First Chapter The first chapter of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the infinity of Brahman. The Brahman is infinite, and from it proceeds the infinite. Om Mantra is the Akasa Brahman-the primeval akasa. It is the akasa containing air. Here the infinite universe merges in the Infinite Brahman. Second Chapter The Second Chapter of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with Three Great Disciplines. Prajapati had three kinds of offspring: gods, men and demons (asuras). They lived with Prajapati and practised the vows of brahmacharins. He taught them the syllable da meaning to control themselves i.e. damyata. He again used the word da meaning to give i.e. datta. While instructing them he further used the word da signifying to be compassionate i.e. dayadhvam. Thus, one should learn these three: self control, giving and mercy. Third Chapter The third chapter of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the Brahman as the Heart. According to it Prajapati is the heart i.e. intellect. The heart is Brahman. Hridayam i.e. the heart consists of three syllables. One syllable is hri, another da and the third one yam. One who is aware of the 'hri' his near and dear ones bring presents. One who is aware of the 'da' his people and others give their powers. One who knows about yam, goes to heaven. Fourth Chapter The fourth chapter of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about the Meditation on Satya Brahman. The intellect Brahman is Satya and who becomes aware of this Satya Brahman conquers these worlds. His enemy gets conquered and he thus becomes non existent. Fifth Chapter Fifth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad has been written in praise of Satya Brahman. The Sayta is made up of three syllables, sa is one syllable, ti is one syllable and ya is one syllable. Here the first and the last syllable make the truth while the middle syllable is untruth. Sixth Chapter The Sixth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with Meditation on Brahman as the Mind. The being here is recognised with the mind and is realized by yogis within the heart. He is the lord of all, the ruler of all and controls all this. Seventh Chapter The Sixth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about meditation on Brahman as Lightning. Brahman is known as lightning or vidyut because it scatters (vidanat) darkness. Eighth Chapter The Sixth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about meditation on the Vedas as a Cow. According to it one should meditate upon speech as a cow. The speech has four teats: the sounds Svaha; Vashat, Hanta and Svadha. The gods resides on two of her teats, Svaha and Vashat; men, on Hanta; and the Manes on Svadha. Ninth Chapter The Ninth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about meditation on the Vaisvanara Fire. This fire that is inside a man which helps in digesting food that is eaten is Vaisvanara. Tenth Chapter The Tenth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about the path of the departing soul. A person when departs from this world, he proceeds towards the air. The air opens up and makes a whole as big as a wheel of the chariot. Through this opening he ascends and reaches the sun. The sun now opens up as wide as the hole of a lambara. By this opening he ascends and reaches the moon. The moon opens there for him as wide as the hole of a drum. By this opening he ascends and reaches a World free from grief and cold. Finally he remains there for endless years. Eleventh Chapter The Eleventh Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the Supreme Austerities. The greatest pain surely is that, which one endures from sickness. Whoever knows this gain the highest word. The greatest pain is that they carry one after death to the forest. Whoever thus knows, gains the highest world. The supreme austerity is indeed that a man, after death, is laid on the fire. Whoever thus knows, gains the highest world. Twelfth Chapter The Twelfth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about the Meditation on food and the vital breath as Brahman. According to some food is Brahman; as food decays without the vital breath (prana). The vital breath is also Brahman because the vital breath dries up without food. These two deities (food and the vital breath), when they become united, attain the highest state (Brahmanhood). Thirteenth Chapter The Thirteenth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about the meditation on the vital breath. One needs to meditate on the vital breath or Prana as the Uktha. The Uktha is life or the vital breath as it springs up (utthapayati). From him who is aware of this spring up a son who knows the vital breath and is firm. Fourteenth Chapter The Fourteenth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad states about the sacred Gayatri. The words Bhumi (earth), Antariksha (sky) and Dyaus (heaven) consist of eight syllables. Prana, apana and vyana form eight syllables and the third foot of the Gayatri has eight syllables. These are the three forms of the vital breath. Fifteenth Chapter The Fifteenth Chapter of Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the prayer of a dying person. It states that the door of the truth i.e. the Satya Brahman is covered by a golden disc. The worshipper prays to the Lord to open the door so that he can realise him. |