Muktikā (Sanskrit: मुक्तिका) refers to the Sanskrit-language anthology of a canon of 108 Upaniṣhads. The date of composition of each is unknown, with the oldest probably from about 800 BCE.Patrick Olivelle (1998), Upaniṣhads. Oxford University Press, , see IntroductionGudrun Buhnemann (1996), Review: The Secret of the Three Cities: An Introduction to Hindu Śakta Tantrism, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Volume 116, Number 3, page 606 The Principal Upanishads were composed in the 1st millennium BCE,Stephen Phillips (2009), Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy, Columbia University Press, , Chapter 1, pages 28-30 most Yoga Upanishads composed probably from the 100 BCE to 300 CE period,Gavin Flood (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press, , page 96 and seven of the Sannyasa Upanishads composed before the 3rd century CE.Gavin Flood (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press, , page 91Patrick Olivelle (1992), The Samnyasa Upanisads, Oxford University Press, , pages 5, 8-9
The canon is part of a dialogue between Rama and Hanuman dealing with the inquiry into in the Muktikā Upanishad (108 in the list). The other collections of Upanishads include Oupanekhat, a Persian language anthology of 50 Upanishads; the Colebrooke Collection of 52 Upanishads, and the 52 Upanishad Collection of Nārāyana.
The canon The canon is part of a dialogue between Rama and Hanuman. Rama proposes to teach Vedanta, saying "Even by reading one verse of them [any Upanishad] with devotion, one gets the status of union with me, which is hard to get even by sages." Hanuman inquires about the different kinds of "liberation" (or mukti, hence the name of the Upanishad), to which Rama answers, "The only real type [of liberation] is Kaivalya."
The list of 108 Upanishads is introduced in verses 26-29:
Most scholars list ten upanishads as principal, or the Mukhya Upanishads, while some consider eleven, twelve or thirteen as principal, or the most important Upanishads (highlighted).Robert C Neville (2000), Ultimate Realities, SUNY Press, , page 319Stephen Phillips (2009), Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy, Columbia University Press, , pages 28-29Peter Heehs (2002), Indian Religions, New York University Press, , pages 60-88
The list of 108 names is given in verses 30–39. They are as follows:
Isha Upanishad Kena Upanishad Katha Upanishad Prashna Upanishad Mundaka Upanishad Mandukya Upanishad Taittiriya Upanishad Aitareya Upanishad Chandogya Upanishad Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Brahma Upanishad Kaivalya Upanishad Jabala Upanishad Shvetashvatara Upanishad Hamsopanishad Aruneya Upanishad Garbhopanishad Narayanopanishad Paramahamsopanishad Amritabindu Upanishad Amritanada Upanishad Atharvashiras Upanishad Atharvashikha Upanishad Maitrayaniya Upanishad Kaushitaki Upanishad Brihajjabala Upanishad Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad Kalagni Rudra Upanishad Maitreya Upanishad Subala Upanishad Kshurika Upanishad Mantrika Upanishad Sarvasara Upanishad Niralamba Upanishad Shukarahasya Upanishad Vajrasuchi Upanishad Tejobindu Upanishad Nada Bindu Upanishad Dhyanabindu Upanishad Brahmavidya Upanishad Yogatattva Upanishad Atmabodha Upanishad Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad Trishikhibrahmana Upanishad Sita Upanishad Yogachudamani Upanishad Nirvana Upanishad Mandala-brahmana Upanishad Dakshinamurti Upanishad Sharabha Upanishad Skanda Upanishad Mahanarayana Upanishad Advayataraka Upanishad Rama Rahasya Upanishad Rama tapaniya Upanishad Vasudeva Upanishad Mudgala Upanishad Shandilya Upanishad Paingala Upanishad Bhikshuka Upanishad Maha Upanishad Sariraka Upanishad Yogashikha Upanishad Turiyatitavadhuta Upanishad Brihat-Sannyasa