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Introduction: The Sarabha Upanishad belongs to the
Atharva-Veda. It extols Lord
Siva in his fierce aspect as Sarabha. Siva as the lord of the universe,
created both Brahma and Vishnu. Then he assumed the form of Sarabha to
kill Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is described in the verses
as destroying the worlds. There is another verse which describes Vishnu
as worshipping the feet of Siva. According to the sixth verse, Siva not
only kicked Kala the god of death, but also Siva the destroyer who
consumed Halahala, the poison the came out during the churning of the
oceans. This Upanishad is clearly biased in favor of Siva as the highest
supreme God, just as there are some Upanishads that try to depict Vishnu
in the same light. It is a good example of the intense rivalry that
existed between the followers of Siva and Vishnu in the ancient times.
At the best, such Upanishads should be treated as interpolations and not
part of the original Vedas- 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 !
1-2 I am saluting that primeval God who is the Lord, who is the best,
who is the father of the world, who is the greatest among gods, who has
created Brahma, who gave all Vedas to Brahma in the beginning, who is
the father of Vishnu and other devas, who merits praise, and who at the
time of deluge destroys the world. He is the only one who is greater
than every body, who is the best and who rules over others.
3 That very strong Maheswara took the horrifying form of Sarabha and
killed Narasimha who was destroying the world. (Sarabha is the avatar of
Shiva which is a combination of eagle, lion and man.)
4 That god with his sharp claws tore, Vishnu who took the form of
Narasimha. He who was wearing the hide became Veerabhadra.
5 For every one desiring to get all occult powers, he is the one who
should be meditated. Salutations to that Rudra who tore away the fifth
head of Brahma.
6 Salutations to that Rudra who kicked Kala the God of death and made
him fall and also him who drank the burning Halahala poison.
7 Salutations to that Rudra whose feet were worshipped by the flower
of Vishnu’s eyes and who being pleased gave him the holy wheel (Chakra).
8 The one, who has crossed sorrows, sees that God, who is atom within
an atom, gross among the gross, who as Atma hidden in the heart of
beings and who is beyond physical action, clearly because of these
reasons.
9 Salutations to that Rudra who is the greatest god, who holds the
Soola (spear) in his hand, who has a big swallowing mouth, who is the
Maheswara and whose blessing has good effects.
10 “Chara”, indicates beings which move and because Brahmam
shines in the half of their body as Hari, it is called Sarabham. Hey
great sage, that can grant salvation directly.
Any twice born who reads this, which is called “the great Sastra of
Paippalada” or makes others read it, would get rid of births and
deaths and attain salvation. The Upanishad tells that he will become
similar to Brahma.
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 Sarabhopanishad, as contained in the Atharva-Veda.
Suggested Further Reading
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