How to Achieve Immortality: The Secret of the Katha Upanishad
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Hello, everyone. Welcome to my channel, where I explore the fascinating stories and wisdom of ancient India. Today, I'm going to tell you about the story of Nachiketa and Yama, the god of death, from the Katha Upanishad, one of the oldest and most revered Hindu scriptures. This story is about a young boy who confronts death and learns the secret of immortality.
The story begins with Nachiketa's father, Vajashravas, a wealthy and devout man who decides to perform a ritual sacrifice called Vishvajit, in which he has to give away all his possessions to the priests and the gods. However, he is not sincere in his offering, and he only gives away the old, sick, and useless cows, keeping the best ones for himself. Nachiketa, who is a smart and curious boy, notices this and feels ashamed of his father's hypocrisy. He asks his father, "Father, to whom will you give me? I am also your possession." His father ignores him at first, but Nachiketa persists and repeats his question three times. His father loses his temper and says, "I give you to Yama, the lord of death!"
Nachiketa takes his father's words seriously and sets off to the abode of Yama. When he reaches there, he finds that Yama is not at home, and he has to wait for three days and nights without food or water. When Yama returns, he is surprised and impressed by Nachiketa's courage and patience. He apologizes for making him wait and offers him three boons as a compensation. Nachiketa accepts the offer and asks for his first boon: that his father should be pacified and happy with him when he returns. Yama grants this boon easily and praises Nachiketa for his filial piety.
For his second boon, Nachiketa asks Yama to teach him the fire sacrifice that leads to heaven, where one enjoys eternal bliss and peace. Yama agrees and reveals the secret of the fire sacrifice, which involves building a special altar, lighting a sacred fire, and chanting a specific mantra. He also names the fire sacrifice after Nachiketa, and says that whoever performs it with faith and devotion will attain heaven. Nachiketa learns the fire sacrifice from Yama and repeats it back to him. Yama is pleased and gives him a special necklace as a sign of his approval.
For his third and final boon, Nachiketa asks Yama the most profound and difficult question: what happens to a person after death? Is there a soul that survives the death of the body, or is everything annihilated? Yama tries to dissuade Nachiketa from asking this question, saying that it is a mystery that even the gods do not know, and that he should ask for something else, such as wealth, power, fame, or pleasure. He offers him all kinds of worldly temptations, such as beautiful women, fine music, royal kingdoms, and long life. But Nachiketa is not interested in any of these things, and he says that they are all transient and worthless. He says that he only wants to know the truth about death and the soul, and that there is no one better than Yama to teach him this.
Yama is impressed by Nachiketa's determination and wisdom, and he decides to test him further. He tells him that the soul is very subtle and hard to perceive, and that it can only be known by those who have a pure mind, a sharp intellect, and a steady concentration. He asks Nachiketa to explain the nature of the soul, using a series of metaphors and analogies. Nachiketa answers each of Yama's questions correctly, showing that he has a clear understanding of the soul. Yama is satisfied and reveals the ultimate secret of death and the soul. He says that the soul is the essence of all beings, the source of all life, the witness of all actions, and the controller of all powers. He says that the soul is identical to Brahman, the supreme reality, and that whoever realizes this identity attains immortality. He says that the soul is beyond the reach of the senses, the mind, and the intellect, and that it can only be realized by the grace of a guru, a teacher who has experienced it himself. He says that Nachiketa has attained this realization, and that he has become free from fear, sorrow, and bondage. He blesses Nachiketa and declares him as his beloved disciple.
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Your RUclips channel's insightful storytelling and explanations of the Upanishads' teachings on the self and the Supreme Shelf are truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing these profound concepts in such an accessible and meaningful way. Your dedication to spreading wisdom and enlightenment is truly appreciated. Keep up the amazing work!
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Very nice and clear narration. thank you very much.
Upnishad means Vedanta ie; extract of Vedas.
You have blessings of Rishis, Guruparampara.
This is 'Brahma Yagna' you are performing.
'Nama parama-rishibhyo parama-rishibhyah'
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In Hebrew the word for soul is nefesh (Arabic nafs) which refers to BREATH.
In Sanskrit the word Atman is derived from two roots AN - which also refers to breath and AT which means “to wander” - that component of the individual which wanders from body to body .In Abrahamic theology there is an inconsistency - while animals, plants etc. all breathe they do NOT posses souls. Only human beings have souls. So respiration while common to most life forms doesn’t indicate the presence of a “soul”
In Hindu philosophy on the other hand, Atman is characterized by consciousness which is linked to the breath Praṇa is the force which connects the Atman to the physical body. Hence Atman is present in every living form of life in the universe.
The soul is a “spiritual object” possessed by a “material subject” - the physical body being integral to the notion of individuality. Hence the widespread doctrine of the Monotheists of the resurrection of the physical body on the Day of Judgement. (A very problematic doctrine indeed!) Atman is the better word not Soul in this context that you have trying to give thank you for the story.
Thank you for correction..I'll take care of that next time.
The Jivatman is closely connected to the process of breathing.
Brief and well explained. There are more than 100 upanishads.
Nice narration.! Looking for more Such stories. Thanks for sharing.
Thank-you.
And Stay tuned for more.
Nice video
Wow
I hope this is genuine information
Yes, it is.
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