ABOUT MUNDAKAUPANISHAD

AUM SRI SAI RAM AUM SRI SAI RAM
It is one of the oldest Upanishads and associated with Atharva Veda. It had derived its name from the word 'Mund' meaning 'Shaven Head'.The assumption is that if the principle thought of this upanishad is understood ,the illusions of material world will be cut like hairs in the process of shaving.It hss three chapters and each chaper is divided into sub chapter called 'khanda'.In total it has got 64 mantras.This upanishad is said to be first told by Brahma to his son Atharva and Atharva taught it to Satyavaha who passed it to Angiras who passed the knowledge to Shaunaka, the dialogue between the two form the content of this Upanishad.
This upanishad divides all knowledge into two categories.The knowledge that leads to Self Realisation is called Para Vidya and everything else is called Apara Vidya.Shaunaka approached the sage Angiras and asked ' Guru ,by knowing what venerable, does all this become understood'.Angiras replied that Two Knowledges should be known, one is Para Vidya and the other is Apara Vidya .The knowledge of worldly things is Apara Vidya and that which Eternal Truth is obtained is Para Vidya,the Ultimate Reality or the Root Cause of this Universe.Anoyher aspect of this Upanishad is the lauding of Sarva Karma Sannyasa or Renouncement of all Actions. This encorages the opinion that monkhood is goodway for attaining Self Realisation.Anoyher feature of this upanishad is the yoga prescribed for attaining Self Realisation.'Satyameva Jayate' the which forms the integral part of the Emblem of India is a quote from this Upanishad