imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 12 templates: hyphenate params (2×); del |ref=harv (3×); cvt lang vals (1×);

2021-01-21T00:20:59Z

Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 12 templates: hyphenate params (2×); del |ref=harv (3×); cvt lang vals (1×);

New page

{{italic title}}
{{Infobox Upanishad
| image = Amma Mandapam Place (Tiruchirapalli, Inde) (14104398713).jpg
| caption = Urdhva Pundra
| Devanagari = वासुदेव
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Vāsudeva
| meaning = Son of Vasudeva or [[Krishna]]
| composition_date = 2nd-millennium CE
| type = Vaishnava
| Veda = [[Samaveda]]
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
'''''Vasudeva Upanishad''''' ({{IAST|Vāsudeva Upaniṣat}}) ({{lang-sa|वासुदेव उपनिषत्}}, or '''''Vasudevopanishad''''' is one of 108 [[Upanishad]]ic [[Hindu texts]], written in [[Sanskrit]] language.<ref>Vedic Literature, Volume1 Part 3, {{Google books|2YIoAAAAYAAJ|A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts|page=PA558}}, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 558-559</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=An outline of the religious literature of India|first=John Nicol|last=Farquhar|publisher=H. Milford, Oxford university press|year=1920|isbn=81-208-2086-X|page=364}}</ref> It is one of the 14 Vaishnava Upanishads<ref name="Tinoco">{{cite book|author=Carlos Alberto Tinoco|title=Upanishads|year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xoNEM63hZEC&pg=PA87|publisher=IBRASA|isbn=978-85-348-0040-2|pages=87–}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India|year=1952|publisher=Director General, Archaeological Survey of India|page=49}}</ref> 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.<ref>Max Muller, [https://archive.org/stream/upanishads01ml#page/52/mode/2up Chandogya Upanishad], The Upanishads, Part I, Oxford University Press, page 52 with footnotes</ref>

==Contents==
[[File:Vedanta Desikan with Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeeyar.png|thumb|Vaishnava sacred marks, including the [[Urdhva Pundra]] - the Vaishnava [[tilaka]] marked by three [[Sri Vaishnava]]s 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]].<ref name="trans">{{cite web | url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/sama_veda/vasudeva.html | title=Vasudeva Upanishad | publisher=Vedanta Spiritual Library | access-date=19 January 2015 | author=P. R. Ramachander}}</ref> The Upanishad calls the mark ''Urdhva Tripundra'', the upward (''Urdhva'') three lines.<ref name="Gajendragadkar1959">{{cite book|author=K. V. Gajendragadkar|title=Neo-upanishadic Philosophy|year=1959|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|page=22}}</ref>

===Philosophy===
Vishnu-Krishna is compared to ''[[Brahman]]'', who is [[Advaita|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.<ref name="Bābājī)">{{cite book|author=David Bruce Hughes (Gaurahari Dāsānudās Bābājī)|title=Śrī Vedānta-sūtra, Adhyāya 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dtfdpTFUOcoC&pg=PA85|publisher=David Bruce Hughes|page=85|id=GGKEY:CT0AC58L125}}</ref>

===Symbolism===
[[File:A female sadhu sannyasi monk with a Vishnu mark, painting from India.jpg|thumb|A female [[Sannyasa|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 [[gopi]]s (the milk-maid) devotees and lovers of Krishna, on his body, and therefore states the text, it is called as ''Gopi-chandana''.{{Sfn|Hattangadi|2000}} This yellowish coloured substance is regarded to grant salvation to the devotee.<ref>{{cite book|first=TMP |last=Mahadevan | title=Upanisads: The Selections from 108 Upanisads|year=1975|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1611-4|page=221}}</ref>

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.{{Sfn|Hattangadi|2000}}{{Sfn|Jacob|1891|pp=5-6}}{{Sfn|Jacob|1887}} The ''Smritimuktaphala'' by [[Vaidyanatha Dikshita]] (15th century) quotes the ''Vasudeva Upanishad'' about the ''Gopichandana'' usage in Urdhva Pundra.<ref name="Kāṇe1974">{{cite book|author=Pāṇḍuraṅga Vāmana Kāṇe|title=History of Dharmaśāstra: (ancient and Mediæval Religious and Civil Law in India)|year=1974|publisher=Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute|page=673}}</ref>

