365bet

Thirty minor Upanishads

by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar | 1914 | 95,228 words

This book contains the English translation of thirty minor Upanishads.—Fourteen belonging to Vedanta, two are categorised as Physiological, three are Mantra, two are Sannyasa and the remaining nine are categorised as Yoga-Upanishads. These Upanishads are properly defined as the Aranya-portion of the Vedas (most ancient Hindu scriptures) and are so-...

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Amritanada Upanishad of Krishna-Yajurveda

The wise, having studied the Śٰ and reflected on them again and again and having come to know Brahman, should abandon them all like a firebrand. Having ascended the car of Om with վṣṇ (the Higher Self) as the charioteer, one wishing to go to the seat of Brahmaloka intent on the worship of Rudra, should go in the chariot so long as he can go. Then abandoning the car, he reaches the place of the Lord of the car. Having given up ٰ, ṅg,[1] and pada,[2] he attains the subtle pada (seat or word) without vowels or consonants by means of the letter M without the svara (accent). That is called ٲ when one merely thinks of the five objects of sense, such as sound, etc., as also the very unsteady mind as the reins of Āٳ. Pratyāhāra (subjugation of the senses), Բ (contemplation), ṇ峾 (control of breath), ṇ� (concentration), [3] and are said to be the six parts of yoga. Just as the impurities of mountain-minerals are burnt by the blower, so the stains committed by the organs are burned by checking ṇa. Through ṇ峾s should be burnt the stains; through ṇ�, the sins; through ٲ, the (bad) associations; and through Բ, the godless qualities. Having destroyed the sins, one should think of Rucira (the shining). Rucira (cessation), expiration and inspiration—these three are ṇ峾 of (rechaka, ū첹 and kumbhaka) expiration, inspiration and cessation of breath. That is called (one) ṇ峾 when one repeats with a prolonged (or elongated) breath three times the ⲹٰī with its ṛt and ʰṇa (before it) along with the ś[4] (the head) joining after it. Raising up the from the ākāś (region, viz., the heart) and making the body void (of ) and empty and uniting (the soul) to the state of void, is called rechaka (expiration). That is called ū첹 (inspiration) when one takes in , as a man would take water into his mouth through the lotus-stalk. That is called kumbhaka (cessation of breath) when there is no expiration or inspiration and the body is motionless, remaining still in one state. Then he sees forms like the blind, hears sounds like the deaf and sees the body like wood. This is the characteristic of one that has attained much quiescence. That is called ṇ� when the wise man regards the mind as ṅk貹 and merging ṅk貹 into Āٳ, contemplates upon his Āٳ (alone). That is called 첹 when one makes inference which does not conflict with the Vedas. That is called in which one, on attaining it, thinks (all) equal.

Seating himself on the ground on a seat of ś grass which is pleasant and devoid of all evils, having protected himself mentally (from all evil influences), uttering ratha-ṇḍ,[5] assuming either padma, svastika, or bhadra posture or any other which can be practised easily, facing the north and closing the nostril with the thumb, one should inspire through the other nostril and retain breath inside and preserve the Agni (fire). Then he should think of the sound (Om) alone. Om, the one letter is Brahman; Om should not be breathed out. Through this divine mantra (Om), it should be done many times to rid himself of impurity. Then as said before, the mantra-.knowing wise should regularly meditate, beginning with the navel upwards in the gross, the primary (or less) gross and subtle (states). The greatly wise should give up all (sight) seeing across, up or down, and should practise yoga always being motionless and without tremor. The union as stated (done) by remaining without tremor in the hollow stalk (viz., ṣu) alone is ṇ�. The yoga with the ordained duration of twelve ٰs is called (ṇ�). That which never decays is ṣa (Om) which is without ṣa (third, fourth, and fifth letters from K), consonant, vowel, palatal, guttural, nasal, letter R and sibilants. Prāṇa travels through (or goes by) that path through which this ṣa (Om) goes. Therefore it should be practised daily, in order to pass along that (course). It is through the opening (or hole) of the heart, through the opening of (probably navel), through the opening of the head and through the opening of ǰṣa. They call it bila (cave), sushira (hole), or ṇḍ (wheel).[6]

(Then about the obstacles of yogi). A yogin should always avoid fear, anger, laziness, too much sleep or waking and too much food or fasting. If the above rule be well and strictly practised each day, spiritual wisdom will arise of itself in three months without doubt. In four months, he sees the devas; in five months, he knows (or becomes) Brahmaniṣṭha; and truly in six months he attains Kaivalya at will. There is no doubt.

That which is of the earth is of five ٰs (or it takes five ٰs to pronounce ٳ󾱱-ʰṇa). That which is of water of four ٰs; of agni, three ٰs; of , two; and of ākāś, one. But he should think of that which is with no ٰs. Having united Āٳ with manas, one should contemplate upon Āٳ by means of ātmā. ʰṇ� is thirty[7] digits long. Such is the position (or range) of ṇas. That is called Prāṇa which is the seat of the external ṇas. The breaths by day and night are numbered as 1,13,180.[8] (Of the ṇas) the first (viz.,) Prāṇa is pervading the heart; Բ, the anus; Բ, the navel; Բ, the throat; and ղԲ, all parts of the body. Then come the colours of the five ṇas in order. Prāṇa is said to be of the colour of a blood-red gem (or coral); Բ which is in the middle is of the colour of Indragopa (an insect of white or red colour); Բ is between the colour of pure milk and crystal (or oily and shining), between both (Prāṇa and Բ): Բ is apāṇḍara (pale white); and ղԲ resembles the colour of archis (or ray of light). That man is never reborn wherever he may die, whose breath goes out of the head after piercing through this ṇḍ (of the pineal gland). That man is never reborn.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

It is said to be the subtle, gross and other microcosmic bodies. It also means sign.

[2]:

It is said to be the macrocosmic bodies of Virāt, etc. It means a word or letter.

[3]:

In this classification, 첹 is introduced newly. It means; the examination of the mind being attracted to objects and knowing that siddhis are impediments to progress.

[4]:

The ṛt are Bhū�, , etc., and the head is Om, Āpo, etc.

[5]:

Lit., car-circle which is a mystical chakra or diagram for invoking the 𱹲; but some commentators make mean Om: and ṇḍ, the circle of Ś.

[6]:

There are four openings in the body; three from which the astral, the lower mental and the higher mental bodies escape: the last being of turya.

[7]:

As measured by the width of the middle finger: ñⲹ says, Prāṇa is 12 digits beyond the body.

[8]:

One commentator makes it thus: Taking 21,600 for each of the five Prāṇas, we get 1,08,000: for the five sub-ṇas, 5 × 1036 is 5,180. Hence the total is 1,13,180. Another commentator makes it 21,600 alone.

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: