KATOPANISAD
INTRODUCTION
The akhoguised is the third in the traditional order of the Upanisada and it is indeed a very important text step in the knowledge of Godhead or the Suprene Self of a!. he isodaiyad mentioned briefy that the path of Karna, that is injunicted action (), shonld be disinterestedly trodden faithfully and even 1tmentione1 that when followed with integral knowledge with fidelity (widya) it does help the 'C४०SSI119 ०ve = Death . The Keopanisad showed the transcendental nat१re and power of the ultimate Being and its supreme desirableuness as manifested in the activities of the senses (or gods) and unidbut which these senses and ind could never know except vaguey (or subliminally ?) 'The Kchchanged embraces both these facts of imunortality and ultimate beneficence (¢ntrtanas tadvantva. It elaborates the cryptic statement at the end of the Rebpaigad which describes the subsidiaries of the divine knowledge tags tape datah Aarm¢ Ca pratsh vedal sarvagni 8alya jyactati, iv, 8.
Dr. Ananda K. Coo1araswami considers Rata to be a giostic document which has to be studied as part of the gnostic literature all over the world. According to Sri Krishna Prem‘ “ Kathoposad is a practical treatise written to help us
1. The crossing over ' is mentioned as something that has efficacy after death or dying (witute prehyd). It is so understooढ as counselling ideha-Mukti. It may nean 'occalt passing on' according to Krish11a Prem, but even Sankara does not accept this later view
2, Stress is the full nature of the Divine, and from this most possibly 18 developed the personality of Sri who is stated to have her residencein the Divine Lord, wherefore Eis name Sr-v¥s?
3. New fadian Antiguary I.
- , yogy ० ४he Kathckwisad.
