Upanishads are verses from the Vedas that have been compiled as independent and complete sets. Traditionally the verses in each Veda have been classified as Chanting portion and Analysis portion. Within the Analysis portion, a further sub-classification of verses has been done, namely Discussion, Research, Essential thought or guiding principle. This book gives a mathematical picture of the sacred syllable AUM and its relevance to the Waking, Dreaming and Sleeping states. The transcendental state is described as the fourth state. This book explains the crux of the verses in easy to grasp contemporary language. Contains original verse in Sanskrit with a Latin transliteration and an English commentary. For the Sanskrit enthusiast each verse has Word-boundary and Prose order with Cases. Uses clear well-spaced Devanagari font.
Mundaka Upanishad is from the Gopatha-Brahmana of the Atharva Veda. Whereas its Samhita portion survives in two recensions, after sages Paippalada and Shaunaka, the Brahmana portion available today is only of sage Gopatha. Mundaka Upanishad gets its name from “a head shaved of all heavy botheration”. By the sincere study of this Upanishad, one’s mind resolves all troubles, difficulties seem trifles. It quenches the thirst of the sincere seeker and in beautiful verse satiates the heart of the ardent aspirant. Mundaka is especially written for the man who is willing to rise above the crowd, whose performance in daily life is extraordinary, who is willing to work harder than his colleagues. It is for the soul who uses his talents to be creative and productive, and is at the same time thirsting for the Unknown. na tatra sūryo bhāti na candratārakaṃ nemā vidyuto bhānti kuto'yamagniḥ । tameva bhāntamanubhāti sarvaṃ tasya bhāsā sarvamidaṃ vibhāti ॥ 2.2.10 2.2.10 There no sensory light reaches, that is fathomless, silent and still. There is no distinction there, no features of any sort even when examined under the blazing sun or the cool moonlight or even the farthest star. Purity is a seamless whole, that the light of intellect does not grasp, nor does lightening illumine. Then how could our small candle flames or fancy torches or puny ego reach there? By Brahman is the functioning of men and machines, By it is governed the tempest and the breeze. All is made brilliant by its kindly light, all of us touch glory under its shade. Any victory or fame is due to its grace. Any win is its will. All powerhouses are powered by it, Man becomes a king or saint due to its kindness. For the Sanskrit grammar enthusiast, each verse is given in original Devanagari with a Latin transliteration and Padacheda. Anvaya and Cases are listed for many verses.
The Upanishads has now been expanded and brought out in two volumes, with much new material published for the first time in book form. The single volume The Upanishads has been discontinued, with all its content included in the two new volumes, each available as an independent book. The Kena Upanishad is concerned with the relation of mind-consciousness to Brahman-consciousness , writes Sri Aurobindo in his commentary on this work. The material world and the physical life exist for us only by virtue of our internal self and our internal life. According as our mental instruments represent to us the external world, according as our vital force in obedience to the mind deals with its impacts and objects, so will be our outward life and existence. Along with Sri Aurobindo's final translation of and commentary on the Kena, this book includes his translations of six other Upanishads as well as several other translations and commentaries, and essays such as 'The Philosophy of the Upanishads'.
Prashna Upanishad is attributed to sage Pippalada and is in the Gopatha Brahmana of the Atharva Veda. This Upanishad gets its name from the word Prashna , which means “a Question” in Sanskrit. When one’s mind is peaceful, the heart is loving, basic needs are well taken care of, Then a question that arises is directly addressed by the Divine, since it is addressed only to the Divine. 3rd Question यत् चित्तः तेन एषः प्राणम् आयाति प्राणः तेजसा युक्तः । सह आत्मना यथा सङ्कल्पितं लोकं नयति ॥ yaccittastenaiṣa prāṇamāyāti prāṇastejasā yuktaḥ । sahātmanā yathāsaṅkalpitaṃ lokaṃ nayati ॥ 3.10 3.10 This verse is a Maha Vakya. It is a Supreme statement. It states an inviolable truth. At the hour of Death, the Thought predominant in the mind becomes the Basis for the new birth, governs parameters like place of birth, parents, resources, happiness and further evolution. This is easily verified by observing and noting down the last thought at bedtime. First thought in the morning while getting up shall be the same. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For the Sanskrit Enthusiast, each verse is given in Devanagari, with a Latin transliteration, and Padacheda.
Aitareya is one of the earliest Upanishads and is attributed to sage Mahidasa Aitareya. It consists of five sections, viz. sections 21 to 25. These sections form the 4th, 5th, and 6th chapters of the 2nd part of the Rigveda Aranyaka. For the young student the मन्त्र Samhita verses. the householder the ब्राह्मण Brahmana verses. the retired the आरण्यक Aranyaka verses. the sannyasi the उपनिषद् Upanishad verses. Young Student = one who is yet being cared for by parents. Householder = one who is in the thick of earning, raising a family, or actively engaged in society. Retired = one who is out of the grind and living on savings. Sannyasi = one who is free in mind and light at heart. These four phases are not separated in time or by age. These may occur in any order in a man’s life, sometimes concurrent, sometimes distinct. One may have the Sannyasa experience earlier and get thrown into the Householder struggle later. It happens. The key point to understand is that these are states of the mind, heart, intellect and emotion, and one’s relationships in society. Using simple yet elegant words, the Rishi narrates the story of creation from the Big Bang onward. The complete paraphernalia for its functioning is described, also the biology of man’s birth. An incisive statement is made that points to the undeniable fact “Opposite Values are Complementary in Nature”. Its mahavakya is prajñānaṃ brahma, i.e. Consciousness = the Divine = the Supreme. ------------------------------------------------------------ सोऽस्यायमात्मा पुण्येभ्यः कर्मभ्यः प्रतिधीयते । अथास्यायमितर आत्मा कृतकृत्यो वयोगतः प्रैति । स इतः प्रयन्नेव पुनर्जायते तदस्य तृतीयं जन्म ॥ २.१.४ so'syāyamātmā puṇyebhyaḥ karmabhyaḥ pratidhīyate । athāsyāyamitara ātmā kṛtakṛtyo vayogataḥ praiti । sa itaḥ prayanneva punarjāyate tadasya tṛtīyaṃ janma ॥ 2.1.4 The soul travels through bodies. It also travels through traits and virtues. Since a Soul gets known and remembered in diverse ways Through physical lineage. Through propagation of ideals. Through celebration of festivals and anniversaries. Hence that is known as the Undying Birth. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Giving the example of sage Vamadeva who attained enlightenment, a devotee is inspired and empowered to embark on an inward journey… -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Sanskrit Enthusiast, each verse is given in Devanagari, with a Latin transliteration, and Padacheda. Vibhakti-case and word meanings are given for many verses.
