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Wk03 Monday, Oct 7

Select Atharva Veda Hymns, cont’d;

Intro to the Upaniṣads

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Today

Selections from the Atharva Veda– Skambha, 10.7-8, pp. 92-103 (from Wed)– Part 2, pp. 111-132

Transition to Olivelle’s Upaniṣads

Wed

Olivelle’s Upaniṣads– Bṛhadāraṇyaka 3 & 4

Supplemental reading:– Lindquist (2010) “Literary Lives and a Literal

Death”

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Atharva Veda, cont’d

Rvw: Search for First Principle

Physical world Earth (12.1) Sun (13.1-3)

Inner worldPrāṇa, breath (11.4)Kāma, desire (9.2, 19.52)

Relation of human body to universe (10.2, 11.8)

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First Principles, cont’d

More abstract, intangibleBrahman = holy word (AV 4.1)Virāj, the shining one, fem. creative principle → Prakṛti later (8.10)

−Skambha, Support (10.7-8)−Kāla, Time (19.53-4)

Skambha, Support (10.7)

More sophisticated version of puruṣa (RV 10.90) Includes tapas, Right, Vow, Faith, Truth, Fire,

Wind, Earth, Atmosphere, Sky, sun, moon, all 33 gods, “golden germ,”

Supports seasons, day/night, all worlds 17, 24, 33-36: = brahman 14, 20: echoes of puruṣa dismemberment 40-41: = Prajāpati 42-44: Riddle of maidens, weaving

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Skambha, Support (10.8) 1-2: = brahman, contains all which possesses ātman “soul”

4-5, 7: riddle – wheel/year 13: = Prajāpati, ½ = whole world, other ½?

[vs. ¼ in RV 10.90.3] 14: carries water upwards, like 19.53.3 (kāla)? 26-29: riddle immortal woman, aging creator,

inert suitor? 37-38: thread of the thread 43-44: nine gates, three strands, ātman =

brahman

Earth (12.1)

Undisguised materialism?– cattle (4-7) – wealth (6,40) – jewels & gold (44) – glory (9)– honey (7,16) – splendor & power (8)

Haters (14, 23-5) May we not stumble, fall on the earth (28)When we lie on the earth (34) Let not what crawls … (46)

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Earth (12.1), cont’d

Wild animals, demons (49-50) Pleasing speech (56, 58) Ecology? (35) Feminism? (2) Identification with Aditi, mother of gods (61)

Superior to – the All-maker (60), – the Lord of Creatures (61)

Sun (13.1)

Charm for a king ≠ common folk! Begets the universe (1), immortality to

gods (7), sacrifice (13, 51-55), 2 fires: cold & heat (46-50)

Gāyatrī (10) ‘Let them enter unto you… (10)’ Superior to Vācaspati (17-20) Smiting enemies (27-32) Cow:calf :: Dawn:sun (41) (cf. 13.3.26)

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Sun (13.1), cont’d; (13.2) as Eye (45) 2 fires kindled by Brahman(48-49)! You shall not cast a shadow anymore:

– Kicking cows and urinating (56)– passing between me and the fire/Sun (57)

13.2: reborn again (night → day) (25) Soul (ātman) of all (35) Rohita → Prajāpati → world (39-40)

Sun as Cosmic Power (13.3)

Refrain: reinforcing Brahmin prestige Sun identified with:

– Virāj, Prajāpati, Universal Fire, Brahmaṇaspati, Mātariśvan (wind)

18: Riddle: Sun as chariot 21: 3 settings, dawnings, … 25: Riddle: one-, two-, three-, four-footed 26: Sun as calf, as in 13.1.41

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Kāma, Desire (19.52, cf. 9.2)

Mentioned in RV 10.129.4, nāsadīya 19.52

– First seed of thought (1)– 4: “… that thought which pertains to those

people yonder, let it come to me here.” ??

9.2:– First born, mother of Speech– beyond heaven and earth– 25: means for coming true, evil thoughts

Kāla,Time (19.53-54)

19.53: 1-2: similar chariot imagery as for the sun 3: ‘a full vessel is set upon Time’ ?? 10.8.14? 4: ‘Though their father, he became their son.” ?? 4-10: everything created by Time, is in Time:

– thought, breath, name, tapas, brahman, Prajāpati

19.54: similar ideas of origination and support “conquers both worlds by brahman.”

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Intro to the Upaniṣads

What are Upaniṣads?

(Secret) connection

– Folk etymology: upa – ni - √sad

Concluding portion (end) of the Vedas →Vedānta* → essence of Vedas

jñāna, knowledge vs. karma, action / rites

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What are Upaniṣads? cont’d

Connection / equivalence / hierarchy

Cosmos

Ritual Body

What are Upaniṣads, cont’d

12-14 Vedic Upaniṣads Term generalized → independent, sacred

texts Collections of 52, 108 Upaniṣads, >200 Akbar Upaniṣad, Allah Upaniṣad,

Khristopanishad (1965!)

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Which Upaniṣads?

Earliest (700-500 BCE)– Bṛhadāraṇyaka YV-ś

(prose)– Chāndogya SV (prose)

600-400 BCE– Taittirīya YV-k (prose)– Aitareya RV (prose)– Kauṣītaki RV Ś0 (prose)

400-100 BCE (verse)– Kena SV

– Kaṭha YV-k

– Īśā YV-ś

– Śvetāśvatara YV-k Ś0

– Muṇḍaka AV-ś

100 BCE – 100 CE– Praśna AV-p (prose)– Māṇḍūkya AV-ś (prose)– *Maitrī YV-k Ś0 (prose)

RV = Ṛg Veda, SV = Sāma Veda, YV-k = kṛṣṇa Yajur Veda, YV-ś = śukla Yajur Veda,AV-p = paippalāda Atharva Veda, AV-ś = śaunakīya Atharva Veda,

Ś0 = no comm. by Śaṅkara, * = not in Olivelle, = portions to be read

Key Upaniṣadic Ideas

Self, ātman, beyond self Single reality underlying manifoldness Karma & rebirth

– freedom from rebirth

Yoga, meditation Asceticism, tapas

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Progression

Vedas → Brāhmaṇas → Āraṇyakas →Upaniṣads → Further developmentJñāna vs. karma-kāṇḍa, knowledge vs. ritual

Brahma-sūtras Śaṅkara, Advaita Vedānta (Non-duality) Other Vedāntas

– Rāmānuja, Viśiṣṭādvaita (Qualified Non-duality)– Madhva, Dvaita (Duality)