Essentials of Hinduism - Prasna Upanishad

Essentials of Hinduism

Prasna Upanishad

SUMMARY:

“Prasna” means Question. Because this Upanishad consists of six (6) Questions and Answers these Questions, it is known as Prasna Upanishad. The first three Questions deal with Samsara, the subject of Apara Vidya, the lower Vidya. The next three Questions are related to Brahman, the subject of Para Vidya. Pippalada is the Principal Teacher in this Prasna Upanishad. This Upanishad belongs to Atharvana Veda. Mandukya, Mundaka, as well as, this Prasna Upanishad lay great stress on the Pranava Symbol Om.

DETAILS:

Six Seekers of Brahman go to a Sage Pippalada and they asked six (6) Questions. Here are the Questions and Answers that form the substance of this Upanishad. In the ancient times, it was customary for the disciples to carry sacrificial fuel in their hands when they approached the Guru to obtain the Instructions that he desired. The Spiritual Guru knows through his Inner Vision, the mental state of the Aspirants, the degree of their Evolution, that there were still impurities in their Minds, and so he asked them to stay with him for one year and Practice Tapas, Celibacy (the state of being unmarried and sexual abstinence) and Faith. When the Guru is satisfied with the Disciple after this time period, he would say: if I know I will explain all to you. There was no doubt as to the Knowledge of the Guru. Yet, he was very Modest and Humble and so he said “if I know.”

ISKCON Collection - "Embrace Spiritual Bliss – Discover ISKCON Essentials Today!" https://giri.in/collections/iskcon

Prathama Prasna: Om Sukeshaa Cha Bhaaradvaajaha... – What is the source of the Creation? The Guru replied: Prajapati (the Lord) was desirous of Creating the world. He performed Penance (Thought), and having performed Penance, He Created Rayi and Prana. According to Adi Sankara’s Interpretation, Rayi is the Moon (the Food) and Prana is the Sun (the Eater). He thought over the Knowledge imparted by the Shruti and produced a pair, necessary for the Creations. This Life is sustained by the Food (Anna) and Air (Prana). The sun rising pervades the East, lights up the Southern, Western and the Northern Quarters, as well as, all the intermediate Quarters. The Sun illumines the whole World and is the center of Force and Energy. Therefore he is, in a way, the Lord of Creatures. The Seers, or knowers of Brahman, have known the Sun, their own Atma, the innermost Self. Now, the Dakshinayana (the Southern Path) and the Uttarayana (the Northern Path) is explained in the Slokas. Those who follow the Path of Karma alone (this means all kind of Karmas) attain the Southern Route, the World of Moon and return to this World. Those who control their Senses, by Faith and Knowledge search for the Self, go along the Northern Route to the World of the Sun, go to the Brahmaloka, and at the end of the cycle merge in Brahman – this is Krama Mukti or Gradual Liberation.

Next, there is a good description of the Sun. He has Pancha Pada (five feet) meaning five Seasons. Another interpretation is the chief Prana having five modes of motion, Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana inside the Body. He is the maker of the Time, with the year with sub- divisions of Seasons, Months and so he is considered as the Father. He is seated in a place higher than the Heaven. His Chariot has seven (7) Charkas and seven Horses. The Chariots have six spokes to represent the six Seasons.

Camphor Collection - "Purify & Refresh – Dive into Camphor’s Natural Essence!" https://giri.in/collections/camphor

Anna or Food is Prajapati, the Lord of Creation. The food transforms into the Man’s reproductive substance, and when Man unites with his Wife, results in the birth of a new-born baby. Thus all creatures are born. Those who observe the vow or rule of Prajapati (as laid down in Verse 13 of this Upanishad), produce the Children.

Dvitiya Prasna: Ata Hainam...Videhi Na Iti – How many Devas support a creature? Among them, who supports what? Who is the greatest among them?

