What is the meaning of “Brahmin Assembly” and “Śrāddhakaal” in the Upanishadic Context?

Question

In the last part you explained “Brāhmaṇon ki sabhā” and said that only someone who has become parangat—fully established in the knowledge—can speak there.
And the second term “śrāddha-kāl” — I did not understand what it means.

Answer

The Upanishad uses two phrases:

• “In the assembly of the Brahmins,” and

• “During the śrāddha period.”

It says: whoever has absorbed this teaching deeply within and then explains it either in the assembly of Brahmins or during the śrāddha time becomes honored and uplifted.

But in today’s world, where will we find such an assembly of Brahmins?

Here, “Brahmin” does not mean caste-based Brahmin.
It means one whose mind is engaged in Brahman—someone who is devoted to spirituality, who studies spiritual knowledge, who is sincerely inclined toward the higher truth.

So today, any group of people who come together to learn or discuss spirituality becomes the “assembly of Brahmins.”
It simply refers to seekers of truth, not caste.

As for the word “śrāddha-kāl,” it also does not mean the 15-day period we call the shrāddha fortnight today.
Because in that modern shrāddha period, who actually studies or discusses spiritual knowledge? Almost no one. It has become just a ritual—invite a priest, give food, finish the formalities.

The Upanishad is not talking about that.

Here, śrāddha means a time or occasion where there is sincerity (śraddhā), purity, and receptivity—a moment where people gather with seriousness and devotion. Not the present-day ritualistic shrāddha.

So:

• “Brahmin assembly” means a gathering of sincere spiritual seekers.

“Śrāddha time” means any occasion of genuine reverence and sincerity, not the ritual days we observe now.