TAITTAREYA UPANISHAD: Sheeksha Valli: Science of Vedic Chanting”: MAHA-SAMHITAA UPASANAS Anuvaka 1.4 The “Great Word-Junctions” Post-3. - Rishi Yajnavalkya

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Tuesday 18, November 2025, 18:35.
TAITTAREYA UPANISHAD – 1: Sheeksha Valli:  Science of Vedic Chanting” - Rishi Yajnavalkya 

on the Series of 14 Lectures by  Swami Advayananda. 

Reflections:  SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA.
Post-4.

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FIVE UPASANAS ON SANDHEES:

Mantram: 1.3:2- Upasana 1-  About the “Worlds” 

6.

atha adhi-lokam; =  Now the teaching concerning the “Worlds” is this: 

7.

prithivee poorva roopam; =  EARTH- is the first letter; 

dyauh uttara roopam; =  HEAVEN- is the last letter; 

aakaashah sandhih; = SKY- is the meeting place; 

vaayuh sandhaanam; = AIR- is the link; 

8 

iti adhi-lokam (dhyaayat). = This is the meditation with regard to the “Worlds”.

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Mantram -1.3:3:Upasana - 2 About the “Lights” 

9.   

atha adhi-jyotisham; = Now the teaching concerning the “Lights”: 

10 

agnih poorva roopam; = FIRE- is the first letter;  

aadityah uttara roopam; = SUN- is the last letter; 

aapah sandhih; = WATER- is the rallying point; 

vaidyutah sandhaanam; = LIGHTNING- is the link; 

11 

iti adhi-jyotisham. =  This is the meditation on to the “Lights”. 

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Mantram -1.3:4:  Upasana 3 – About “Knowledge”

12. 

atha adhi-vidyam; =  Now follows the teaching concerning “Knowledge”: 

13.

aacharya poorva roopam; =  TEACHER- is the first letter; 

antevaasi uttara roopam; =*STUDENT- is the last letter;     

vidyaa sandhih; KNOWLEDGE- is the meeting place; 

pravachanam sandhaanam = INSTRUCTION- is the link; 

14 

iti adhi-vidyam. = This is the meditation with regard to “Knowledge”.

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Mantram -1.3:5:  Upasana 4– About “Progeny” 

15. 

Atha adhi-prajam; =  Then follows the teaching concerning Progeny:

16

maataa poorva roopam; MOTHER- is the first letter; 

pitaa uttara roopam; =  FATHER- is the last letter; 

prajaa sandhih; = PROGENY- is the focal point; 

prajananam sandhaanam; GENERATION- is the link; 

17 

iti adhi-prajam. =This is the meditation with regard to Progeny

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Manram -1.3:6: Upasana 5 – About the “Body” 

18.  

atha adhyaatmam; = Then follows the teaching concerning the Body: 

19.

adharaa hanuh poorva roopam; =  LOWER JAW- is the first letter; 

uttaraa hanuh uttara roopam; = UPPER JAW- is the last letter; 

vaak sandhih; =  SPEECH- is the meeting place; 

jihvaa sandhaanam; =  TONGUE- is the link; 

20 

it adhyaatmam. = This is the meditation with regard to the Body.

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Introduction to Upasanas:

 Each of the five Upasanas above is an exercise to be practised by the student. In an  Upasana a symbol is used upon which the mind is focussed in order to be exercised. The symbol could be an object or an event. Through the present Upasanas, parrot-style 

repetition gives way naturally to a recitation with full awareness of meaning there develops an understanding of the sequence. In addition in which actions have to occur in order to  obtain the desired results. Meaning and sequence are the objectives of the Upasanas. 

As the student recites the words for each Upasana, he is forced to think of their meaning. He visualizes the first letter, last lonnect their meanings and grasp what is being  meant by these “Sandhees” in Nature. 

Upasana 4 is particularly significant: The students addressed are the Brahmacharis living in the Guru’s hermitage. They have not yet entered the householder’s stage. In spite of that, we see that the Upasana for progeny is taught to them with no reservations. 

Pujya Gurudev sees in this a wholesome attitude towards sex education, which prepared the Brahmacharis for the next stage of their life. He writes: “Instructions on sex, the most vital urge in man, were given out freely. Under a healthy social environment, this cannot bring about any deterioration in the moral life of the student.” The love, trust and openness prevailing in the Gurukula system is worth noting. We know that the student would be ‘meditating’ on this topic with intense visualization. The teacher had the faith that his students will not be disturbed by sensual thoughts while doing such an Upasana. 

By engaging in these Upasanas, the student’s mind becomes very agile, imaginative, focused on meaning and naturally he gains the fruit of the exercises . . .

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Next
Mantram-1.3:7:The Fruits of these Upasanas
Continues

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