The Mundaka Upanishad (मुण्डक उपनिषद्) or the Mundakopanishad (मुण्डकोपनिषद्,) is one of the earlier, "primary" Upanishads, a genre of Hindu scriptures commented upon by Shankara. It is associated with the Atharvaveda. It figures as number 5 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads.
As described in the beginning of this upanishad, it is said to be first told by Brahma to his son Atharva and Atharva taught it to Satyavaha and Satyavaha passed it to Angiras who in turn passes the knowledge to Shaunaka, dialogue between the two forms the content of this Upanishad.
This Upanishad divides all knowledge into two categories. The knowledge that leads to Self Realization is called Para Vidya (Great or Divine Knowledge) and everything else is called Apara Vidya or Knowledge of Material world (wordly knowledge). Shaunaka approaches sage Angiras and asks "Revered Sir, by knowing what everything will be known ?" Angiras replies that Two knowledges should be known, one is Para Vidya and other is Apara Vidya. Knowledge of worldly things is Apara Vidya and that by which Eternal Truth or Akshara is obtained is Para Vidya. Though Apara Vidya enables one to earn ones bread and helps one to understand each object of universe separately, it does not show the Ultimate Reality or Root Cause of this universe. While Para vidya doesn't teach objects of this universe but enables one to understand underlying fabric of it. Like by knowing gold all the gold ornaments could be known, by knowing Akshara, its another manifestation, the universe is known. This Upanishad expounds the greatness of Para Vidya.
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As described in the beginning of this upanishad, it is said to be first told by Brahma to his son Atharva and Atharva taught it to Satyavaha and Satyavaha passed it to Angiras who in turn passes the knowledge to Shaunaka, dialogue between the two forms the content of this Upanishad.
Image Credit: yogainternational.com
This Upanishad divides all knowledge into two categories. The knowledge that leads to Self Realization is called Para Vidya (Great or Divine Knowledge) and everything else is called Apara Vidya or Knowledge of Material world (wordly knowledge). Shaunaka approaches sage Angiras and asks "Revered Sir, by knowing what everything will be known ?" Angiras replies that Two knowledges should be known, one is Para Vidya and other is Apara Vidya. Knowledge of worldly things is Apara Vidya and that by which Eternal Truth or Akshara is obtained is Para Vidya. Though Apara Vidya enables one to earn ones bread and helps one to understand each object of universe separately, it does not show the Ultimate Reality or Root Cause of this universe. While Para vidya doesn't teach objects of this universe but enables one to understand underlying fabric of it. Like by knowing gold all the gold ornaments could be known, by knowing Akshara, its another manifestation, the universe is known. This Upanishad expounds the greatness of Para Vidya.
Here we have Complete Lecture Series of Mundaka Upanishad by Swami Atmasharddhananda of Ramkrishna Math and Mission
