Upasana Singh

Upasana Singh is an Indian actress and stand-up comedian. Upasana is famous for her role as a deaf and dumb in the 1997 film Judaai. She now plays the character of "Bua" (paternal aunt) in the TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil and Tarawanti in mad comedy show Nadaniyaan on BIG MAGIC. She is popular for her onscreen style and Punjabi and funny English dialogue delivery. She has done numerous Bollywood films as well as regional cinema such as Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani and Gujarati.

Career

Upasana Singh debuted in the 1986 Hindi movie Babul as the leading lady under the banner of Rajashri Productions. Thereafter, she appeared in the 1988 Bai Chali Sasariye which was revolutionary for Rajasthani cinema. Since then, she has acted in many regional films and is a known face in the Punjabi, Gujarati and Hindi film industry. She has also done numerous supporting roles for films such as Darr, Jawani Zindabad, Loafer, Judaai, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Aitraaz, Old Is Gold, My Friend Ganesha, Golmaal Returns, and Hungama.

Upasana

Upasana (Sanskrit: उपासना) literally means "worship" and "sitting near, attend to". The term also refers to one of three kanda (खण्ड, parts) of Vedas, one that focuses on worship. The other two parts of Vedas are called Aranyakas and Upanishads, sometimes identified as karma-kanda (कर्म खण्ड, ritualistic sacrifice section) and jnana-kanda (ज्ञान खण्ड, knowledge, spirituality section).

Vedic literature, including Upasana, however, neither are homogeneous in content nor in structure. Multiple classifications have been proposed. For example, the early part of Vedas with mantras and prayers called Samhitas along with the commentary on rituals called the Brahmanas together are identified as the ceremonial karma-kanda, while rituals and metaphoric-rituals part called Aranyakas and knowledge/spirituality part Upanishads are referred to as the jnana-kanda.

Etymology

The root of the Sanskrit word Upasana is up and asana (from as), which means "to sit close to someone, waiting on someone with reverence". Oldenberg explained Upasana from its root Upās-, in German as Verehren, or "to worship, adore, revere", with the clarification that in Vedic texts this adoration and reverence is at formless things, such as Absolute Self, the Holy, the Atman (Soul) Principle. These texts offer the concept of Upasana to distinguish meditative reverence for an internalized and intellectual concept from earlier forms of physical worship, actual sacrifices and offerings to Vedic deities. Schayer offered a different perspective, stating Upasana in Vedic context is more closer to the German word Umwerben or Bedrängen, or courting and pressing on metaphysical Soul, the Absolute Self (the Brahman) with hopes and petitions. Schayer further states that Upasana was a psychological act as well as a procedure, which etymologically was further developed by Renou.