Upanishad Paramahamsa Parivrajaka Upanishad Malika Upanishad Avyakta Upanishad Ekakshara Upanishad Annapurna Upanishad Surya Upanishad Akshi Upanishad Adhyatma Upanishad Kundika Upanishad Savitri Upanishad Atma Upanishad Pashupatabrahma Upanishad Parabrahma Upanishad Avadhuta Upanishad Tripuratapini Upanishad Devi Upanishad Tripura Upanishad Kathashruti Upanishad Bhavana Upanishad Rudrahridaya Upanishad Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad Bhasma Upanishad Rudraksha Upanishad Ganapati Upanishad Darshana Upanishad Tarasara Upanishad Mahavakya Upanishad Pancabrahma Upanishad Pranagnihotra Upanishad Gopala Tapani Upanishad Krishna Upanishad Yajnavalkya Upanishad Varaha Upanishad Shatyayaniya Upanishad Hayagriva Upanishad Dattatreya Upanishad Garuda Upanishad Kali-Santarana Upanishad Jabali Upanishad Saubhagyalakshmi Upanishad Sarasvati-rahasya Upanishad Bahvricha Upanishad Muktikā Upanishad (this text)
Transmission Almost all printed editions of ancient Vedas and Upanishads depend on the late manuscripts that are hardly older than 500 years, not on the still-extant and superior oral tradition.Quotation of "... almost all printed editions depend on the late manuscripts that are hardly older than 500 years, not on the still extant and superior oral tradition" is from: Witzel, M., "Vedas and ", in: . Michael Witzel explains this oral tradition as follows:
Categories In this canon, 10 upaniṣads are associated with the Rigveda and have the śānti beginning . 16 upaniṣads are associated with the Samaveda and have the śānti beginning . 19 upaniṣads are associated with the Shukla Yajurveda and have the śānti beginning . 32 upaniṣads are associated with the Krishna Yajurveda and have the śānti beginning . 31 upaniṣads are associated with the Atharvaveda and have the śānti beginning .
The first 13 are grouped as mukhya ("principal"), and 21 are grouped as Sāmānya Vedānta ("common Vedanta"). The remainder are associated with five different schools or sects within Hinduism, 20 with Sannyāsa (asceticism), 8 with Shaktism, 14 with Vaishnavism, 12 with Shaivism and 20 with Yoga.
Krishna Yajurveda Atharvaveda Samaveda Mukhya; these form the core of ancient texts, predating classical Hinduism; they span the 1st millennium BCE and reflect the emergence of Vedanta from Vedic religion.; These are general Upanishads, and do not focus on any specific post-classical Hindu tradition. Some are referred to as Vedantic Upanishads.Subāla
Nirālamba
AdhyātmāŚukarahasya Skanda Śārīraka Garbha Ekākṣara AkṣiSūryaVajrasūchi
SāvitrīMudgala Patrick Olivelle (1992), The Samnyasa Upanisads, Oxford University Press, , pages x-xi, 5 These are Upanishads that focus on renunciation-related themes and the life of a sannyasi (monk)Paramahaṃsa Advayatāraka
YājñavalkyaNāradaparivrājaka Paramahaṃsa parivrājaka ParabrahmaMaitreya These are Upanishads that focus on goddess Devi-related themes Sītā Annapūrṇa
Tripurātapini Bhāvana Saubhāgya Lakshmi These are Upanishads that focus on god Vishnu-related themesTārasāraNṛsiṃhatāpanī
Rāmarahasya Rāmatāpaṇi
Kṛṣṇa Hayagrīva Dattātreya GāruḍaVāsudeva Avyakta These are Upanishads that focus on god Shiva-related themesDakṣiṇāmūrti Rudrahṛdaya PañcabrahmaAtharvashiras
Gaṇapati () YogaThe Yoga Upanishads SS Sastri, Adyar Library These are Upanishads that focus on Yoga-related themesTriśikhi MaṇḍalabrāhmaṇaAmṛtanāda
Brahmavidyā
Yogakuṇḍalinī VarāhaPāśupata MahāvākyaYogachūḍāmaṇi
References
Muktika Upanishad, Translated by Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier, Published by The Theosophical Publishing House, Chennai,
External links
Muktika Upanishad - Translated by: Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier The Theosophical Publishing House, Chennai 108 Upanishads of the Muktika