12-22-2005, 06:14 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Could you point me to the author (exclusive or otherwise) who had authored the upanishad commented upon by Acharya Shankara. Does Shankaracharya also acknowledge the fact that the upanishadic-teacher does not belong to Trivarna? For in case of Janasruthi (of Raikvaparna fame) the Acharya clarifies that is not a Shudra by birth, but is called so because of his qualities.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sunder, I am not sure what you mean by the phrase "author (exclusive or otherwise) who had authored the upanishad commented upon by Acharya Shankara".
Here is a quote from another discussion
forum about shrI shankara and shrI rAmAnuja's views. :Do the Hindu scriptures advocate caste by birth or by worth ?:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Here are some quotes from Brahma-sutra Bhashaya of Sankara and SriBhashya of Ramanuja.
"The Sudras are not qualified for that reason also that Gautama having ascertained Jabala not to be a Sudra from his speaking the truth, proceeded to initiate and instruct him. 'None who is not a Brahmana would thus speak out. Go and fetch fuel, friend, I shall initiate you. You have not swerved from truth.' (Ch up 4.4.5) Sankara Bhashya (1:3:37)
"From those Sudras, however, who like Vidura and 'the religious hunter' acquire knowledge in consequence of the after effects of former deeds, the fruit of their knowledge cannot be witheld, since knowledge in all cases brings about its fruit." (Sankara 1.3.38)
"Owing to the effect of former actions, which ahd not yet worked themselves out, they were born in a low caste, while at the same time they possessed wisdom owing to the fact that the knowledge acquired by then in former births had not yet quite vanished." (Ramanuja 1.3.33)
"Even a person who because he does not belong to an ashrama stands between as it were, is qualified for knowledge. 'For that is seen'. For we meet wth scriptural passages declaring that persons of that class such as Raikva and the daughter of Vachanu--possessed the knowledge of Brahman (ch 4.1, Bri 3.6.8)"(Sankara3.4.36)
"Smriti also declares that men not belonging to an ashrama grow in knowledge through prayer and the like. 'Through prayer (japa) also a Brahmana may become perfect May he perform other works or not, who befriends all creatures is called a Brahmana (Manu Smriti 2.17)' " (Ramanuja 3.4.37)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sunder, I am not sure what you mean by the phrase "author (exclusive or otherwise) who had authored the upanishad commented upon by Acharya Shankara".
Here is a quote from another discussion
forum about shrI shankara and shrI rAmAnuja's views. :Do the Hindu scriptures advocate caste by birth or by worth ?:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Here are some quotes from Brahma-sutra Bhashaya of Sankara and SriBhashya of Ramanuja.
"The Sudras are not qualified for that reason also that Gautama having ascertained Jabala not to be a Sudra from his speaking the truth, proceeded to initiate and instruct him. 'None who is not a Brahmana would thus speak out. Go and fetch fuel, friend, I shall initiate you. You have not swerved from truth.' (Ch up 4.4.5) Sankara Bhashya (1:3:37)
"From those Sudras, however, who like Vidura and 'the religious hunter' acquire knowledge in consequence of the after effects of former deeds, the fruit of their knowledge cannot be witheld, since knowledge in all cases brings about its fruit." (Sankara 1.3.38)
"Owing to the effect of former actions, which ahd not yet worked themselves out, they were born in a low caste, while at the same time they possessed wisdom owing to the fact that the knowledge acquired by then in former births had not yet quite vanished." (Ramanuja 1.3.33)
"Even a person who because he does not belong to an ashrama stands between as it were, is qualified for knowledge. 'For that is seen'. For we meet wth scriptural passages declaring that persons of that class such as Raikva and the daughter of Vachanu--possessed the knowledge of Brahman (ch 4.1, Bri 3.6.8)"(Sankara3.4.36)
"Smriti also declares that men not belonging to an ashrama grow in knowledge through prayer and the like. 'Through prayer (japa) also a Brahmana may become perfect May he perform other works or not, who befriends all creatures is called a Brahmana (Manu Smriti 2.17)' " (Ramanuja 3.4.37)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->