KAIVALYA UPANISHAD : 12. Swami Advaitananda

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From the Atharva Veda (26 Mantras) : “The HOMOGENEITY of Brahman”
4. SUBSTRATUM OF THE STATES : (Mantras 12-14, 3 no.)

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Wednesday, September 14, 2022. 07:15. 
Mantram - 12: The Waking State Consciousness
Post - 12.

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4. SUBSTRATUM OF THE STATES : (Mantras 12-14, 3 no.)

THE EXPERIENCES OF THE Jiva in the three states of consciousness are now 

examined. The analysis, done below from the waking state through to the deep sleep state, 

aims to help us to detect the Presence of the Self within us. The Self is found to be the 

underlying Witness of all the three states.

It is quite evident that Consciousness expresses itself through matter. In these verses

it is seen that the Jiva (individual soul) encounters the experiences in each of the three 

states, whilst the Self is a silent unaffected Witness of all the states.

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Mantram - 12: The Waking State Consciousness

"Sa eva maayaa parimohita aatmaa shareeram-aasthaaya karoti sarvam; 

stri-anna-paana-aadi vichitra-bhogaih sa eva jaagrat paritriptim eti."

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Translation :

1 sa eva maayaa parimohita aatmaa         = The self or Jiva, deluded by Maya alone,

2 shareeram-aasthaaya karoti sarvam;      = identifies with the body and does all actions.

3 stri-anna-paana-aadi vichitra-bhogaih   = Objects such as woman, food wine, etc – by the enjoyment of all these varieties

4 sa eva jaagrat  paritriptim eti.               =  made possible only in the waking state, the Jiva strives to gain utter satisfaction.

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Commentary :

1 Jiva & Maya: “Ignorance” or “the power of delusion”. The supreme Consciousness 

functioning through Maya is the individual Jiva. 

[Usually, with reference to the individual,

the preferred term for Ignorance is Avidya. With reference to the Totality or macrocosm, 

the word Maya is preferred for the same Ignorance. But some texts, such as Advaita 

Makaranda, do not differentiate these two words. Hence, we see the word Maya used here 

with reference to the Jiva.]

The Waking State Experience: VISWA

Omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence are the very nature of the Self. But 

when the Self is limited by Ignorance to only the Upadhis (body, mind, etc), it becomes

known as the Jiva or the Ego. The tendency to express and feel these three qualities is still 

there, but the Ego tries to find them in the world outside. This is the driving force for the 

Ego to try to become as big and as powerful as possible, even if it has to stamp down other 

‘competing Egos’, which it usually does. This impetus is the root of self-aggrandisement, 

attention seeking and continual sense of wanting that we see in the Ego. All this finds full 

play in the waking state.

2-3 And where does the Egooo lk for its growth? Identified totally with the body 

only, the Ego seeks fulfillment in the triple categories of “woman, food and drink” (StreeAnna-Paana). These form the hunting ground for happiness and expansion of the Ego. 

When it enjoys itself amidst these three, the Ego naturally incurs the debts of Karma in the 

form of Paapa and Punya (demerit and merit), the fruits of which are sorrow and joy

respectively. This is the vicious cycle that traps and keeps the Ego in bondage.

4 The total influence of Ignorance on one’s personality is seen at work in the waking 

state. The individual consciousness in the waking state is called Viswa, meaning 

“everything”, as all the Upadhis are available in this state to transact with the environment 

called ‘world’. Enjoyment to the maximum degree is made possible during the waking state 

of the Jiva. Through the use of the physical body, senses, Pranic energies, mind and intellect, 

full gratification is sought in the world of objects. Such an opportunity is afforded to the Jiva

only in the waking state.

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Next-
Mantram - 13: The Dream and Deep Sleep Consciousness
To be continued ....

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