KENA UPANISHAD “Know That Alone as Brahman”: 14. Swami Tejomayananda.

Chinmaya Mission:

A historic moment unfolded in Durban, South Africa, on Friday, 4th April 2025—the seventh day of Chaitra Navratri—as the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony took place at Chinmaya Annapoorna, marking the beginning of the Annapoorna Devi Temple’s construction.

Chinmaya Annapoorna is the sixth and newest manifestation of Pujya Gurudev’s vision in South Africa. It houses the ‘Nourish to Flourish’ initiative, which prepares and delivers thousands of nutritious meals daily to schools, orphanages, old age homes, and shelters in Durban.

Having surpassed 75,000 meals in just six months, Swami Abhedananda (In-charge, CM South Africa) announced the next step: to build a temple for Mother Annapoorna at this sacred site.

Devotees of all ages offered into the earth, while Swamiji led the rituals with detailed explanations, joined by priests, trustees, Brahmacharins, and committee members in placing sacred bricks and ploughing the ground.

With the blessings of Pujya Gurudev, Mother Annapoorna, and the Global Chinmaya Family, CM South Africa is set to construct the first Annapoorna Devi Temple outside India—a future centre of faith, nourishment, and upliftment for all.

==========================================================================

Monday 21, April 2025, 08:30.
KENA UPANISHAD  
Subtlety of “KNOWING” Brahman 
Chapter 3, 12 Mantras
An Illustrative STORY
THE HUMILIATION OF THE GOD
Mantram - 3.2: The Lord Appears as a “Spirit” 
Post-14.

==========================================================================

Mantram - 3.2: The Lord Appears as a “Spirit” 

3 tat eshaam vijajnau, = Brahman, knowing their vanity,    

   tebhyah ha praaduh babhoova; = appeared before them. 

4 tat na vyajaanata, = But they did not understand   

   kim idam yaksham iti. = who that Adorable Spirit was. 

==========================================================================

AGNI GOES TO MEET BRAHMAN 

Mantram - 3.3: Agni is Sent on a Mission 

1 te agnim abruvan, jaataveda = They said to Agni thus: “O All-knowing One! 

2 etad vijaaneehi kim etad = Find out for us who this   

  yaksham iti, tathaa iti. =  adorable Spirit is.”  Agni agreed.

====================================================================

Mantram - 3.4: Agni Meets the “Spirit” 

3 tat abhyadravat, = Agni hastened to the Spirit.    

   tam abhyavadat, kah asi iti; = The Spirit asked him, “Who are you?” 

4 agnih vaa aham asmi iti abraveet, = Agni replied: “Don’t you know who I am? 

jaatavedaa vaa aham asmi iti. = I am verily the Omniscient.”

==========================================================================

Mantram - 3.5: Agni Proudly Proclaims His Powers 

5 tasmin twayi kim veeryam iti;=The Spirit asked him, “What power resides in thee?” 

6 api idam sarvam daheyam, = Though (a Deity), Agni replied: “I can burn  

yat idam prithivyaam iti. =  whatsoever there is here on Earth.” 

==========================================================================

Mantram - 3.6: The Humiliation of Agni

7 tasmai trinam nidadhau, = Brahman placed a blade of grass before him,    

   etad daha iti, =  saying, “Burn it!” 

8 tat upapreyaaya sarva-javena, = Agni blew fire at it with all his power,   

   tat na shashaaka dagdhum; = but found it impossible to burn it. 

9 sah tatah eva nivavrite,= So he returned to the Gods and reported:  

10 na etat ashakam vijnaatum, = “I simply failed to find out   

   yat etat yaksham iti. =  who that adorable Spirit is.”

=======================================================================

Next

VAYU GOES TO MEET BRAHMAN  

Mantram - 3.7: Vayu is Sent on a Mission

Continued

=========================================================================