Kaivalya-Upanishad

More about the Course

Kaivalya Upanishad belongs to the Atharva Veda. Its poetic diction, systematic development of thought and scientific arrangement of highly philosophical ideas makes it one of the most important Upanishads even though it is not a part of Dashopanishads. 

This Upanishad also delineates the worship of Lord Shiva in both His saguna and nirguna aspects. The Kaivalya Upanishad is glorified as the ‘Brahma Shatarudriya’, that which expounds the unconditioned Nirguna Brahman (Shatarudriya is a prayer of hundred stanzas, very sacred & inspiring, dedicated to Rudra or Lord Shiva.)

A total of 13 video sessions by Swami Advayananda, divided into 10 lessons, covering the entire Kaivalya Upanishad, are made available to the registered students.

What You will Learn

True to the style of Upanishads where there is a conversation between a teacher and his disciple, in Kaivalya Upanishad, we have Lord Brahma as the Teacher and the great Rig Veda Acharya  Ashvalayana as the disciple.

You will be learning the following:

• The preparation required for a seeker to gain Brahmavidya
• The efforts needed to gain Brahmavidya
• How one becomes a Jivanmukta
• The preparation and process of saguna- and nirguna-upasanas
• The state of Realisation and the experience of the person of Realisation
• Establishing the oneness between the individual jiva and the supreme Brahman, through the methodology of adhyaropa–apavada

Why should I do this Course?

The Upanishad opens with the line, “adhihi bhagavan brahmavidyam varistham” and ends with “kaivalyam phalam ashnuta iti,” thus making it clear that the subject of this Upanishad is Brahmavidya and its result is attaining Kaivalya, Liberation. Mantra 16 has a unique Mahavakya conveying jiva-brahma-aikya. The phalashruti carries an atonement for various omissions by reciting the Shatarudriya. Learning Kaivalya Upanishad will purify the mind, give clarity of knowledge and ultimately bless one with the fruits of realising the supreme state of Knowledge or attaining Kaivalya-pada.

How do I purchase the Text?

Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT) has published Kaivalya Upanishad text with commentary in English by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. 

To purchase a copy of Kaivalya Upanishad – ‘I am in all, all are in Me’ with commentary in English by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, please click this link.

Or

Contact: Sri M. Jayaraman Nair
In-charge, Chinmaya Vani,
Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF)
Ph: +91 92077 11138 / WhatsApp: 92073 98313 /
Email id: cifpublications@chinfo.org

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of Vedanta is required

• Good internet connection

Course Content

The course on Kaivalya Upanishad comprises 10 lessons. A brief description of what is covered in each lesson is given below:

Lesson 1:  Introduction and Śānti-mantra

• Understanding of prakaraṇa- and śāstra-granthas
• Examples of prakaraṇa-granthas and the topics they deal with
• Prasthāna-traya: Upaniṣad, Bhagavad-gītā and Brahmasūtra
• Major and minor Upaniṣads
• Daśopaniṣad

Click here for further details

Course Contributors

Sri Indranil Bhattacharya
Br. Ved Chaitanya
Sri Arvind Kannan