Those Devas are the Ether, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Speech, Mind, Eye and Ear. They say, we hold together and support this Body. Prana, the greatest, said to them: be not lost in a foolish pride, because, I alone support this body and keep it. They did not believe. To prove, Prana ascended (seemed to go out of the Body), all the others immediately ascended too, and when it remained all others remained too. So Mind, Speech, Eye, Ear, and the rest being pleased, praised Prana. Prana is the Lord of Creatures, Prajapati. He moves in the Womb. In the Womb he causes the growth of the Foetus. He expels the Child from the Womb when grown. He is born as a Child, as another embodiment of the Father and the Mother. He is Prajapati, the Universal Life. Men bring offerings to the Prana through the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc. The Senses carry the perceptions of their respective objects for nourishing and sustaining the Life in the Body. During one’s death-Time, when Prana leaves the Healthy-Body, the same Healthy-Body becomes Dead- Body. Prana burns as Fire. Prana is Sun. Prana is Cloud. Prana is Indra. It is Vayu. It is Wind. It is Earth. Rig, Yajur, Sama Vedas, Yajna, Knowledge - everything is contained in the Prana. Prana is the Eater. All Food is for the Prana. When as cloud it rains, then the Creatures become alive and are delighted hoping there will be abundant food. These Creatures, having obtained Food, Work vigorously. All objects of enjoyment in this world are under the control of Prana. All objects that exist in the heaven for the enjoyment of the Devas, are also under the control of Prana. Trivedi means the three Worlds. Whatever exists in the three Worlds, is under the control of Prana.

Tritiya Prasna: Atha Hainam...Iti – how does the Prana function? This Question shows that the Supreme Lord is not only the Creator of this Whole Universe, but also rules the Microcosm (a little World) as five-fold Prana. Just as a shadow belongs in man, so in this Aatman, Brahman, is this Prana spread out. Prana has no independent existence. It is not apart from the Atma. Atma is the cause, and, Prana is the effect. By a mere mental act, that is, produced by volition (Wish), iccha (Desire), through the Karma, it enters in the Body. Another Shruti says, intent on the fruit, he obtains the Body with his Karma, similar to a shadow is the resemblance inevitably cast from a person’s Body.

Dhoop Sticks and Sambrani - "Enhance Every Moment – Explore Dhoop & Sambrani Today!" https://giri.in/collections/dhoop-sticks-and-sambrani

The next verse shows the various Locations were these Pranas dwell - Prana performs the sensory life functions through the eyes, ears etc; Apana dwells in the anus and the generative organ. It performs the excretion. The goddess of Earth attracts or controls the activity of Apana in man and helps its action by pulling downwards. The goddess of Earth refers obviously to the force of gravity; Vyana is all-pervading; it is the energy that works through the nervous system, the arteries and the veins. It does the function of blood circulation; Udana helps swallowing food and the drink. It takes the Jiva to Brahman during deep sleep. Also, it takes the Jiva out of the Body during death, and conducts him to the other Worlds. It dwells in the Throat; Samana dwells in the Navel and does the digestive function. This Atma is in the Heart, inside the Akasha of the Heart.

Chaturtha Prasna – Atha Hainam...Sarvamevavivayshyati – when man is sleeping, what is staying awake in him? All the organs or senses are dormant in the Mind during deep sleep. In deep sleep, the activities of the senses cease. So the man hears not, sees not, smells not, evacuates not. Men of Worldly understanding say, he sleeps. The fires of Prana, Apana in the Body are awake. In dream, the Mind creates a World of its own out of the impressions received in the waking state (it could be from this Life or the impressions of the Past Lives), and enjoys them. There is no coherence of Time and Space in some dreams. He sees in dreams what was seen in this birth, as well as, what was not seen (in this Birth), that is, what was seen in his Previous Births.

Panchama Prasna – Atha Hainam...Param Chaiti – What is Omkaara dhyaana? This Prasna deals with the sacred mono-syllable Om, by which the Supreme Brahman is to be Meditated upon. Meditation on Om, with Bhava (feeling) and Knowledge of its meaning, is the Real Meditation on Brahman. The Mind should be steady like the flame of a lamp in a wind-free place. Meditation can be Practiced only by that Aspirant whose senses are turned away from the External Objects, who has a calm Mind, who has practiced Ahimsa (Non-Injury), Satya (Truth), Brahmacharya (Celibacy), who is endowed with Discrimination, Self-Restraint, Renunciation, Purity, Faith, Endurance and strong yearning for the Final Emancipation (Liberation). An Aspirant with such qualities attain Brahman.

