Bhikṣukopaniṣad
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Bhikṣukopaniṣad is a small work counted among the minor Upaniṣads and is said to belong to the Śukla Yajurveda. It is devoted to a description of the bhikṣus or mendicants or sanyāsins.
Types of Bhikṣus[edit]
The bhikṣus desiring for mokṣa or liberation are of four types:
- The Kuṭīcakas - The kuṭīcakas take eight grāsas or mouthfuls of food daily and strive for mokṣa through the path of yoga. Gautama, Bharadvāja, Yājñavalkya, Vasiṣṭha and others belong to this group.
- The bahudakas - The bahudakas wear the insignia of a monk like red-robes, three bamboo staves tied together, a water-pot and so on. They too live upon eight mouthfuls of food got by begging. They avoid honey and flesh even though offered by the host.
- The hamsas - The hamsas are itinerant monks who do not stay in a place for more than a day if it is a village or five days if it is a city or seven days if it is a place of pilgrimage. They observe the Cāndrāyaṇa rite and practice yoga to obtain mokṣa.
- The paramahamsas - The paramahansas like Sarhvartaka, Āruṇi, Svetaketu, Jaḍabharata, Śuka and others sustain themselves on eight mouthfuls of food, practice yoga and pray for attaining mokṣa.
Lifestyle of Bhikṣus as per Bhikṣukopaniṣad[edit]
The Upaniṣad gives a long description of their way of life. It is as follows:
- They live in secluded places like abandoned houses, burial grounds, temples or under trees or on the banks of rivers.
- They are unconcerned about their dress and may even move about naked.
- They accept alms from all, irrespective of their caste.
- They have transcended from all attributes like good and bad.
- They ever contemplate on the Ātman.
- Living thus they give up the body at the time comes to depart.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore