Itharayo Upanishad

Itharayo Upanishad

It occupies a very prominent position among Indian Upanishads as it speaks volumes about the creation of the universe and also about the real nature of our self. It is taken from the second aaranyaka of the  Itharaya Brahmana of the Rigveda.

            Chapter one speaks of the creation of virat/ the Universe.

“In the beginning all this verily was aatman only, one and without a second. He bethought himself;

“Let me now create the worlds.”

He crated these worlds: Ambhah - the world of water, bearing clouds, Mareechi- the world of solar race, Maara- the world of mortals, Ap- the world of waters. Amba represents the regions above heaven, heaven is its support. Mareechi denotes interspace. Maara is Earth. Ap is what is underneath.

            Verse 3 states like this: He bethought himself:  Here are the worlds now. Let me now create world guardians. It continues with the story of all other creations.

     

            Chapter 2 of part I speaks of the cosmic powers in the human body and chapter 3 gives us an idea of the Supreme self in details.

            Part II narrates about the three births of the self. These are:

1.      Condition in the shape of the seed/foetus.

2.      Condition when he is born

3.      Condition when departing from this world to be born again (The concept of being born again is very dear to the Christians. Itharayopanishad also speaks of this, though with different connotations.)

            Part III deals with the real nature of the self. It asks the question, who is he whom we worship. It also gives the answer. He is Brahma. He is Indra. He is Prajapathi. He is all these Gods. He is the five elements, the Panchabhutas. He is pure consciousness. The soul as knowledge is the foundation of whole world.

                        There are striking parallels among the other creation stories that we find in the Bible, Brahma purana , Varaaha Purana and so on with the story narrated in this Upanishad.

                  Dr. Karickam