PRASHNA UPANISHAD : - by Rishi Pippalada

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Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda

SERVE  LOVE  GIVE  PURIFY  MEDITATE  REALISE

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Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda : on the 18 Lectures delivered by Swami  Guruji, during the 15th Batch Vedanta Course at at the Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai : February 21st – March 2nd, 2012.

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Thursday, March 03, 2022. 20:00.

THE PRASHNA UPANISHAD :

6 Questions, 67 Mantras

“Questions from Disciples Answered”

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Prashna means “question”. In this Upanishad, there are six students who each ask a question to the Guru, and the Guru answers them. Hence arises the name of the Upanishad. Among the top 10 Upanishads, 3 are from the Atharva Veda. They are Mundaka, Maandukya and Prashna Upanishads. This text is the Prashna Upanishad, also written as the combined word, “Prashnopanishad”. (Note the a and the u combine to become o). Upanishad literally means ‘to sit near” and listen to the Truth being expounded. That is precisely what happens here in this Upanishad. 

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INVOCATION :


THE PEACE INVOCATION gives an auspicious start to our study. It invokes ‘Peace’ without which the mind is not in a fit state to be enlightened. A mind in turmoil cannot have grasping power to understand the subtle truths.


Through an invocation to the Gods, we also tune our minds to them, and to the teacher. There is a spirit of sanctity with which a scripture is studied. There has to be complete harmony between teacher and student, for transfer of knowledge to take place.

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Mantram from the Atharva Veda:


1 Om bhadram karnebhih shrunuyaama devaah;

2 Bhadram pashye maakshabhih yajatraah;

3 Sthiraih angaih tushtuvaagm sastanoobhih;

4 Vyashema devahitam yad aayuh;

5 Swasti nah indrahvriddhashravaah;

6 Swasti nah pooshaa vishvavedaah

7 Swasti nah taarkshah arishtanemih;

8 Swasti nah brihaspatih dadhaatu;

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Translation :


1 Om bhadram karnebhih shrunuyaama devaah; = O ye Gods, may we hear with our ears (always) what is auspicious;


2 Bhadram pashye maakshabhih yajatraah; = O worshipful Ones, may we with our eyes see what is auspicious;


3 Sthiraih angaih tushtuvaagm sastanoobhih; = May we live the entirety of our allotted  hale and hearty,


4 Vyashema devahitam yad aayuh; = offering our praises unto Thee;


5 Swasti nah indrah vriddhashravaah; = May Indra, the ancient and the famous, bless us;


6 Swasti nah pooshaa vishvavedaah;  = May Pooshan the all-knowing, bless us;


7 Swasti nah taarkshah arishtanemih; = May the Lord of swift motion who saves us from all harm, bless us;


8 Swasti nah brihaspatih dadhaatu;  = and may Brihaspati who protects the spiritual wealth in us, bless us all! 

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Next : KABANDHI’S QUESTION : Query No 1: “Matter & Energy”

To be continued ...



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know the self, know the self in Nature, know the self in Jiva, Further Oneness.

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