Ishavasya Upanishad
By Swami Mukundananda
Rupa Books, 192 pages, Rs 395.00

Ishavasya Upanishad enjoys a unique place among the 130-odd Upanishads. It is, of course, among the 10/11 “principal upanishads” that form the core of the Vedic wisdom traditions. Its brevity – it is composed of only eighteen verses (“mantras”) – also makes it popular among students and scholars of the Upanishads. It has attracted many commentaries and translations in our time.

When Mahatma Gandhiji studied this Upanishad, he was so enamoured by it that he often praised it and said, “If all the Upanishads and all the other scriptures happened all of a sudden to be reduced to ashes, and if only the first verse in the Ishopanishad were left in the memory of the Hindus, Hinduism would live for ever.” 

This first verse is:

īśāvāsyamidaṃ sarvaṃ yatkiñca jagatyāṃ jagat |
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya sviddhanam || 

It means, in Swami Mukundananda’s translation:
 
All of creation, whether sentient or insentient, is pervaded by God. Therefore, renouncing the desire for pleasure, stop thirsting for possessions; the world and its treasures have never belonged to anyone.

This message of enjoyment through renunciation is what appealed to Gandhi, and it has the remedy for all the ills of consumerism that has brought in its wake the crisis of climate change.

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Coming at the end of the Vedas, the Upanishads are also known as Vedanta, forming the final of the six systems of Indian philosophy. They help us solve the mystery of life and creation. They reveal to us the nature of the Absolute Truth. The knowledge they expound is unmatched in its sublimity. Along with philosophic insights, the Upanishads provide clear methodologies for spiritual elevation. They are eminently capable of guiding souls from material bondage to spiritual perfection. For this reason, these holy books are held in the highest esteem.

The Ishavasya Upanishad is considered the first Upanishad in the Vedic structure. Its beautiful and profound name, derived from its opening word, means ‘the Upanishad of the all-pervading God’. The uniqueness of this sacred text is that it skillfully resolves contrary viewpoints. And in doing so, it provides the wisdom for achieving a harmonious balance among the different dimensions of life.

Swami Mukundananda, a world-renowned spiritual teacher, studied the Vedic scriptures at the feet of Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj. For four decades now, he has been sharing his vast knowledge through his books, lectures, and life-transformation lectures. This latest book by him is also directly inspired by his Guru’s teachings.

There have been many editions of this Upanishad in English, but this one can be an ideal beginning. Each chapter, devoted to each verse, begins with a rendition of that verse in Devnagari, followed by Roman transcription and anvay or the meaning of every word. Then there is a paragraph-length translation, followed by commentary that clarifies any complex points, and provides scriptural quotations in support of the interpretation. Then comes extra material “for scholars”. A comprehensive introduction, glossary and a guide to pronunciation completes the package.

The system of Vedanta has many schools, depending on different interpretations. Advaita Vedanta, for example, propounded by Adi Shankaracharya, interprets this Upanishad in a way radically different from the other schools. To Swami Mukundananda’s credit, there is no intra-school rivalry here, and he helpfully offers Advaita readings too.

Multiple readings of Swami Mukundananda’s ‘Ishavasya Upahishad’ will reward a beginner and a long-time student alike.

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