The Sri Yantra Bhavana Upanishad is attributed to the Atharvaveda. It is a later Upanishad that illuminates the Bhavana or Deeper Emotions connected to the Sri Yantra, the body of the Mother Divine, and also the body of Divine Yogic Union of Purusha and Prakriti. It expounds the innermost intense feelings of the Soul, its basic desire, and ways and means to connect and unite with the ultimate consciousness. What is a Sri Yantra? A healing mandala diagram made by 4 Upward Apex Triangles and 5 Downward Apex Triangles, properly intertwined to represent • the cosmic forces in creation, and • the principles of duality, harmony, and divinity. The 9 Basic Triangles create a total of 43 Triangles due to the overlapping, which are grouped (shaded) as 14 + 10 + 10 + 8 + 1 = 43. Apart from these Triangles, • there is a central Dot (Bindu) • there are three Circles with 8 and 16 petals encircling the Triangles • there are four Gates encircling the entire Mandala, composed of three lines. Sanskrit Seed Sounds (bija mantra) like ॐ Om, are potent healing and nourishing energies. Sound is an energy. Pleasing sounds (meditative music, blessings) have excellent effects on one's behavior, attitude, and long-term all round success in life. An aesthetically made Mandala can become vastly superior when infused with Seed Sounds. Bhavana Upanishad Verse 8 क्रियाशक्तिᳲ पीठम् । कुण्डलिनी ज्ञानशक्तिᳲ गृहम् । इच्छाशक्तिर्महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी । ज्ञाता होता ज्ञानमग्निः ज्ञेयꣳ हविः । ज्ञातृज्ञानज्ञेयानामभेदभावनꣳ श्रीचक्रपूजनम् ॥ ८ ॥ kriyā-śaktiᳲ pīṭham । kuṇḍalinī jñāna-śaktiᳲ gṛham । icchā-śaktirmahātripurasundarī । jñātā hotā jñānamagniḥ jñeyaꣳ haviḥ । jñātṛ-jñāna-jñeyānāmabhedabhāvanaꣳ śrī-cakra-pūjanam ॥ क्रियाशक्तिः पीठम् । कुण्डलिनी ज्ञानशक्तिः गृहम् । इच्छाशक्तिः महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी । ज्ञाता होता ज्ञानम् अग्निः ज्ञेयम् हविः । ज्ञातृज्ञानज्ञेयानाम् अभेदभावनम् श्रीचक्रपूजनम् ॥ क्रिया-शक्तिः m1/1 action-propelling energy पीठम् n2/1 foundation (is) । कुण्डलिनी f1/1 Kundalini energy ज्ञान-शक्तिः m1/1 wisdom-infused energy गृहम् n2/1 home (brings one) । इच्छा-शक्तिः m1/1 intent (positive) महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी f1/1 the beautiful majestic goddess ruling over the 3 worlds (leads to) । ज्ञाता m1/1 knower होता m1/1 worshipper ज्ञानम् n1/1 knowledge अग्निः m1/1 fire-ritual ज्ञेयम् n1/1 known हविः n1/1 oblation । ज्ञातृ-ज्ञान-ज्ञेयानाम् n6/3 of the knower knowledge and object known अभेद-भावनम् n1/1 undifferentiated emotion श्री-चक्र-पूजनम् n1/1 Sri Chakra Worship (is) ॥ ________________________________________ हविः from हविस् । This verse is the defining verse of Bhavana Upanishad. It is the crux of the Sri Yantra. Beautifully it states that a sense of devotion, gratefulness, and offering one’s love is true worship. ---------- Contains Full Color Plates
The Katha Upanishad embraces the key ideas of Indian mysticism in a mythic story we can all relate to – the quest of a young hero, Nachiketa, who ventures into the land of death in search of immortality. But the insights of the Katha are scattered, hard to understand. Easwaran presents them systematically, and practically, as a way to explore deeper and deeper levels of personality, and to answer the age-old question, “Who am I?” Easwaran grew up in India, learned Sanskrit from a young age, and became a professor of English literature before coming to the West. His translation of The Upanishads is the best-selling edition in English. For students of philosophy and of Indian spirituality, and readers of wisdom literature everywhere, Easwaran’s interpretation of this classic helps us in our own quest into the meaning of our lives. (Previously published as: Dialogue With Death)
Three thousand years ago, deep inside the forests of India, a great 'thought revolution' was brewing. In those forest labs, the brightest thinker–philosophers contemplated the universe, reflected on ancient texts called the Vedas and came up with startling insights into questions we still don't have final answers to, like: • What is the universe made of? • How do I know I'm looking at a tree when I see one? • Who am I? And where did they put those explosive findings? In a sprawling body of goosebumpy and fascinating oral literature called the Upanishads! Intimidated? Don't be! For this joyful, fun guide to some of India's longest-lasting secular wisdoms, reinterpreted for first-time explorers by Roopa Pai, is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.
