MANDUKYA UPANISHAD : Chapter-1. "AGAMA PRAKARANA" ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Mantram-3, Discussion-8.

14/11/2017

MANDUKYA UPANISHAD

Chapter-1.

"AGAMA PRAKARANA"
( The Scriptural Treatise )

Mantram-3

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Jagarita-sthano bahih prajnah saptanga

ekona-vimsati-mukhah sthula-bhuk

vaisvanarah prathamah padah.

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word by meaning :

Jagarita-sthano : one whose field is waking state;

bahih prajnah : who is conscious of the external;

sapta angah : has seven limbs;

ekona vimsati mukhah : has nineteen mouths;

sthula-bhuk : experiencer of gross objects;

vaisvanarah : (is) vaisvanara;

prathamah : first;

padah : quarter.

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The sum of Mantram :

The first quarter (pada) is Vaisvanara whose sphere of activity is the waking state, who is conscious of the external world of objects, who has seven limbs and ninteen mouths, and who enjoys the gross objects of the world.

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Discussion :- 8.

The expression "of seven limbs" is reminiscent of famous scriptural explanation met with in 'Chandogya Upanishad.' 

To those who are well-versed in the scriptural tradition, this expression is more than sufficient to remind them of the description of the macrosomic structure of the ego (Virat).

If the 'individual ego' is the individual entity living its limited life (Vais  vanara), the 'total ego' (Virat) must be a total structure including and incorporating in itself the entire cosmos.

To indicate this Cosmos Ego (Virat), the sastram in its own terminology explains thus, :-

"Of that Vaisvanara Self, the effulgent region is .... his head, the sun....his eyes, the air.....his vital breath, the space.... the middle part of the body, the water... his kidney, the earth ... his feet and the "Ahavaniya fire ... the mouth."

To be continued ...