Chandogya Upanishad is one of the oldest Upanishads written on the Vedic Brahmana period about ninth to eighth century BC. Chandogya Upanishad is associated with Sama Veda. It is the part of Chandogya Brahaman that contains ten chapters. The 16th Khanda of Chapter Three of Chandogya Upanishad states about man as sacrifice. The first twenty-four years of his life constitute the morning libation. The Gayatri metre possesses twenty-four syllables. The morning libation is performed reciting the Gayatri hymns. The Vasus are connected with that part of the sacrifice. The Vasus are the presiding deities of the dawn, and in man the vital airs i.e. the prana represent the Vasus, as they preserve everything. If he is afflicted by any disease during his age he must recite mantras in the name of pranas, Vasus and pray to them to unite the morning libation with the midday libation. He would then soon get rid of diseases and become free.
The next forty-four years of his life constitute the midday libation. The Tristubh metre has forty four syllables. The midday libation is performed reciting the Tristubh hymns. The Rudras are its presiding deities. In man the vital airs or the prana is the Rudras, as they cause weeping, also known as Rodayanti. If he suffers any pain or disease during that second period, he must recite mantras in the name of pranas, Rudras and pray to them to unite the midday libation with the third libation. He would then soon get rid of diseases and become free.
The following forty-eight years constitute the third oblation. Here the Jagati metre has forty-eight syllables. The third oblation is offered reciting the Jagati hymns. The Adityas are connected with that part of the sacrifice. The pranas are the Adityas as they receive everything. If he suffers any pain or disease during that third period, he must recite mantras in the name of pranas or Adityas and pray to them to extend his libation to his full age. He would then soon get rid of diseases and become free.
Mahidasa, the son of Itara was aware of this and thus, addressed the disease not to afflict him with pain that would cause him death. Hence he lived for a hundred and sixteen years. One who is aware of this and realises it also lives for a hundred and sixteen years.
