The Mundaka Upanishad is among primary or Mukhya Upanishadas associated with the Atharva Veda. It is the fifth in the Muktika canon of hundred and eight Upanishads. The Mundaka Upanishad is the Mantra Upanishad. It has sixty-four Mantras in total. The object of the highest science is Brahman. According to the 2nd Khanda of Chapter One of Mundaka Upanishad, Brahman, from whom the individual souls issue like sparks from fire, is all pervading, unchangeable, not to be comprehended in any finite forms, and without attributes. Life, mind, all the organs, ether, air, light, water and earth are all produced from Him. He is the inner soul of all beings, the Virat. Knowing the Supreme Brahma man becomes liberated.
The works that have been revealed in the Mantras were of the Treta Yuga performed in manifold ways. One who wishes to enjoy the fruits of their worship must recite these mantras regularly. This is the road for obtaining the world of actions. When the bearer of the sacrifice kindles the fire the flame flickers, it is then the sacrifices must be offered between the two portions of melted butter with faith and devotion. It sacrifices are not performed according to the rites on the day of the new moon, or on the day of the full moon, or every four months, or in the autumnal season, or where no guests are invited, or that has not been done in proper time, or which is performed against the regulations, a person cannot achieve the fruits of his worship.
There are seven flickering tongues of the fire are, Kali (the black one), Karali (the terrific one), Manojava (swift the mind), Sulohita (the very red one), Sudhumravarna (of purple colour), Sphulingini (emitting sparks), and the Visvarup (all shaped) goddess. It is said that the perishable and transient are verily the eighteen supporters of the sacrifice, on which the interior work depends. The unwise who think this work as the highest objects of man endure the cycle of birth and death. Unwise men dwelling in the midst of ignorance, fancying them wise and learned, go round and round oppressed by misery. Men with their limited knowledge imagine that they have obtained their end but due to their materialistic desires they remain attached to the world and suffer unhappiness. On the other hand those again who, with subdued senses, with knowledge and the practice of the duties and by performance of meditation follow the path of austerity and faith become free from sin. Nothing is ever created, because it is the effect of work. The Supreme Self can be realised with the help and guidance of a wise teacher whose mind is at rest and whose senses are subdued, according to the truth the science of Brahma, by which he knows the indestructible true spirit.
