Thread by @IAMPMSM

#KathaUpanishad
#कठोपनिषद्
#कठउपनिषद्

Upanishads, were written sometime during the period from 1400 BC to 800 BC.

Katha Upanishad forms part of the Kata Shaaka of Krishna Yajur Veda , so it is called as the Kato - Upanishad.

It is also known as Kāṭhaka Upanishad, and is listed as number 3 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads.

The Katha Upanishad consists of two chapters (Adhyāyas), each divided into three sections (Vallis).

The first Adhyaya is considered to be of older origin than the second.The Upanishad is the legendary story of a little boy, Nachiketa – the son of Sage Vajasravasa, who meets Yama (the Hindu deity of death).

Their conversation evolves to a discussion of the nature of man, knowledge, Atman (Soul, Self) and moksha (liberation).

Katha (Sanskrit: कठ) literally means "distress".Katha is also the name of a sage, credited as the founder of a branch of the Krishna Yajur-veda, as well as the term for a female pupil or follower of Kathas school of Yajurveda.

The Katha Upanishad has two chapters, each with three sections (valli), thus a total of six sections. The first section has 29 verses, the second section 25 verses, and the third presents 17.

The second chapter opens with the fourth section of the Katha Upanishad and has 15 verses, while the fifth valli also has 15 verses. The final section has 17 verses.

SHANTI MANTRA:

Every Upanishad commences with a prayer, the Shanti Mantra; a formula for the invocation of peace, chanted at the beginning and close of study.

The Shanti Mantra of the Katha Upanishad is :

ॐ सह नाववतु |
सह नौ भुनक्तु |
सह वीर्यं करवावहै |
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Oṃ saha nāv avatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai
tejasvi nāv adhītam astu
mā vidviṣāvahai |
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

ॐ सह नाववतु | Let us be together
सह नौ भुनक्तु | Enjoy this life together
सह वीर्यं करवावहै | Let us grow in strength together
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु | Let us glow together
मा विद्विषावहै॥ Let us not hate each other
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः || Om Shanti , Shanti, Shanti

Shanti Mantras (शान्ति मंत्र):

We face three kinds of obstacles in our lives i.e , Internal or Adhyaatmika,
Physical or Adhi-Bhautika and Divine or Adhi-Daivika , these three are called “Tapa -Traya” .

To remove negative energies or obstacles , one has to chant/recite Shanti Mantras mentioned in our Upanishads.They are supposed to calm the mind of the reciter and environment around him/her.

Reciting them is also believed to be removing any obstacles for the task being started

Generally Shanti Mantras are recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses.

Shanti Mantras always end with the sacred syllable Om (Auṃ) and three utterances of the word "Shanti" which means "Peace".

The reason for uttering three times is for calming and removing obstacles in the three realms:

1. Internal or Adhyaatmika :

Internal or Adhyaatmika realm is source of obstacles arising out of one's own body and mind, such as pain, diseases, laziness, and absent-mindedness.

2. Physical or Adhi-Bhautika :

Physical or Adhi-Bhautika realm can be source of obstacles coming from external world, such as from wild animals, people, natural calamities etc.

3. Divine or Adhi-Daivika :

Divine or Adhi-Daivika realm can be source of obstacles coming from extra-sensory world of spirits, ghosts, deities, and demigods.

These are called "Tapa-Traya" or three classes of obstacles. When Shanti mantras are recited, obstacles from these realms are believed to be pacified.