Vasudeva Upanishad
Urdhva Pundra
Devanagariवासुदेव
IASTVāsudeva
Title meansVāsudeva or Krishna
TypeVaishnava
Linked VedaSamaveda
Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Vasudeva Upanishad (Vāsudeva Upaniṣat) (Sanskrit: वासुदेव उपनिषत्, or Vasudevopanishad is one of 108 Upanishadic Hindu texts, written in Sanskrit language.[1] It belongs to the Vaishnava sect, which worships Vishnu and his avatar Krishna, and this late medieval era minor Upanishad is attached to the Samaveda.[2] It is one of the 14 Vaishnava Upanishads[3] dedicated to Vaishnava sacred marks, including the Urdhva Pundra - the Vaishnava tilaka. It is described in a sermon by Krishna to the sage Narada.

Date

The composition date or author of the text is unknown, and is generally regarded as a "late Upanishad", in terms of dating.[4] The use of the word Vasudeva, which is neither found in Samhita layer of Vedic literature nor the Principal Upanishads, states Max Muller, suggests that this text is a relatively modern text.[5]

Contents

Vaishnava sacred marks, including the Urdhva Pundra - the Vaishnava tilaka marked by three Sri Vaishnavas on parts of the body like - forehead, neck, arms, chest and stomach region.

The sage Narada visited the god Krishna, who is called by his patronymic Vasudeva in the text, and asked Krishna about the rules of Urdhva Pundra, the Vaishnava tilaka.[6] The Upanishad calls the mark Urdhva Tripundra, the upward (Urdhva) three lines.[7]

Philosophy

Vishnu-Krishna is compared to Brahman, who is non-dual and infinite, without a beginning, middle or end. His form is said to be satchidananda, "being, Consciousness, Bliss". Its indestructibility only comprehended by devotion.[8]

Symbolism

A female sannyasi monk with a Urdhva Pundra mark on forehead (19th century painting).

Krishna extols the Gopichandana (Sanskrit: गोपीचन्दन), also known as Vishnu-chandana, a type of clay and describes the symbol of Urdhva Pundra as well as its application. Chandana is clay mud described to originate from Vaikuntha, Vishnu's abode. The paste was washed off Krishna with milk by the gopis (the milk-maid) devotees and lovers of Krishna, on his body, and therefore states the text, it is called as Gopi-chandana.[9] This yellowish coloured substance is regarded to grant salvation to the devotee.[10]

The Urdhva Pundra symbol, asserts the text, should be created on the forehead with the Gopichandana. If clay is unavailable, a paste made from the roots of the sacred Tulasi plant or sandal may be used.[9][11][12] The Smritimuktaphala by Vaidyanatha Dikshita (15th century) quotes the Vasudeva Upanishad about the Gopichandana usage in Urdhva Pundra.[13]

Krishna replies a Brahmachari (student, bachelor) and Grihastha (householder) should apply the tilaka on the forehead after reciting the hymn told in the Vasudeva Upanishad. The hymn dedicated to Vishnu-Krishna, praising Achyuta (the indestructible), Govinda (the protector of cows), one who holds the discus, mace and conch, the Lotus-eyed one who resides in Dwarka, the capital of Krishna. The text suggests that a Vanaprastha may mark the tilaka on 12 other parts of his body after reciting the Vishnu gayatri hymn or the 12 names of Vishnu, namely Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha and Damodara. The Sannyasi (renouncer) should anoint the Urdhava Pundra on his forehead with his ring finger chanting Om.[6]

Significance

The three lines of the Urdhva Pundra are related to the Hindu Trinity (Trimurti) of deities - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva; the first three Vedic scriptures - Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda; three upper worlds Bhu, Bhuva, Svar, the three syllables of Om - Aa, Uu, Ma; three states of existence - awakening, dreaming, asleep and the three bodies - Sthula, Sukshma, and Karana. Thus, one should wear the Urdhva tilaka, as sign of the Lord of Om.[6]

The text declares that a sage should wear four things Urdhva (upward) - "stick, bravery, yoga and Urdhva Pundra". He would attain emancipation.[6]

Meditation

The later verses of Vasudeva Upanisad describe meditation on Vasudeva, as a form of Yoga. The yogin, asserts the text, should look at his inner most self, Atman as Vasudeva.[14] This goal of meditation, and methodology of worship, is found in Pancaratra Agamas, Puranas and other texts of the Vaishnavism tradition.[15] These texts, states Srinivaschari, assert that Sat (Truth), Atman and Upanishadic concept of Brahman denote the Vedantic metaphysics of Ultimate Reality, and declare all three to be synonymous with Vasudeva.[15][14] The term Vasudeva itself is synonymous with Vishnu and Vasudeva.[15][14]

Closing

The Vasudeva Upanishad ends with a hymn from section 1.22 of the Rigveda:[16][17]

And the highest step of Vishnu
The patrons see for ever
Like an eye, stationed in heaven.
And wondering over this highest step
Of Vishnu, the priests, wide-awake,
Enkindle the sacrificial fire.

This hymn also appears at the closing of Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad, Skanda Upanishad, Muktika Upanishad, as well as in the last chapter of the Aruni Upanishad, an ancient Sannyasa Upanishad.[16]

References

  1. ^ Vedic Literature, Volume1 Part 3, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, p. PA558, at Google Books, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 558-559
  2. ^ Farquhar, John Nicol (1920), An outline of the religious literature of India, H. Milford, Oxford university press, p. 364, ISBN 81-208-2086-X
  3. ^ Carlos Alberto Tinoco (1997). Upanishads. IBRASA. pp. 87–. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.
  4. ^ Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India. Director General, Archaeological Survey of India. 1952. p. 49.
  5. ^ Max Muller, Chandogya Upanishad, The Upanishads, Part I, Oxford University Press, page 52 with footnotes
  6. ^ a b c d P. R. Ramachander. "Vasudeva Upanishad". Vedanta Spiritual Library. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  7. ^ K. V. Gajendragadkar (1959). Neo-upanishadic Philosophy. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 22.
  8. ^ David Bruce Hughes (Gaurahari Dāsānudās Bābājī). Śrī Vedānta-sūtra, Adhyāya 1. David Bruce Hughes. p. 85. GGKEY:CT0AC58L125.
  9. ^ a b Hattangadi 2000.
  10. ^ Mahadevan, TMP (1975). Upanisads: The Selections from 108 Upanisads. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 221. ISBN 978-81-208-1611-4.
  11. ^ Jacob 1891, pp. 5–6.
  12. ^ Jacob 1887.
  13. ^ Pāṇḍuraṅga Vāmana Kāṇe (1974). History of Dharmaśāstra: (ancient and Mediæval Religious and Civil Law in India). Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. p. 673.
  14. ^ a b c SG Desai (1996), A critical study of the later Upanishads, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 978-8172760779, pages 226-227, 51-54
  15. ^ a b c SM Srinivaschari (1994), Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120810983, page 132-134, 212-218
  16. ^ a b Deussen, Paul (1 January 1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 743. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
  17. ^ Jacob 1891, pp. 33–34.

Bibliography

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