Krishna replies a [[Brahmacharya|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 [[Sudarshana chakra|discus]], [[Kaumodaki|mace]] and [[shankha|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 (Vishnu)|Madhava]], Govinda, Vishnu, [[Madhusudana]], [[Trivikrama]], [[Vamana]], [[Vishnu#Thousand_names_of_Lord_Vishnu|Sridhar]]a, [[Hrishikesha]], [[Garbhodaksayi Vishnu|Padmanabha]] and [[Damodara]]. The [[Sannyasi]] (renouncer) should anoint the Urdhava Pundra on his forehead with his ring finger chanting [[Om]].<ref name="trans"/>

;Significance
The three lines of the Urdhva Pundra are related to the Hindu Trinity ([[Trimurti]]) of deities - [[Brahma]], Vishnu, [[Shiva]]; the first three [[Vedas|Vedic scriptures]] - [[Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda]] and [[Samaveda]]; three upper worlds [[Prithvi|Bhu]], Bhuva, [[Svarga|Svar]], the three syllables of Om - Aa, Uu, Ma; three states of existence - awakening, dreaming, asleep and [[Three Bodies Doctrine (Vedanta)|the three bodies]] - Sthula, Sukshma, and Karana. Thus, one should wear the Urdhva tilaka, as sign of the Lord of Om.<ref name="trans"/>

The text declares that a sage should wear four things ''Urdhva'' (upward) - "stick, bravery, [[yoga]] and Urdhva Pundra". He would attain emancipation.<ref name="trans"/>

===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 (Hinduism)|Atman]] as Vasudeva.<ref name=Desaicslu226>SG Desai (1996), A critical study of the later Upanishads, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {{ISBN|978-8172760779}}, pages 226-227, 51-54</ref> This goal of meditation, and methodology of worship, is found in Pancaratra [[Āgama (Hinduism)|Agama]]s, Puranas and other texts of the Vaishnavism tradition.<ref name=srinivaschari132/> These texts, states Srinivaschari, assert that ''Sat'' (Truth), Atman and Upanishadic concept of [[Brahman]] denote the [[Vedanta|Vedantic]] metaphysics of Ultimate Reality, and declare all three to be synonymous with Vasudeva.<ref name=srinivaschari132/><ref name=Desaicslu226/> The term Vasudeva itself is synonymous with Vishnu and Vasudeva.<ref name=srinivaschari132>SM Srinivaschari (1994), Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120810983}}, page 132-134, 212-218</ref><ref name=Desaicslu226/>

===Closing===
The ''Vasudeva Upanishad'' ends with a hymn from section 1.22 of the [[Rigveda]]:<ref name="Deussen">{{cite book|last= Deussen |first=Paul |title=Sixty Upanishads of the Veda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYepeIGUY0gC&pg=PA665|date=1 January 1997|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1467-7|page=743}}</ref>{{Sfn|Jacob|1891|pp=33-34}}
{{quote|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.<ref name="Deussen"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite web|url=http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/vasudeva.pdf |title= वासुदेवोपनिषत् (Vasudeva Upanishad)|access-date=30 January 2016| language = sa|last= Hattangadi| first= Sunder| year= 2000 }}
*{{Cite journal|first = George| last= Jacob|year=1887| title= The Vasudeva and Gopichandana Upanishads| journal=The Indian Antiquary, A Journal of Oriental Research |volume= XVI|issue =March, Part CXCIV }}
*{{Cite book|first = George| last= Jacob|year=1891| title= Eleven Atharvana Upanishads with Dipikas| publisher= Government Book Depot, Bombay (Archived: Harvard College Library) | url= https://archive.org/stream/eleventharvaaup00nrgoog#page/n6/mode/2up }}

{{Hindudharma}}
{{Mukhya Upanishads}}

[[Category:Upanishads]]
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]

Vasudeva Upanishad - Revision history

imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 12 templates: hyphenate params (2×); del |ref=harv (3×); cvt lang vals (1×);