Introduction

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is the ancient and elementary or `Mukhya` part of Upanishad. Shatapatha Brahmana contains the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad and as Upanishad it has an independent status. The Brhdaranyaka Upanishad is the secondary extraction of the Brahamana text. Thus Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is one of the old texts among the Upanishadas. It is believed to be written on eighth to seventh century BC.

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is related to the Shukla Yajurveda. This is the tenth of the `Muktika` canon of hundred and eight Upanishads and Adi Shankara made notable comments on it.

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is famous for its philosophical assertions. Yajnavalkya, the ancient sage was the orator of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. The meaning of Brhadaranyaka is `Great Forest Book`. It contains three parts namely Madhu Kanda , Muni Kanda (or Yajnavalkya Kanda) and Khila Kanda. The Madhu Kanda ascribes to the basic teachings of identity of an individual and expresses the original form of Jiva and the Atman. Muni Kanda narrates the conversation between sage Yajnavalkya and his wife Maitreyi. Khila Kanda consists of the description of different methods related to worship and meditation.
The philosophy of `Neti Neti`(neither this nor that) is the main doctrine of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad.

Chapters of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad

The Brhdaranyaka Upanishad is the secondary extraction of the Brahamana text. It is one of the oldest texts among the Upanishadas and is known as a commentary on Purush Sukta of the Vedas. Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is related to the Shukla Yajur Veda. This Upanishad is known for its philosophical statements and is ascribed to Yajnavalkya. It contains metaphors, symbolism and imagery for describing the nature of reality. The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad has been divided into six parts each being further sub divided into chapters.

Part One of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
First Chapter of Part One : In the first chapter the Universe is represented as as a sacrificial horse. The dawn is ascribed as the head of the sacred horse. Its eye is the sun; the wind the breath; the back is the heaven; the body of the sacrificial horse is the year; the belly is the atmosphere; the footstool is the earth; the sides are the quarters; the side bones are the intermediate quarters; the members are the seasons; the joints are the months and half months; the feet are the day and night; the bones are the constellations; the muscles are the sky; the arteries and veins are the rivers; the liver and spleen the mountains; the various kinds of hair are the herbs and trees. The sun, as long as he rises, is the fore-part of the body; the sun as long as he descends, is the hind part of the body.

Second Chapter of Part One : The second Brahmana of the chapter one of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad discusses about the process of Creation. Initially there was nothing and death enveloped everything. Later Water was created which was followed by prana.

Third Chapter of Part One : The third chapter deals with prana, its splendour and positive power. It discusses about the two classes of Prajapati`s sons: the gods i.e. the devas and the demons or asuras.

Fourth Chapter of Part One : The fourth chapter deals with the Creation and its cause. Formerly the universe was thought to be the Self. Later several other creations also evolved.

Fifth Chapter of Part One : The fifth chapter discusses about the Manifestations of Prajapati. It mentions the seven kinds of food produced through meditation and rites.

Sixth Chapter of Part One : The sixth chapter discusses the three Aspects of the Universe i.e. the name, form and work.

Part Two of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
First Chapter of Part Two : The first chapter of the second part deals with the relative aspects of Brahman. It states about the conversation of Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi on the Absolute Self.

Second Chapter of Part Two : The second chapter deals with the description of the prana.

Third Chapter of Part Two : The third chapter states about two types of Brahman, mortal and immortal, gross and subtle, definite and indefinite and limited and unlimited.

Fourth Chapter of Part Two : The fourth chapter deals with the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi.

Fifth Chapter of Part Two : The fifth chapter discusses about the interdependence of created objects. According to it earth, water, fire, air, sun, moon, lightning, thunder, cloud, sky, dharma, truth, mankind are all honey i.e. effect.

Sixth Chapter of Part Two : The fifth chapter tells about the line of teachers through whom the honey, or the madhu doctrine, has been transmitted.

Part Three of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
First Chapter of Part Three : The first chapter of the third part deals with the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Asvala.

Second Chapter of Part Three : The second chapter deals with the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Artabhaga.

Third Chapter of Part Three : The third chapter talks about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Bhujyu

Fourth Chapter of Part Three : The fourth chapter describes about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Ushasta.

Fifth Chapter of Part Three : The fifth chapter discusses about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Kahola.

Sixth Chapter of Part Three : The fifth chapter tells about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Gargi.

Seventh Chapter of Part Three : The seventh chapter talks about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Uddalaka.

Eighth Chapter of Part Three : The eighth chapter also tells about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Gargi.

Ninth Chapter of Part Three : The ninth chapter describes about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Vidaghdha

Part Four of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
First Chapter of Part Four : The first chapter of the fourth part deals with the partial definitions of Brahman.

Second Chapter of Part Four : The second chapter deals with the matters concerning the Self.

Third Chapter of Part Four : The third chapter talks about the investigation of the three states.

Fourth Chapter of Part Four : The fourth chapter describes the ultimate, death and thereafter.

Fifth Chapter of Part Four : The fifth chapter discusses about the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi.

Sixth Chapter of Part Four : The fifth chapter tells about the line of teachers imparting knowledge about the self.

Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
First Chapter of Part Five : The first chapter of the fifth part deals with the infinity of Brahman.

Second Chapter of Part Five : The second chapter deals with the three great disciplines, gods, men and demons.

Third Chapter of Part Five : The third chapter talks about the Brahman as the heart.

Fourth Chapter of Part Five : The fourth chapter describes about the meditation on `Satya Brahman.`

Fifth Chapter of Part Five
The fifth chapter has been written in praise of `Satya Brahman.`

Sixth Chapter of Part Five : The fifth chapter tells about the meditation on Brahman as the mind.

Seventh Chapter of Part Five : The seventh chapter talks about the meditation on Brahman as the lightning.

Eighth Chapter of Part Five : The eighth chapter also tells about the meditation on the Vedas as a cow.

Ninth Chapter of Part Five : The ninth chapter describes about the meditation on the vaisvanara fire.

Tenth Chapter of Part Five : The tenth chapter talks about the path of the departing soul.

Eleventh Chapter of Part Five : The eleventh chapter deals with the supreme austerities.

Twelfth Chapter of Part Five : The twelfth chapter talks about the meditation on food and the vital breath as Brahman.

Thirteenth Chapter of Part Five : The thirteenth chapter describes about the meditation on the vital breath.

Fourteenth Chapter of Part Five : The Fourteenth chapter discusses about the sacred Gayatri Mantra.

Fifteenth Chapter of Part Five : The fifteenth chapter tells about the prayer of a dying person.

Part Six of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
First Chapter of Part Six : The first chapter of the sixth part deals with the supremacy of the prana.

Second Chapter of Part Six : The second chapter deals with the process of rebirth.

Third Chapter of Part Six : The third chapter talks about the rites for the attainment of wealth.

Fourth Chapter of Part Six : The fourth chapter describes about the conception and birth as religious rites.

Fifth Chapter of Part Six : The fifth chapter has been written about the line of teachers imparting knowledge about the self.

Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad

The Part Five of  Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the infinity of Brahman, the real Self. It states about the connectivity of Brahman with the heart and the ways of meditating on Satya Brahman. Part Five of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad has been divided into fifteen chapters that have been described below:

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.