Essentials of Hinduism - Chandogya Upanishad

Essentials of Hinduism

Chandogya Upanishad

SUMMARY:

Tat Tvam Asi – this is the Mahavakya for Sama Veda that is attributed to the Chandogya Upanishad. This Upanishad belongs to the Sama Veda. Chandogaha means one who does Sama Ghana and that is how the name “Chandogya” came for this Upanishad. Everything is contained inside the Pranava OM. Step by step, explaining the Omkara seems to be the purpose of this Upanishad. Also, this Upanishad is rich in the Upadesha (imparting of mystic Meditative Exercises (Vidyas)).

DETAILS:

There are eight Chapters in this Upanishad but the details are provided for the combined chapters.

The first Chapter starts with the Udgeeta Vidya - Om reflects the three Vedas. In the Yajnas, they start with Om to welcome the Devas. They begin with Om and start the Rig Veda Mantras. They begin with Om and start the Sama Ghanas. Due to the significance of the Om, it portrays the Greatness of Brahman. Thus Om has got the name Udgeeta Vidya. Next is the Akasha Vidya - it talks about the Greatness of Surya Worship and Akasha (Sky) shining brightly due to the Sun Light. Therefore even the word Akasha refers to Brahmam only. Finally, this Chapter ends by concluding that “Achara” requirements can be disobeyed only under the Life threatening conditions.

The second Chapter emphasises the branches of Dharma and Sacrificial Rites – Vedic Studies, Danas is the first; Penances (Vanaprasta, Sanyasa) is the second; Practicing Brahmacharya during the Gurukula period when learning the Vedas – all these attain to the Upper Worlds to enjoy the merits; also, an Atma-Jnani attains the Moksha. Yajna is done with the Paramatma in mind and propitiate (appease) the Devatas; Danas is to help the fellow-humans; Meditation results in the Self Control. Only with these three, a man’s Karmas get completed. Practicing the chanting of Vedas is considered as a form of Tapas with our mouth. Therefore, all these Karmas of Yajna, Dana, Tapas start with the chanting of Om. All these are Omkara; repeat, all these are Omkara – the Chandogya Upanishad Mantras repeats the Omkara.

The Third Chapter states there is no water equivalent to Ganga, no almighty equivalent to Govinda, no Mantra that matches the Gayatri. We should Worship Gayatri by placing Her in the highest status as the Para-Brahmam. This Atma inside me is smaller than a grain of rice, and, this same Atma is bigger than this Earth, bigger than the outer space, bigger than all the Worlds. For a person who understands the inner-depth meanings of the Vedas, his Everyday Life is a Yajna- in-continuity. Practicing hunger, thirst, sacrificing everyday desires is a Diksha. Tapas, Danas, Honesty, Practicing Ahimsa, Truthfulness all these are Dakshinas. One Rishi meditated on Surya as the Atma and got out of meditation. A person asked: as you just came from the Brahma-Loka please tell me if the Surya makes day-and-night like this Earthly World and reduces the birth of humans? The Rishi answered: there is no Sunrise or Sunset in the Brahma-Loka – the Surya shines there at all times! In the Jnani’s Brahma Akasha, the Surya shines with no up and downs and travels. By way of the Atma-Jnyana, a person who is able to destroy his ignorance (should be understood as the lack of Knowledge of the Paramatma), their Jnyana makes them understand the Paramatma, just like the Surya.

The Fourth Chapter speaks about the Greatness of different Jnanis. To learn the activities of the Jnanis is rather strange, to know their Greatness, to know the depth of their behavior is rather very difficult. The prime duty of Brahmachari was not to deviate from practicing the Truth, even though Satyakama did not know his Gotram his Guru accepted him, because, he spoke the Truth and eventually gained Jnyana and he provided Guru-Kula-Vasa to his Disciple who obtained Jnyana too by Agni Upasana.

