AITAREYA UPANISHAD - 32. Rishi Maheedasa Aitareya.

Chinmaya Mission

On 11th June, the annual Bala Vihar graduation event took place at Chinmaya Mission in London, Canada. The event was attended by 150 children ranging from J-K to Grade 12, along with their parents. Notably, five students from Grade 12 graduated out of Bala Vihar on this occasion. The gathering included a total of over 350 attendees.

The event was a showcase of presentations and skits by students from six different classes. These presentations centered around the values, messages, and self-development lessons rooted in Sanatana Dharma that the students had learned throughout the past year. Graduation speeches, acknowledgments, and a special message by the resident Acharya, Vijay Ji, were also part of the event. Furthermore, attendees had the opportunity to give Guru Dakshina, followed by a delightful multi-cuisine dinner.

As the event concluded, it was announced that the new academic year would commence on September 10th, and registrations would open in August.

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Saturday, 29 Jul 2023.  07:15.

PART 3: Chapter 5, 4 Mantras

“CONSCIOUSNESS IS BRAHMAN”

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

Mantram - 5.4: Jivanmukti & Kramamukti

Post-32.

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Mantram - 5.4: Jivanmukti & Kramamukti

13 

sah etena prajnena aatmanaa;  =  On account of knowledge of Atman,

asmaat lokaat utkramya;   =    He ascended aloft from this world,

14 

amushmin svarge loke,  =  In the heavenly worlds of Bliss, 

sarvaan kaamaan aaptvaa;  =  He obtained all that he desired.

15 

amritah samabhavat;   =   He became Immortal!

samabhavat, iti om.  =  Yes, he became Immortal! Om.

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Almost the same lines as in verse 4.6 are re-confirmed here. Sage Vamadeva’s 

experience of God-realisation has been verified by Vedantic students. This statement 

completes a thorough investigation of the realisation of Sage Vamadeva, which took place 

while he was yet in the womb of his mother. 

There are two paths by which one attains the ultimate Goal held up by Vedanta. 

They are i) Jivanmukti, liberation while one is still living; and ii) Kramamukti, liberation 

after death which is attained ‘in steps’ (Krama means “steps”). 

These two paths are described in the mantram:

Jivanmukti :

13 We have seen that Brahman stands at the very top of the hierarchy. 

Brahmanhood means being one with Brahman, abiding completely in the Supreme 

Brahman. This is the ultimate Goal This is our divine Abode, our true Home, our ultimate 

destiny, in which one finds total fulfillment and happiness.

This Goal is reached by being firmly established in the Knowledge of the Self, both in 

theory and in practice. Ascension to Brahman automatically implies raising oneself beyond 

the reach of all worldliness. There is not a trace of selfishness and worldly ambition left in

one who attains Brahmanhood.

Kramamukti :

14 

If the above supreme Goal is not reached during one’s lifetime, then there is an 

alternative way to attain it after the dropping of one’s physical body. The alternative is to 

reach the highest of the heavenly abodes, called Brahmaloka, spend some time there and 

receive instruction from Brahmaji Himself on the knowledge of the Self which will take one 

to the highest Goal mentioned above. One who has experienced the Brahmic Consciousness 

becomes one with everything. He alone is able to make this statement: “I have attained all I 

desire.”

15 

Immortality is the supreme status of such a living saint. He no longer has any 

transaction with the phenomenal mortal world. In that state there is no birth and no death.

The text ends in the traditional way: i) the last line of this verse is repeated twice; 

and ii) we close with the Shanti Mantra in the next and last Chapter. This peace invocation 

as a chapter on its own was the conception of Sri Shankaracharyaji himself.

*****

Here ends Chapter 5, the First chapter of Part 3 

Next

PART 3: Chapter 6, 1 Verse

The “PEACE INVOCATION”

Mantram - 6.1: Invocation for All Upanishads from Rig Veda

To be continued

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