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Vedantic scholar highlights importance of Kenopanishad
?UPANISHADS DEAL with realisation of the Supreme Being (Brahmin). It is supposed to be the highest type of learning,? said eminent Vedantic scholar Prof Paras Nath Dwivedi.
“UPANISHADS DEAL with realisation of the Supreme Being (Brahmin). It is supposed to be the highest type of learning,” said eminent Vedantic scholar Prof Paras Nath Dwivedi.
He was delivering a special lecture on ‘Substance of Kenopanishad’ at Jnana-Pravaha, Centre for Cultural Studies and Research, in Samne Ghat area on Wednesday.
He focused on the important commentaries on the Upanishads by the Adi Shankaracharya.
Prof Dwivedi said the ‘Kenopanishad’ followed the tradition of ‘Samaveda’ under ‘Talavakara Brahman’ and the scripture was also known as ‘Jaiminiya Upanishad’.
“Since it begins with a query by students, is known as ‘Kena’ i.e. ‘by whom’. The book is divided in four parts, which deals with different contexts, but all relate to ‘Supreme Knowledge,” he said.
“The first part opens with a question seeking the information as to who is the real cause of all activities. The teachers answers that it is the Brahman who controls everything and without it nothing moves,” he added.
Prof Dwivedi said the second part cautioned that only this knowledge about the Brahman was not enough.
“The third section narrates the episode of the appearance of the Brahman when the Gods were engaged in celebrating their victory over demons.
They found themselves quite ineffective in the presence of the Supreme Being.” The fourth and last section of ‘Kenopanishad’ opened with the knowledge imparted by Goddess Uma about realisation of the Almighty, he said.
Earlier, Prof Bishwanath Bhattacharya highlighted the importance of Vedantic studies, which led one to the correct path and foremost knowledge. “One crosses the sea of personal gains and elevates oneself towards the eternal science of pure knowledge,” he said.
Former director of School of Vedic Studies at Rabindra Bharati University (Kolkata) Prof SC Chakrabarti presided over the lecture programme.
Prof Chakrabarti observed that the soul was subtle, but could manifest itself in inconceivable dimensions. “It is only through knowledge that ignorance can be removed and this is the substance of Upanishadic studies,” he said.
