  

It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 57, Stanza 10, that भीष्मः ॥ Bhisma explaining राजधर्मः || Rajadharma to धर्मराजः ॥ Dharmaraja explains that Uddalaka expelled his son Shvetaketu from the house because he used to invite ब्रह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment and ill treated them.  

It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 57, Stanza 10, that भीष्मः ॥ Bhisma explaining राजधर्मः || Rajadharma to धर्मराजः ॥ Dharmaraja explains that Uddalaka expelled his son Shvetaketu from the house because he used to invite ब्रह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment and ill treated them.  

==  श्वेतकेतुः || Shvetaketu : The Son ==

==  श्वेतकेतुः || Shvetaketu : The Son ==

[[Smriti|स्मृति-s || Smritis]] refer to Shvetaketu as a महर्षिः ॥ Maharshi.

[[Smrti (स्मृतिः)|स्मृति-s || Smritis]] refer to Shvetaketu as a महर्षिः ॥ Maharshi.

=== Birth ===

=== Birth ===

Shvetaketu was the son of the sage आरुणिः ॥ Aruni or उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka who was born in the गौतम ॥ Gautama clan.  Shvetaketu was Uddalaka's son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22)<ref>Ganguli, K. M. (2003). ''[https://ia600302.us.archive.org/34/items/TheMahabharataOfKrishna-dwaipayanaVyasa/MahabharataOfVyasa-EnglishTranslationByKMGanguli.pdf The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Book 12: Santi Parva]''.</ref>.  Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. Astavakra was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus, Shvetaketu was Ashtavakra's maternal uncle and they grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama.<ref>Vettam, Mani. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature]''. Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass.</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/puransandvedas/posts/601568603317075</ref>

Shvetaketu was the son of the sage आरुणिः ॥ Aruni or उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka who was born in the गौतम ॥ Gautama clan.  Shvetaketu was Uddalaka's son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22)<ref>Ganguli, K. M. (2003). ''[https://ia600302.us.archive.org/34/items/TheMahabharataOfKrishna-dwaipayanaVyasa/MahabharataOfVyasa-EnglishTranslationByKMGanguli.pdf The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Book 12: Santi Parva]''.</ref>.  Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. Astavakra was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus, Shvetaketu was Ashtavakra's maternal uncle and they grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama.<ref>Vettam, Mani. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature]''. Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass.</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/puransandvedas/posts/601568603317075</ref>

# Do you know the point of divergence (which have the same path upto one point) of the paths of the [[Devayana Marga and Pitruyana Marga (देवयानमार्गः पितृयानमार्गः च।)|देवयानम् || devayana]] (journey to the deva loka post death) and [[Devayana Marga and Pitruyana Marga (देवयानमार्गः पितृयानमार्गः च।)|पितृयानम् || pitruyana]] (journey to Pritu loka post death)?  

# Do you know the point of divergence (which have the same path upto one point) of the paths of the [[Devayana Marga and Pitruyana Marga (देवयानमार्गः पितृयानमार्गः च।)|देवयानम् || devayana]] (journey to the deva loka post death) and [[Devayana Marga and Pitruyana Marga (देवयानमार्गः पितृयानमार्गः च।)|पितृयानम् || pitruyana]] (journey to Pritu loka post death)?  

# Do you know why the पितृलोकः || pitru loka (world of forefathers or ancestors) is never filled?  

# Do you know why the पितृलोकः || pitru loka (world of forefathers or ancestors) is never filled?  

# Do you know (in [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|पञ्चाग्निः || Panchagni]]) by what process at the fifth आहुतिः || ahuti (oblation) the water or  अप्-तत्त्व || Apa Tattva gets the name of [[Purusha|पुरुषः || Purusha]]?

# Do you know (in पञ्चाग्निः || Panchagni) by what process at the fifth आहुतिः || ahuti (oblation) the water or  अप्-तत्त्व || Apa Tattva gets the name of [[Purusha|पुरुषः || Purusha]]?

Shvetaketu thought himself to be a ब्रह्मज्ञानी || brahmajnani, yet did not know the answer to the King’s questions. The King so questions his claim to be a brahmajnani and so humiliated, Shvetaketu returns home to question his father Uddalaka: <blockquote>होवाचाननुशिष्य वाव किल मा भगवानब्रवीदनुत्वाऽशिषमिति || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.4)</blockquote><blockquote>hovācānanuśiṣya vāva kila mā bhagavānabravīdanutvā'śiṣamiti || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.4)</blockquote>Meaning : Bhagavan, you claimed to have given me all knowledge, yet you did not?

Shvetaketu thought himself to be a ब्रह्मज्ञानी || brahmajnani, yet did not know the answer to the King’s questions. The King so questions his claim to be a brahmajnani and so humiliated, Shvetaketu returns home to question his father Uddalaka: <blockquote>होवाचाननुशिष्य वाव किल मा भगवानब्रवीदनुत्वाऽशिषमिति || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.4)</blockquote><blockquote>hovācānanuśiṣya vāva kila mā bhagavānabravīdanutvā'śiṣamiti || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.4)</blockquote>Meaning : Bhagavan, you claimed to have given me all knowledge, yet you did not?