Maandukya Upanishad

Maanduukya Upanishad comes under Atharva veda. This is one of the major Upanishads, credited to Maanduukya Rishi, (son of Manduka rishi). A number of commentaries (bhashyams) are written on this.

Swamiji started with explanation on word UPANISHAD

Upa + ni= shad
upa and ni form preposition - meaning going closer to guru or shastras
Shad is root (Dhatu) carrying three meanings

Visharanam  - Loosening – to destroy ignorance which is like a hard rock or a concrete block. We need to hammer continuously to loosen the rock.

Avasanam  - destruction - removing the Ajnana after loosening.

Ghathi – Saadya Prapti. Reaching the goal 

Saadyam means Goal - Aham Brahamasmi which is to be realised by human being

Then started the sloka  Om ityetad aksharam idam

Here Omkara is chosen as a means to explain how Brahman is all pervasive.

Thru Omkara vichara we enquire the phrase" Sarvam khalvidam Brahma"

Omkara is comprised of 3 letters Aa + Au + Ma

As per Panini Aa is the first letter. When one opens the mouth Aa is the first sound that comes out. Similarly Ma is the last sound that closes the mouth. like Ramam and Krishnam. Au kara represents all other in between letters. Thus in Aum all alphabets are included.

Thus saying Aum in front of deity with bhava and shraddha is like providing raw materials to Bhagvan and asking to compose a prayer to any form. Thus Aum becomes the best name to remember God.

Much thought and work has been done by the great grammarian Panini in structure of alphabets in the form of 14 Sutras..Thus in some temples in the north India you may hear prayers in form of only alphabets where these 14 sutras being chanted. Like whole prapancha can be divided into 3 Kalas – Past, present and future omkara also has 3 Matras  Aa represents the Past, Au represents present and Ma represents the future.

For any Nami to be in existence Nama should be there. Thus Bhagavan is inseparable from his Nama. While whole Universe is created by Him. It is to be understood He is the Creator as well as Creation Himself. Thus both are one and same. He is manifesting as Jata. Thus Bhagavan is in form of Bhuta Bhavishya Atma tattvam which is beyond time and space So also is Omkara.

The class on Maandukya Upanishad started on 6 April ’11. As this requires detailed explanations, the weekly bulletin on this topic will Not be there any further. Those who are interested are welcome to attend the classes at Jnana Sanjeevani Medical Centre, 1^st “A” cross, Marenahalli, J.P.Nagar 2^nd Phase. on Wednesdays evening 6-30 P.M

Sender - S.K.Lokanathan