AITAREYA UPANISHAD - 27. Rishi Maheedasa Aitareya.

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Saturday,  13 May,  2023. 06:30.

PART 3: Chapter 5, 4 Mantras

“CONSCIOUSNESS IS BRAHMAN”

Here begins the First Chapter (No.5) of Part 3

Post-27.

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IN THIS CHAPTER A discussion among some serious students of Vedanta is taking 

place. The students are trying to analyse Sage Vamadeva’s experience, following 

conventional Vedantic enquiry techniques. Nothing new is learnt here; the ground covered 

by this last chapter is simply to verify the experience of Sage Vamadeva by conventional 

methods, since earlier it was only stated in the abstract language of Aitareya Upanishad.

For this reason, it is quite probable that this chapter was not even written by Rishi 

Maheedasa, but appended to his Upanishad as a Vedantic verification.

Importance of this Chapter :

Prajnaanam Brahma – “Consciousness is Brahman”. This is the great Mahavakya 

that emerges as the main lesson of this entire text. It is the technical message delivered by 

the Rishi Maheedasa. There is a Mahavakya in every Upanishad. A Mahavakya concisely 

expresses the fact of the unity of individual Consciousness with the Supreme Brahman.

Out of over a hundred Upanishads – and therefore over a hundred Mahavakyas –

four have been chosen to be called the Great Mahavakyas, one from each of the four Vedas. 

“Prajnaanam Brahma” is one of those four Mahavakyas, and occurs, as seen in the 

introduction, in the Rig Veda. This is its overall importance among all the Upanishadic texts.

The Two Brahmans: “Upahita Chaitanya” and “Visishta Chaitanya”

To understand the discussion of the students, we need to know the two “Selves” 

they are talking about, otherwise we are likely to get totally confused. 

Two technical terms are used to distinguish the two Selves :

i) “Visishta Chaitanya”: This Self is associated with the various Upadhis. It is also 

called ‘Visishta Brahman’ or ‘the inferior Brahman’ in this text. ‘Visishta’ means that which is 

“particular”. 

This Self has two main divisions and three sub-divisions :

a. Samashti: This is the Macrocosmic Level. The three sub-divisions are Ishwara or 

Brahmaji or ‘God’ at the causal level; Hiranyagarbha or Prana at the subtle level; and Virat, 

at the gross level.

b. Vyashti: This is the Microcosmic Level: The three sub-divisions are Prajna at the 

causal; Taijasa at the subtle level; and Vishwa at the gross level. These three are linked 

respectively to the deep sleep, dream and waking states of consciousness.

ii) “Upahita Chaitanya”: This is the Ultimate Pure Brahman unassociated with any 

Upadhis, attributeless and indestructible. It is also called ‘Shuddha Brahman’ or ‘the 

superior Brahman’ in this text. It is the common substratum of all the three states of 

consciousness.

The Plan of this Chapter is seen in the following table :

TABLE SHOWING PLAN OF CHAPTER FIVE

MANTRAM - LINE - MAJOR DIVISION - SUB-DIVISION - EXPLANATION

5.1

1 INTRODUCING THE DISCUSSION Which of these two is true?

2 Vyashti

(Individual Level)

Sakshi (Witness) Upahita; Nimitta; unassoc. 

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5.2 3-5 Jeeva (Ego-sense) Vishishta; Upadana; assoc. 

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5.3A

6

Samashti

(Totality Level)

Brahman, Deities Upahita; Nimitta; unassoc. 

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7 The Elements

8 Moving Creatures Vishishta; Upadana; assoc. 

9 Plants & Trees

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5.3B

10a Summary of 

Sentient Beings

Upahita; Nimitta; 

10b Vishishta; Upadana; 

11a Summary of 

Inert Worlds

Upahita; Nimitta; 

11b Vishishta; Upadana; 

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12 Conclusion: THE MAHAVAKYA “Prajnaanam Brahma”

Upahita Chaitanya or Pure Consciousness is considered to be the highest level of 

Reality (the Supreme Brahman or Ultimate Reality) in Vedanta. It is encountered in Line 12. 

It is the Mahavakya of this Upanishad – Prajnaanam Brahma.

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Next

Mantram - 5.1: “Upahita” – Unassociated Consciousness at Individual Level

To be continued

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