The Fifth Chapter says that Truth has Life and Power is emphasized. Even a dry wood can bring out branches and leaves. Then Panchagni Vidya is explained: (1) The Jivatma after its experiences in the Upper Worlds, returns, and first goes through the Homa in the Agni of the Akasha; (2) then it mixes with the rain; (3) goes to the Earth by the rain and mingles with the plants and trees. (4) now he goes through a Homa by the Agni inside a man’s Body; (5) finally he goes through a Homa by the Agni inside a Woman’s Womb and gets born in this World. The Person who is Knowledgeable about the Panchagni Vidya, he will not be caught by the sins of this Earthly Life. He gets Purified and goes to the Punya Lokas. Before we eat the Anna (cooked rice) during meals, we have to realize that it is subjected to “Pranagnihotram” and that is why we should say Pranaya Swaha, Apanaya Swaha, Vyanaya Swaha, Udanaya Swaha and Samanaya Swaha – satisfies the Prana, and in chain, the eyes, the Surya, the Devas and everything below the Surya. A Person who performs Agnihotra should be aware of this Truth.

The Sixth Chapter contains a moral story of Svetaketu and the Sama Veda’s peak of Tat-Tvam-Asi Mahavakya Upadesa. Svetaketu’s Father sent him to a Gurukula to stay as a Brahmachari. He said in our Generation, no one stayed as a Brahman without Learning the Vedas. So Svetaketu stayed in the Gurukula from the age of twelve (12) until twenty four (24) and Learned Vedas. However, he had the ego and was very proud when he returned home. His Father asked Svetaketu: did you ask your Teacher how that which has not been heard becomes heard, that which has not been thought of becomes thought, and, that which has not been known becomes known? Svetaketu asked his Father what is that Teaching? The Father said: just as with one lump of clay all that is of mud becomes known, the change being only a name, but the Truth is that it is all clay.

His Father continued: in the beginning there was no existence, One only, without a second. Some say that in the beginning there was non-existence only, and that out of that the Universe was born. But how could such a thing be? How could existence be born out of non-existence? No, my son, without a second. He, the One, thought to Himself: Let me become many, Let me grow. Thus out of Himself, He projected the Universe; and having projected out of Himself the Universe, He entered into every Being. All that is has its Self in Him alone. Of all the things he is the subtle essence. He is the Truth. He is the Self. The rivers flow in the easterly and westerly directions and eventually merge with the Ocean and disappear. The rivers will no longer know their identity. When you put salt in the Water the salt disappears and the Water becomes salty. In the same way, continued his Father, though you do not see Brahman in this Body, he is indeed here. This is the Truth. Our past karmas hide our Jnyana, tied our eyes by the desires, and have left us in this Earthly World. If we get a good Guru, we can untie our eyes, live our Life properly and obtain Jnyana.

The Seventh Chapter is the Sanat Kumara’s Teaching to Narada, that he learned from the Bhu Devi pertaining to the Atma-Jnyana. Narada said: I have learned Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharvana Veda, Ithihasas, Puranas, Karmas, Mantras, Kanidha (Mathermatics), Jyotisha, Time Factors, Vyakarana, Kavya, Vana Sastra, Natya, Sangita and several other Arts. However, I have still not understood the Atma. I have heard that only by achieving the Atma- Jnyana we can get rid of our grief. Therefore I am seeking that Jnyana from you. Sanat Kumara said what you have Learned is all about names only. There is one thing higher than that. That is the Speech. Speech is higher than the name. It is through Speech that we come to know the many branches of Learning, that we come to know what is right and what is wrong, what is pleasant and what is unpleasant. For if there were not Speech, neither right or wrong would be known, neither the pleasant nor the unpleasant. Speech makes us know all this. Meditate on Speech as Brahman. Narada asked: is there anything higher than the Speech? Yes, Mind is higher than the Speech. Meditate on Mind as Brahman. Then he said Will is higher than the Mind, asked Narada to meditate on discriminating Will as Brahman. Then he said Concentration is higher than Will. Then he advised Atma to be above all and Atma does not die. If the Anta-Karana is Pure, then, the thought of Self will be steady. When thought gets steady, all desires will be removed.

The Eighth Chapter is about the advise on Dahara Vidya. Within this little lotus-like home in this city of Brahman, the Body, there is the tiny ether; that which is inside is to be sought; it is to be known. This ether within the heart is as much as the ether outside in the Akasha (Space). Inside it, both the Heaven and the Earth are laid, both Fire and Air, both Surya (Sun) and the Chandra (Moon). Lightning and the Stars. Indra, by the step by step thought process got the Knowledge about Truth. This Body will die and decay some day. However, the Atma lies hidden inside the Body. While there, it behaves as body and is tied to the good as well as bad events that the Body experiences. Whosoever among the mortals knows the Self, meditates upon it, and realizes it, merges with the Paramatma.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.