Atmabodha Upanishad

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Atmabodha
Rig Veda
Chapters2
Verses18
PhilosophyVedanta

Atmabodha Upanishad (

Upanishadic Hindu scriptures, written in Sanskrit. It is one of the 10 Upanishads associated with the Rigveda.[3] It is a general (Samanya) or Vedanta Upanishad.[4][5]

The Atmabodha Upanishad begins with a hymn to the god Vishnu (Narayana), but then focuses on its core theme Atmabodha, meaning "State of knowledge of the inner self".[6] The text further speaks on the "innermost Brahman"[6] (Absolute Reality).[7] While Brahman is identified with Vishnu in the opening prayer, later Brahman—who resides in the heart-lotus—is given an identity of its own and talks in the first person explaining its different aspects.

Contents

The first verse equates the god

Parabrahman (Great Brahman), which resides in all beings.[8][9]

In the lotus-heart dwells Brahman.

Prajna (the conscious) is its eye. Prajnana, Consciousness or wisdom, is its seat. Prajnana is Brahman. Through meditation of the Brahman one achieves the Ultimate Heaven (Svarga) where there is no death, and which is overflowing with amrita (ambrosia, signifying immortality) and glowing light. One thus becomes immortal.[8][9]

Atman, Brahman

Let mind be blown about by desires.
How can pains affect me,
who am by nature full of bliss;
I have truly known my

Atman
,
My Ajnana (ignorance) has fled away.
(...)
Should the clouds screen the eyesight,
a fool thinks there is no sun;
So an embodied person full of Ajnana,
thinks there is no Brahman (Reality).

—Atmabodha Upanishad [10]

The narration that follows is in the first person addressed by Brahman, who says that I am devoid of

Vijnana (knowledge).[8][9]

Brahman's position is not challenged by anyone. It is not enslaved and has experienced freedom. Like Truth in an illusionary world (where the rope may be perceived as a snake), Brahman is hidden. Like sugar is subsumed in sugarcane, Brahman dwells in all the worlds, in the form of

Advaita (non-dual, non-separate from the Soul). Brahma resides in everything starting with the god Brahma to the smallest insect. As the sea experiences waves and bubbles without aspiring for it, in the same way it does not aspire for anything in this universe. Its status is that of a wealthy person not wanting to do anything with poverty. A knowledgeable person desires only amrita and not poison. Similarly, Brahman rejects everything that is not Atman. As the Sun which makes the pot shine does not vanish when the pot is destroyed, the soul is immortal, not destroyed when its bodily shell perishes.[8][9]

Brahman is devoid of any attachments or bondage, scriptures or

three bodies (gross, subtle, and causal) and their associated attributes like kula (family), gotra (clan) etc.[8][9][11]

Like the owl finds darkness in the Sun, a person without any knowledge finds darkness in the shining Brahman, who is Bliss. A fool thinks there is no Sun, when it is covered by clouds. Likewise, one with Ajnana (ignorance, lack of

Satchitananda, Truth-Consciousness-Bliss.[8][9]

Chanting this Upanishad for a muhurta (period of 48 minutes) will assure no rebirth.[8]

References

  1. ^ Aiyar 1914, p. 39.
  2. ^ Aiyar 1914, p. 37.
  3. ^ Prasoon 2008, p. 82.
  4. ^ Aiyar 1914, p. vii.
  5. ISBN 81-208-2086-X
  6. ^ a b Dalal2011, pp. 48, 430.
  7. ^ "Brahman". Britannica. 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Aiyar 1914, p. 53 ff
  9. ^ a b c d e f Warrier, Dr. A. G. Krishna. "Atma-Bodha Upanishad". The Theosophical Publishing House. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  10. ^ Aiyar 1914, pp. 39–40.
  11. ^ Dalal2011, p. 48.

Bibliography

External links
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