The Brahmananda Valli maintains the philosophical essence of the Upanishads and at the same time it is immensely scientific and analytical in nature. The first verse of the Brahmananda Valli deals with the development of the mind as well as the intellect. In this section the teacher teaches the students various methods of concentration following which the students are able to move forward in the journey of attaining transcdental thoughts. As the guru prepares the mind and the intellect of the students he also encourages them towards the path of Self-discovery. The Brahmananda Valli also says that the goal of life is to know the Brahman and the one who has known the Supreme Being possesses the Supreme knowledge and has also attained the fulfillment of his life. Beginning from the second till the fifth Anuvaka the Brahmananda Valli has mentioned that five subtle bodies or five Atmans reside in any living body. Beginning with the grossest and most tangible element it moves towards the most subtle and final Being. For the very first time in the Vedic literature the concept of five Kosas has been introduced. It has been explained in an exhaustive and detailed manner that each element within the human body covers the next element. It says that the subtlest of all elements is the akasa which emerges from Truth. The grossest of all the elements is the earth. Above earth are the elements of water, fire and air. These five elements have been considered the most important of all. All philosophers and even scientists believe that the various pluralistic phenomenon of the world is a combination of all the five elements in different ways. The second chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad says that the five elements in the universe are in a way manifestation of the sense organs of living beings. The second chapter of the Brahmananda Valli says that all creatures in this Universe are born from food and it is food alone on which all the living beings survive. It says that as food was born before all creatures it is considered as the medicine for all. In this section air has also attained a lot of importance. It has been said that the self is composed of air which is one of the five elements of the universe. The third Anuvaka declares that those who worship the Brahman as the vital force of life is able to attain the full span of life because on the vital force depends the life of all. Similarly on the other hand the physical self is composed of the mind and mind of any being is the most important element within the physical self. It has been said that the mind is filled with the Brahmana. Thus, it can be concluded that the mind or the subtlest part of all living beings is the Brahmana and at the same time the Supreme Being resides within every mind. The fourth verse tells the student that the essence of the Brahman within the inner self is the presence of truth, righteousness, concentration, faith and principles. Unless all these are present within the inner self or within the mind it is not possible for any being to know the Brahmana and if one is not able to acquire the knowledge of the Brahman he will not be able to attain the Bliss which is above all other happiness. The central theme of the fifth Anuvaka of the Brahmananda Valli is that when one attains the True knowledge that is the knowledge of the Brahman one reaches a position to actualize sacrifice of all evils. He is also able to realise his duties and hence performs them accordingly. The knowledge of the Brahman alone allows all beings to ward of all sins and negativities from ones life and in the process is gradually able to attain the ultimate peace. The sixth verse includes the fact that one who does not consider the existence of the Brahman himself becomes non-existence. On the other hand those who consider the existence of the Supreme Being or the Brahman are able to do so with the knowledge of the Brahman alone. This particular section of the second chapter has said that the ultimate Truth is the knowledge of the Brahman and in order to experience the ultimate Truth it is absolutely necessary that all beings acquires the knowledge of the Brahman. The objective of the seventh Anuvaka of the Brahmananda Valli is that the Brahman is the self-creator and hence is the source of all joys. Thus when one comes in contact with the source of joy one becomes happy and in the process is able to attain the eternal Bliss. Therefore it can be said that in order to achieve happiness and joy in ones life it is absolutely necessary that one comes in contact with the Brahman or the Supreme Being. It also says that unless an individual is able to realise the unification with the Supreme Being he does not reach the state of fearlessness. In the state of fearlessness the individual mind attains oneness with the inexpressible and the infinite Brahman. The eighth or the penultimate verse of the Brahmananda Valli has actually compared the happiness of various evolved beings right from man till the happiness of the Brahman Himself. It has said that the ultimate happiness or bliss of all evolved beings is the knowledge of the Brahman. The last Anuvaka that is the ninth chapter of the second chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad has concluded saying that one who has attained the True Bliss is not afraid of anything. He is the enlightened soul. This verse says that a knower of the Brahman does not repent for any worldly good or bad because the earthly definitions of good and bad becomes trivial for him as he achieves unification with the Brahman. Hence it can be concluded that the Brahmananda Valli tries to bring forth the importance of the Brahman. Throughout all the nine verses it has said that the knowledge of the Brahman is the ultimate knowledge in the Universe and is also the source of eternal Bliss. |