TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD – 4 : by Rishi Yajnavalkya.

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Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Sivananda, Swami Tapovanji, Swami Chinmayananda.

SERIES THEME: “Piercing the Clouds; Crossing the Seas”.

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Reflections : by Swami Gurubhaktananda : on the Series of 14 Lectures by Swami Advayananda Ji Acharyaji for 15th Batch Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai. March 1st – March 16th, 2013.

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Saturday, April 09, 2022. 19:00.

Chapter-1.On the Science of Pronunciation etc.

Shiksha Valli or Samhiti Upanishad : 

The Science of Vedic Chanting :

PART 1: 12 No.Chapters 

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Sikshana Sastram

Chapter- 1.2:1 : Science of Vedic Phonetics

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MAHA-SAMHITAA UPASANAS

Chapter - 1.

Section -3

The “Great Word-Junctions”

Mantram - 1a - Prayer by Teacher and Student

"saha nau yashah; saha nau brahmavarchasam."

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Translation :

saha nau yashah;                    = May we both attain Fame together.

 saha nau brahmavarchasam.   = May we both obtain spiritual pre-eminence

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Mantram -1b - Meditations on Word Junctions (Sandhees)

2 atha atah samhitaya upa-nishadam vyakhya-syamah;

3 pancha svadhi-karaneshu: 4 i) adhilokam;   ii) adhijyotisham;

  iii) adhividyam;  iv) adhiprajam;   v) adhyatmam; 

5 tah maha-samhita itya  chakshate.

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Translation :

2 atha atah samhitaya   upa-nishadam yakhyasamah;  = Now, therefore, the 

“Meditation on Word Junctions” is being stated by us,

3 pancha svadhi-karaneshu: = through the following five (5) categories:

4 i)  Adhilokam,  = relating to the worlds; 

  ii)  Adhijyotisham, = relating to the shining lights;

 iii) Adhividyam, = relating to knowledge;

 iv) Adhiprajam,  = relating to progeny;

 v) Adhyatmam,  = relating to the body.

5 tah maha-samhita iti achakshate.  =  These they call the Maha-Samhitas, the 

“Great Word Junctions”.

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Commentary :

1 This particular prayer is significant in this context. It draws attention to the

“junction” between the teacher and the student. Together, both attain fame.

From this point onward it is not just a mechanical repetition of words, which even a child can do. We move forward in our study by introducing the basic principles of understanding word meanings.

To mark this milestone in his learning, the above prayer for the success of the

teacher and the student is addressed to the Goddess of Learning.

2-3 This is done in the Taitiriya Upanishad in its own unique manner. A few Upasanas

(exercises) are given here by which the capacity of the student is enhanced to grasp the

meaning of the text. Through the practice of these Upasanas on mental concentration, the

student is trained to start thinking of the meaning as well. The days of parrot-fashion

repetition by the student are being crossed over.

The student touched on Sandhees at the end of the last section. Now we extend that

knowledge into understanding what Sandhees are, and their power in assisting the flow.

Defining Terms Used in the Upasanas on Sandhees:

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A brief explanation of Sandhee is given here for the benefit of readers not familiar with Samskrit. In Samskrit, we often find very long words. A whole sentence could appear to be just one word! In actual fact, such a word is made up of a number of smaller words, joined together (using certain rules) into a compound word. Each junction point of two words is called a Sandhee.

4 This gives the 5 subject matters or Adhikaranas of the Upasanas chosen.

Each of the 5 Upasanas (exercises) given here have the following four parts to it:

i) The first letter or ‘Poorva Roopam’ is actually the last letter of the first word;

ii) The last letter or ‘Uttara Roopam’ is the first letter of the second word;

iii) The meeting place or Sandhee is the junction point of these two words.

iv) The link or Sandhaanam, is the rule by which the two words are combined.

5 The topic being discussed is repeated. Its beginning and end points are defined.

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Next - FIVE UPASANAS ON SANDHEES : Chapter-1.Section -3:

Mantram-2 Upasana 1 – About the “Worlds”

To be continued .....

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