UPANISHADS
1. Context
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was met by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington DC Wednesday (June 21, 2023) night Thursday in India – where the first couple hosted him for a private dinner.
PM Modi presented the Bidens with several gifts, including a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond, an exquisite sandalwood box, and a first edition print of the book The Ten Principal Upanishads from 1937.
PM Modi presented the Bidens with several gifts, including a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond, an exquisite sandalwood box, and a first edition print of the book The Ten Principal Upanishads from 1937.
2. Ten Principal Upanishads
- The Ten Principal Upanishads, translated from Sanskrit by Shri Purohit Swami, a scholar of Hindu scripture, and Irish poet WB Yeats, is considered to be one of the best translations of the Upanishads, some of the most important Hindu religious texts.
- Written in the mid-1930s, the book was a product of Yeats’ desire to create a translation that is true to the original text while still accessible to the layperson.
- The translation that would read as though the original had been written in common English”, Yeats wrote in the preface of the original.
3. The two categories of Hindu scriptures
- There are broadly two categories of Hindu sacred texts: shruti (loosely translated as “the revealed”) and smriti (“the remembered”).
- The first category is considered to be the most authoritative and consists of the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva) and accompanying texts. These include Brahmanas (ritual texts), Aranyakas (“forest” or “wilderness” texts), and Upanishads (philosophical texts).
- The second category of Hindu scriptures is less authoritative – in many ways they are considered to be derived from the first – but more popularly known.
- These include the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Dharmashastras, Puranas, and all other post-Vedic scriptures.
4. The Upanishads
Significance of the Upanishads
- Also known as Vedanta, signifying the end of the Veda.
- Speculate on the ontological connection between humanity and the cosmos.
- Foundational texts in Hindu theology, attracted more attention than the Vedas.
Time Period and Concepts
- Dated roughly to 800-500 BC.
- Discuss concepts like transmigration central to Hindu tradition.
- Explore the consequences of conduct and birth based on conduct.
Influence of Adi Shankara
- Eighth-century Hindu scholar Adi Shankara gave particular importance to the Upanishads.
- His interpretations synthesized the Advaita Vedanta tradition.
- Advaita Vedanta is a non-dualistic philosophy emphasizing the world's illusory nature and Brahman's ultimate reality.
Atman and Brahman
- Upanishads explore the relationship between the atman (individual self) and the brahman (ultimate reality).
- Focus on the distinction between the transient phenomenal world and the eternal Brahman.
There are ten main (or principal) Upanishads
- Esha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, and Brihadaranyaka.
5. William Butler Yeats
- WB Yeats (1865-1939) is highly regarded in modern English literature. Considered one of the most influential figures in the field.
- Yeats is globally recognized as the most prominent Irish poet of the 20th century. His work embodies the spirit of Ireland.
- Influenced by John Keats and William Wordsworth. Yeats' poetry spans decades and covers diverse themes. Some poems offer political and social commentary, while others delve into esoteric subjects.
- Role in the Irish Literary Revival. Yeats played a central role in the Irish Literary Revival. His work contributed to the resurgence of Irish cultural and literary traditions.
- Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. Recognized for his inspired poetry that artistically represents the spirit of a nation.
6. WB Yeats Interest in the Upanishads
- WB Yeats encountered Indian themes in his poems written in 1889. Influenced by Mohini Chatterjee, a prominent figure in Bengal's Theosophical circles.
- Yeats formed a close friendship with Rabindranath Tagore, a renowned Indian poet. Tagore's manuscripts, including his translation of Gitanjali, greatly impressed Yeats.
- Yeats wrote an introduction to Tagore's Nobel Prize-winning collection of poems.
- He Played a significant role in bringing Tagore's work to the attention of Western audiences.
- Yeats had a long-standing interest in India and its spiritual texts.
- Dissatisfied with available translations of the Upanishads, he sought to create a more accessible version.
- Yeats collaborated with scholar Shri Purohit Swami, who had extensive knowledge of India.
- Together, they translated The Ten Principal Upanishads, aiming to make them accessible to laypeople.
- Yeats criticized earlier translations for their unnatural English and lack of authenticity.
- He aimed to capture the essence of the Upanishads as they were originally sung by ancient farmers.
- The Ten Principal Upanishads was first published by Faber and Faber of London in
April 1937.
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For Prelims: Upanishads, Shruthi, Smriti, William Butler Yeats, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Dharmashastras, Puranas, John Keats, William Wordsworth, and Rabindranath Tagore.
For Mains: 1. How did WB Yeats contribute to the popularization and translation of the Upanishads? Analyze the impact of his work. (250 Words)
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Source: The Indian Express