Agarbatti Collection - "Fill Your Home with Tranquility - Shop Agarbatti Now!" https://giri.in/collections/agarbatti

He who Meditates with one Matra only (measure) of Om (A), or, he Meditates on the two Matras A and U, he is being enlightened by that, but comes quickly to the Earth. The Rik-verses lead him to human birth and give him all happiness. He who Meditates on its second Matra only (U), he becomes one with the Mind. He is led up by the Yajus-verses to the Sky, the World of the Moon. Having enjoyed greatness there, he returns again. He who meditates on the Highest Purusha with this syllable OM of three Matras (A,U and M), he is led up by the Sama-Hymns to the World of Brahma, and from Him, full of life, he beholds the Supreme Purusha residing in the Heart.

Another beautiful explanation is provided pertaining to the Pranava Mantra Om – it is compared to the great Gayatri Mantra, the everlasting Vedas, as well as, to the memorable Bhagavad Gita. A best attempt is made in this comparison as clearly as is possible. To repeat what is stated in the last paragraph: The Pranava Mantra OM is split to three syllables A, U, and M. Now, the Gayatri Mantra is: Om, Tatsavitur Varayniyam Bargo Devasya Deemahi Deeyoyo Nah Prachotayaat – shortened meaning: One Who is prompting our Buddhi, One Who is the Creator of all Beings, let us Meditate on that Brilliant Paramatma.” From “A” came “Tatsavitur Varayniyam”; from U came “Bargo Devasya Deemahi”; from M came “Deeyoyo Nah Prachotayaat.” From “A” part of Om and the first part of the Gayatri Mantra came the Rig Veda; from “U”, “M” part of OM came the Yajur Veda; from “Nah” of Gayatri Mantra came the Sama Veda. Rig Veda consists of the Dhyana Mantras and is the oldest of all the Vedas; Yajur Veda relates to the Karma like Yajnas; Sama Veda relates to Jnyana. Another interpretation relates to the Bhagavad Gita: Rig Veda is Bhakti Yoga; Yajur Veda is Karma Yoga; Sama Veda is Jnyana Yoga.

Shashtha Prasna – Atha Hainam...Paramrishibyaha – Where is the Atma located? In the interior of the Body, in the Akasha of the Lotus of the Heart. One need not go far to seek Him. He is in the Lotus of the Heart. He is quite close to You. He is nearer to you than your hands. It is said that the Atma dwells in the Heart in order to make the Aspirant realize that the Atma is His very Own Self. This will help Him to Practice Concentration, and the Purusha is realized as if within the Body, by the process of Thinking, Reflection and Meditation. Therefore, it is said that the Purusha dwells within this Body. This same Atma is really All-Pervading and Infinite. Finally, to remove the doubts in the Minds of His Disciples, Sage Pippalada said: this far only I know about the Supreme Brahman worthy to be Known. There is nothing beyond this, more worthy to be Known.

In the concluding Mantras, what the Brahmavidya instructions received by the Disciples is explained, which is very Touching and Emotional: the Disciples realized that their Objectives had been Realized. They thought that they could not give anything in return for the Knowledge they have received from the Guru Pippalada. They Worshipped Him by throwing handful of flowers at His feet, and prostrated before Him, and said: “You are our Real Father. You imparted to us the Knowledge of Brahman. You have helped us to cross the Ocean of Ignorance filled with perverse Knowledge, and infested by evils such as Birth, Sorrow, Sickness, Pain, Misery, Old Age etc., by means of the boat of Knowledge of Brahman, and reach the other shore of Fearlessness and Immortality. How can we thank You, most venerable (respected) Master? We have nothing to pay in return. Even the father, who has given us the Physical Body, is to be Worshipped in this World. Then, what to speak of an exalted (high-ranking) Spiritual Father who has opened our inner eyes, who has raised us to the lofty state of Brahmanhood, who has removed all our mundane (worldly) miseries, and who has freed us from the trammels (resistance to progress) of Births and Deaths. Salutations to the highest Rishi! Salutations to the highest Rishi!! (the repetition emphasizes the maximum respect to the Guru).

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.