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Katopanishad and Muktika Upanishad
Dr N Gopalakrishnan
The first among the series of Krishna yajurvedeeya Upanishads is the Katopanishad. The subject matter is described in vallies (chapters).The Upanishad starts (in the first vally) with the description of a minor incident. The son of Vajasravas, a great emperor performed a yaaga and at the end he donated (performing dhaana) many cows and gold coins to scholars. Many of these cows were very old. Seeing this, the son of the emperor, Nachiketas asked his father why he was giving these old useless cows to scholars. He further commented to his father, that he may even donate his son to others for getting to heaven, if so to whom will the emperor donate his son? The father angrily answered that he will donate Nachiketas to Yamadharma (god of death)! Listening to these words, the son said that he shall go by himself to Yamadharma and the Upanishad starts with the discussion between Nachiketas and Yamadharma. The description of the absolute truth - soul- jeevaathma - paramaathma is given in second vally .

In the third vally, excellent description/ comparison of human body is given as: The human body is compared with a chariot, the wisdom is the charioteer, the five sensory organs are the five horses, all the five, that are linked with the five sensory organs are the pathway of the horses to move. For deep meditation and realization of the soul, the preliminary requirements like purity, control and guidance of the mind are needed says Yama. The description of pancha praana : praana-apaana - vyaana - udaana -samaana and vyaana are given.The relation between Brahmam and also aathma chaitanyam are described further . In the last vally Yamadharma shows the path for the realization of the soul and for the attainment of the heavenly abode, to Nachiketas. After listening to the detailed description from Yamadharma, Nachiketas attained moksha. Thus ends the Upanishad which is tough to understand too.

Muktika Upanishad: This is the 108th Upanishad in the series of 108 important Upanishads. There are two parts for this Upanishad. Just before Lord Rama leaving the world (DEHA TYAAGAM) by disposing the body in River Sarayu, Hanuman asked a question to Lord, in presence of Lakshmana, Bharatha, Satrughna, Vasishta and others. The question was about the Vedic and non Vedic literature. Lord Rama explained that there are four Vedas. Rig-Veda has 21 recensions, Yajurveda has 109 recensions, Sama Veda has 1000 recensions and Atharveda has 50 recensions. The Lord said there are 108 Upanishads. From Aitareya Upanishad to bahvruchopanishad, there are ten Upanishads belonging to Rig-Veda and all these Upanishads have the saanthi mantra starting from 'vaang may manasi prathishtithaa mano may vaachi prathishtithaa '3. From Eesaavaasya Upanishad to muktika Upanishad there are 19 Upanishads belonging to Sukla Yajurveda having the saanthi mantra starting from poorna matha poorna midam poornaath.

From Katopanishad to Saraswatee Rahasyopanishad there are 32 Upanishads for Krishna Yajurveda, having the saanthi mantra saha naavavathu saha nou bhunaktu saha veeryam . From Kena Upanishad to Jaabaala Upanishad there are 16 Upanishads for Sama Veda having the saanthi mantra aapyaayanthu mamaangaani vaak praana schakshu. From prasna Upanishad to Garuda Upanishad, there are 31 Upanishad for Atharveda which are chanted with the saanthi mantra Bhadram karnebhi srunuyaama devaa, thus Lord Rama gives the explanation about the Vedic literature in the first part of this Upanishad. In the second part Lord explains about praana, yoga, wisdom and intelligence, knowledge (jnaanam), analyses, estimation, as the mental attitude and capacity to intellectual analyses. Finally Lord Rama explains why he himself is known as an Avathaara/ and the divinity in him. In short, the analyses of mind and psychology are done in the second part.

Swami Mukundananda holds yoga camp in NJ
Ajay Ghosh
Yoga is for all ages. From babies to children from adults to elderly, the practice of yoga appeals to all ages and all shapes and sizes. Though commonly thought of as a fad for the 20-40 set, the practice of yoga covers all ends of the spectrum. People who live busy lives find solace and comfort and good health in yoga. Today, yoga has become a global phenomenon more than ever before in history, transcending cultures and races.

Many gurus and spiritual leaders from India come to the West to teach yoga, in the hope of popularizing this ancient Indian art. In this world of strife and anxiety, the opportunity to associate with a traveling Indian sanyasi (Monk) is a great blessing. And if that sanyasi happens to be a well read scholar, it becomes a double blessing, for one can then hear from him the esoteric knowledge of the Vedas presented in a modern context. Over 200 people attended a six-day yoga camp in Wayne, New Jersey, last month in order to learn techniques and exercises to maintain a healthy lifestyle amidst the busy daily lives they lead.

Swami Mukundananda, a student of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has been conducting yoga and meditation classes. The classes include discourse, meditation and yoga.

The program in New Jersey was divided into two parts - yoga & meditation, and pravachan. "Swamiji believes that it is not only important to focus on your body, but on the mind as well. Thus it is very important to compliment yog with meditation, followed by pravachan," said Raj Jhaveri, one of the organizers.

The yoga and mediation section was further divided into four parts - breathing, diet, meditation and relaxation. "When you do these four parts in tandem, the positive effects increase. Also, one should keep God in their mind when practicing yog and meditation," Jhaveri added.

A two hour pravachan was also held everyday of the camp, where Swami Mukundananda spoke about the human relationship with God. He also educated the attendees about curing ailments like heart diseases, digestion problems and diabetes by living a healthy lifestyle and incorporating yog and meditation in their lives. "You don't have to sit in the temple for an hour everyday, but when you pray to God, pray in the right manner," Swami Mukundananda said. He also spoke about aim of life, true happiness and how to pray to God.

Swami Mukundananda received his B Tech from the world-renowned Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He then went on to secure his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. After that he worked for some time with the Tatas. However, material education did not quench his thirst for the Absolute Truth. He began traveling throughout India as a Sanyasi. Ultimately his search took him to his Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj.

Under the guidance of Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj, he practiced intense sadhana while residing at the ashram. He also extensively studied the Vedic scriptures, and the Indian and Western systems of philosophy. On completion of his studies, his Spiritual Master instructed him to preach and assist others on the path to God-realization.

Swamiji often tours outside India as well. He has inspired thousands of people in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, where his visits are anxiously awaited. Swami ji visited USA seven years ago, and evoked a tremendous response in the cities he visited.

His lectures cover the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavatam, Puranas, Bhagavad Geeta, Ramayan, and other Eastern and Western scriptures. He establishes the spiritual truth through scriptural quotations, irrefutable logic and humorous real-life illustrations, keeping the audience absorbed and entertained.

"Science has helped us in harnessing the tremendous forces of nature. However, it has no tools to harness our internal nature, the basic problems of the human mind: lust, anger, envy, greed, illusion. Spirituality is for enhancing the mind and intellect, and manifesting the inherent divinity within us," Swami Mukundananda told the media last month.

"The real cause for stress is the unlimited desire within us, desire for material advancement. With true knowledge we can understand that the happiness we are searching for is not just in the external objects. It is within us. When we learn to put in our best effort without being attached to the results, stress immediately vanishes," he says.

Swami Mukundananda has now been delivering religious discourses for the last fifteen years, as a preacher of the Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat. Swamiji will be revisiting USA in the summer of 2009.for more information, please visit, www.jkyog.org