Talk:Mudgala Upaniṣad

By Swami Harshananda

Mudgala Upaniṣad

This is one of the minor Upaniṣads assigned to the Rgveda. It is like a brief commentary on the Purusasukta (vide Rgveda 10.7.90.1-16). There are four khaṇḍas or sections with 30 mantras in all. Only the first section is in verses in the anuṣṭubh metre. The rest are in prose.

The first section gives a brief explanation of the various verses of the Purusasukta. For instance, the word ‘sahasra śīrṣā’ (verse 1) indicates that the Puruṣa (God) is infinite. The second verse describes him as the giver of mokṣa or liberation. The verses 16 and 17 describe the greatness of Hari (= Puruṣa).

The second section says that Bhagavān Vāsudeva gave this teaching of the Purusasukta to Indra, the king of gods. Nārāyaṇa, the Paramapuruṣa (the Supreme Person), though beyond names and forms and ordinary knowledge, assumed this form of the thousand-headed

Puruṣa for the benefit of ordinary mortals, so that they could attain liberation just by looking at him. It was this Puruṣa— called ‘Mahāpuruṣa’ here—that divided himself into four forms, out of which only one is here manifested as this world, the rest being beyond creation and comprehension.

It is him—who has manifested himself in various forms—that the adhvaryu priests worship as the threefold Agni (fire-god). It is again him that others identify with the three Vedas. Others again—like human beings, demons and manes—identify him with rayi (food), delusive power or with the mantra ‘svadhā’ used in sacrifices. This is the gist of the third section.

The last section describes that Brahman (= Puruṣa) is without the six kośas or sheaths like skin and blood, beyond the six urmis or infirmities like hunger and thirst as also the six bhāvas or changes like birth and death. But the Supreme Puruṣa somehow, voluntarily, accepts these and becomes the jīva (individual soul in bondage).

One who studies this Upanisad becomes pure in every way. He is liberated from all sins of all types. However, being an esoteric knowledge of the highest, it should never be imparted to unworthy persons who have not studied the Vedas or who have not performed sacrifices or who are harsh of speech and ever discontented.

The guru who gives this knowledge to worthy disciples must follow some sacred rules like choosing a clean place, an auspicious time and meditation on the

Puruṣa. He should impart it secretly in the ear of the disciple.

Then, both the teacher and the disciple become identified with the Puruṣa himself.

See also UPANlṣADS.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore