Sadhana Camp at Rishikesh

Kathopanishad – Tree Upside Down

I was attending Sadhana Camp on Kathopanishad by Guruji Swami Atmananda Saraswati of Vedanta Ashram, Indore. The Camp was at Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh. Ashram is known for its serene environment. It is in the bank of mother Ganga. Many other Ashrams are situated adjacent to it. However in my opinion Swami Dayananda Ashram was the best managed Ashram.

The lecture hall was in the bank of Mother Ganga. While sitting inside the hall, we could watch the crystal clear water of mother. The water which has washed away sins of many sinners.

It was 8.30 AM. Guruji entered the hall in his grand well know posture. The aura of the hall changed. Everyone was in silent and attentive mode. Shri Pandey performed Arti of Guruji. Eyes of Guruji were glowing with light of peace. The expression was of the complete attention to Arti. I felt that Guruji was respecting the fire, the Divine element.

Kathopanishad contains the divine knowledge of Vedas. It is the book which contains the knowledge portion of Vedas. Knowledge is dispensed in very unique way of dialogue between a small boy called nachiketa and the God of death Yamraj. Lectures of every book of Vedas start with mantras in Sanskrit. By chanting of mantras we pay our respect to Guru (the teacher), the knowledge, Bhagwan Shankaracharya and God.

The lecture started after the mantras. I was amazed with the declaration made in first shloka of chapter seven (Third Valli). It says the world is like tree upside down which has its roots on the upper side and branches down below. Upanishads are known for its amazing declaration like this one. A beautiful and excellent comparison.

However appreciation of this shloka requires further exploration of this truth. I tried to draw a sketch of how such a tree would look like. The basis was lecture of Guruji and Kailash Ashram’s book on Kathopanishad which I have glanced through in library of Ashram. Further I also got Gita Press book on Kathopanishad with commentary by Bhagwan Shankaracharya. Thanks to Pandeyji. I also went through the pages of Chapter -15 of Srimad Bhagwad Gita Home Study Course by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

I feel that the reason why the tree has its root above is to show the importance of subtle forces. The Root which is the cause is more subtle that the tree which is the effect. Here the root is compared with Brahm and Tree with world. The Brahm is the cause and the world is the effect. Not going into more details of botanical jargon, the tree has following parts:

1)      Root

2)      Trunks

3)      Barks

4)      Branches and Twigs

5)      Leaves

6)      Fruits and Flowers

7)      Juice

Root can be compared with Brahm who does not do anything, but his existence is enough to create the world. Root compared to tree is having longer life and is eternal. We can understand the root by clear understanding of tree.

Trunk is the main reproductive member of the tree. It is covered by bark. Trunk can be compared with Hiranyagarbha. Bark which covers the Trunk and Root can be compared with Mayasakti of Brahm. Here there is a difference between bark which covers the Root and the one which covers the Trunk. Mayasakti which covers the Root called Brahm is under the control of Brahm. Mayasakti which covers the Trunk called Hiranyagarbha controls the Hiranyagarbha.

Branches and Twigs are different lokas. The different lokas in this world exist within the same Hiranyagarbha.

Fruits and flowers are result of action. Water is compared with desires and action of likes and dislikes.

Till the water called desire is available the tree will grow and will provide result called fruit and flower.

Juice is there in every parts of tree whether it is bark, branches, fruits and flowers. Juice of tree can be sweet, salty / sour and bitter. It can also be different combination of all three. The Juice can be compared with three Gunas called Satwa, Rajas and Tamas. Different combination of it gives different experiences and also quality of life.

Birds which come to the tree can be compared with happiness which is temporary. She comes to the tree enjoys the fruits and moves on. Sometimes bird nest on the tree for longer time. However that is also temporary.

Leaves protect the tree. It can be compared with Vedas. Here Vedas refers to Purwa Mimamsa (karmakanda portion of Vedas). Vedas by defining the papa and punya keep the tree called world in action.

Sunlight provides vitamins to the tree. It also lights the tree. Sunlight is vidya (The knowledge of Vedanta). In the absence of sunlight avidya (ignorance) prevails. The knowledge helps in clear understanding of tree. The Sword called knowledge helps in destroying the tree. Knowledge helps in understanding the temporary nature of tree and unveiling the permanent truth. Brahm (The Root) is the permanent truth.

In the crystal clear water of Mother Ganga we can clearly identify the stone inside the water. Similarly the knowledge of Vedanta helps in clear view of Root by negating the existence of tree.

____________