| Darshana | |
|---|---|
 Mayurasana is one of eight postures described in Darshana Upanishad. Mural painting at Mahamandir temple, Jodhpur, India, c. 1810 | |
| Devanagari | दर्शन |
| IAST | Darśana |
| Title means | View, Meet |
| Type | Yoga[1][2] |
| LinkedVeda | Samaveda |
| Chapters | 10[2] |
| Philosophy | Yoga, Vedanta[2] |
TheDarshana Upanishad (Sanskrit: दर्शन उपनिषत्,IAST: Darśana Upaniṣad) is one of the minorUpanishads ofHinduism written in Sanskrit.[3][4] It is one of twentyYoga Upanishads in the fourVedas,[5] and it is attached to theSamaveda.[1][6]
The text presents classicalYoga similar to thePatanjali'sYogasutras-style format in a sequential ascending eight yogic stages, but unlike Yogasutras, theDarshana Upanishad includeskundalini concepts.[7] The ultimate goal of Yoga, states the Upanishad, is self-knowledge and realizing the identity of one's Self (Atman) with the Universal Reality (Brahman).[8][1][9]
Gavin Flood dates the text to around 100 BCE to 300 CE.[10]Georg Feuerstein suggests the text probably post-dates the Yogasutras.[11]
This Upanishad is also referred to asYoga Darshana Upanishad,[12]Jabala Darshana Upanishad,Jābāladarṣana Upanishad,[13] and Darśanopaniṣad (दर्शनोपनिषत्).[14][1] It is listed at number 90 in the serial order of theMuktika enumerated byRama toHanuman in the modern eraanthology of 108 Upanishads.[15]
The Upanishad is structured into ten sections (or chapters) of unequal length with two hundred and nine verses.[7][14] The text is structured as a discourse byHindu godDattatreya to sageSankriti on Yoga.[12]
The text presents a fusion ofHatha Yoga and eight limbed Patanjali Yogasutras methodology, on a foundation ofVedanta andYoga philosophies.[2][4] The first and second chapters describe ethics of aYogi, as necessary for success in Yoga.[2][16] Manyasanas (yogic postures) are mentioned, and nine explained in chapter 3.[2] Chapter 4 asserts that god (Shiva) is within the temple of one's body, and the best pilgrimage is something one can make daily to this inner world.[2][17] Some subsections in chapter 5 discuss its theory of blood vessels and inner energy flows, along with techniques for inner cleansing.[18] One of the largest chapters is dedicated to breathing exercises, while the last four chapters describe steps for concentration, introspection,meditation, self-knowledge and ultimately union of the Self (Atman) with the Absolute Reality (Brahman).[18][8][1]
Non-violence: the first rule ofYoga
वेदोक्तेन प्रकारेण विना सत्यं तपोधन । कायेन मनसा वाचा हिंसाऽहिंसा न चान्यथा ॥ आत्मा सर्वगतोऽच्छेद्यो न ग्राह्य इति मे मतिः । स चाहिंसा वरा प्रोक्ता मुने वेदान्तवेदिभिः ॥
Verily, the non-indulgence in violence by body, mind or word of mouth, in accord withVedic injunctions is non-violence: not otherwise. O sage! the firm belief that theAtman pervades all, is indivisible and inaccessible to the senses. That is said to be the best basis of non-violence by those who knowVedanta.
The first chapter of the Upanishad has 25 verses describing theYamas or virtuous restraints;[21] the second chapter with 16 verses lists theNiyamas or virtuous disciplines;[22] the third chapter's 13 verses gives explanation on the yogicAsanas or exercise postures;[23] while the fourth chapter, which is the longest, has 63 verses on its theory of the human body, the nadis or the blood vessels.[24]
The text describes the following yogaAsana Svastikasana,Gomukhasana,Padmasana,Virasana,Simhasana,Bhadrasana, Muktasana,Mayurasana andSukhasana.[25][26] | |||||
The fifth chapter's 14 verses is a further elaboration on the previous section giving detailed procedure for inner cleansing or purification;[27] the sixth chapter with 51 verses elaborates onPranayama or breath exercises;[28] the seventh chapter through its 14 verses explainsPratyahara or the ability to withdrawal senses from the external world;[29] the eighth chapter with nine verses on concentration orDharana;[30] the ninth chapter has six verses describing meditation orDhyana;[31] and the last chapter in its 12 slokas deals with thesamadhi stage of yoga which is attained when the Yogin realizes "theAtman (Self) is identical withBrahman".[9] The text enunciates esoteric theories comparing the human body and blood veins with the terrestrial features of the earth such as river channels with their sacred fjords.[18]
The text is notable for presenting its ideas inclusively with some sections opening or closing with praises for Hindu godsVishnu, Shiva,Brahma,Dattatreya or ShaktiDevis, but the core of text is techniques discussed in nontheistic terminology and Vedantic.[32][33] Theaxiology in the text includes a discussion of the value of Yamas and Niyamas,[34] such as non-violence, truthfulness, compassion, abstinence from anger, temperance in food (Mitahara), among others.[35][4] The text details yogic postures such as Svastikasana,Gomukhasana,Padmasana,Virasana,Simhasana,Bhadrasana, Muktasana,Mayurasana andSukhasana.[25] TheseAsanas are discussed in various breathing and cleansing exercises in later sections.[36] The Upanishad thereafter proceeds to presenting its Vedantic ideas on meditation andnondualism, stating its premise in verse 7.13-7.14, that the Yogin should ascertain his Atman (Self) in the "nondual, cosmic Atman" (Brahman, unchanging, ultimate reality).[9][37][38]
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