UPANISHADS OF INDIA NO. 24

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

Upanishads of India No. 23

KIPS Board meeting

Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that

don't really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren't really an 

ending; Some things are never-ending. The end of THE END is the best place to begin THE END, because if you

read THE END from the beginning... of the beginning of THE END to the end of the end of THE END, you will 

arrive at the END. May our BEGINNING and END be with GOD only..... !!! HAVE A CHEERFUL YEAR ENDING 

DAY.

Suryopanishad

Suryopanishad

Suryopanishad postulates the interpretations related to the Sun which is the source of all energy. The third stanza reads as follows:

“ Surya aathma jagatastha sthushacha suryaa dwai

Khalwimani bhuthaani jaayanthe suryadhyajna: parjja

nyo na maatmaa”

           

[Sun is the soul of all objects living and nonliving. It is from Him that all the elements are made. It is from Him alone that yanjam (sacrifice), mekham (cloud), annam(food)and aathma (Soul) have  been created.

                        This is in the form of an address to the sun God. Stanza four states as follows:

“Oh Sun God, we worship you ,

Thou art the subject and object

Thou art Brahma, Vishnu, Rudhra

And all the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Samam & Atharvam)

                        The following stanza states that it is from Aadhitya that the air, earth, water and all the directions have been originated. From him the Devas appear. From him the Vedas emanate. He alone is Brahma. He alone resides in the Panchabhutas. All actions are controlled by him. He resides also in the five senses. There is nothing without him.

            All the universal objects are controlled by the Sun God and in the end everything merges in him. The monosyllabic letter of him is Brahma, one who daily recites the Ashtakshara Mahamantra of Surya Narayana becomes a Brahmajnani (all knowing). One who chants this prayer facing the Sun becomes free from all diseases and he attains moksha. He (she) becomes holy and attains deliverance from all sins.

            The last part of Suryopanishad discusses various forms of prayer and their benefits.