|
Introduction:The Maha Vakya Upanishad belongs to the Atharva-Veda. It
is an
exposition of the mahavakya or the great saying, "Hamsa Soham",
which is popularly known as Hamsa mantra or Soham mantra and whose
significance is explained in detail in the Vignana Bhairava in a
conversation between Lord Siva and Parvathi. Hamsa means, "I am
that" and soham means, "That I am." Together they
mean I am That and That I am. It is called Mantra Maheswara or lord of
the mantras. It is said that one should chant this mantra in combination
with the in breathing and out breathing and its constant practice would
lead to self-realization. The Maha Vakya Upanishad teaches us how
to concentrate our minds on this great mantra by practicing pranayama,
pooraka and rechaka. The outcome of this practice is said to be neither
samadhi nor siddhis (powers) but union with Brahman Himself. - Jayaram V
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
God Brahma said:
I would explain this Upanishad based on inside experience. The
personal knowledge “that this Sun is Brahman” is got by chanting
Ajabha Gayatri viz., “Hamsa Soham.” The ever joyous Paramatma would
set in if, after controlling Prana and Apana by Pranayama, and attaining
it (pranayama) by constant and long practice of Pooraka and Rechaka
(macro, micro as well as together) and making the mind concentrate on
the same Brahman in three stages. It would shine like one thousand suns
and would be complete like the shoreless sea. That experience is neither
Samadhi nor Yoga Sidhi and nor mixing of the mind. That is merging with
Brahman as Brahman is always single.
The sages who experience this tell as follows: I know that Purusha
with the shining light who is beyond darkness, who makes shapes, who
names them, who provides for them and who is the brave Purushotama. The
one who finds out that Purusha, who was announced as Para Brahman by
Brahma in the primitive times and who was found out by Indra in all the
four directions, attains the deathless state in this birth itself. There
is no other method for salvation.
I am that sun who is the ethereal light. I am that Siva who is that
sun of Knowledge. I am the very clean light of Atma. I am all the light
that we know. Om.
Whoever reads this Upanishad of Atharva-Veda gets the same holy
effect as reading the complete Vedas. He would definitely attain the
place of Maha Vishnu.
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Here ends the Maha-Vakyopanishad, as contained in the Atharva-Veda.
Suggested Further Reading
|
