KAIVALYA UPANISHAD: “The Homogeneity of Brahman” - 8. Swami Gurubhaktananda.

 

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Wednesday 25, February 2026, 05:30.           
KAIVALYA UPANISHAD: “The Homogeneity of Brahman” 
from the Atharva Veda: 26 Mantras: 
Reflections:  Swami Gurubhaktananda: 
#on the Series of 8 Lectures:  Swami Advaitananda. of the 15th Batch Sandeepany Vedanta Course held at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai: From 23rd November – 30th November 2012.
Mantram: 5 - The Seat of Meditation 
Post: 8.

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4.   SUBSTRATUM OF THE STATES 

(Mantras 12-14,  3 no.) 

 

THE EXPERIENCES OF THE Jiva in the three states of consciousness are now examined. The analysis, done below from the waking state through to the deep sleep state, aims to help us to detect the Presence of the Self within us. The Self is found to be the underlying Witness of all the three states. 

It is quite evident that Consciousness expresses itself through matter. In these mantras it is seen that the Jiva (individual soul) encounters the experiences in each of the three states, whilst the Self is a silent unaffected Witness of all the states. 

Mantram - 12:

The Waking State Consciousness 

1 

sa eva maayaa parimohita aatmaa = The self or Jiva, deluded by Maya alone,  

2 

shareeram-aasthaaya karoti sarvam; =  identifies with the body and does all actions. 

3

stri-anna-paana-aadi  = Objects such as woman, food wine, etc –  

vichitra-bhogaih =  by the enjoyment of all these varieties 

4 

sa eva jaagrat = made possible only in the waking state,  

paritriptim eti. = the Jiva strives to gain utter satisfaction

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Comments: 

1

Jiva & Maya: “Ignorance” or “the power of delusion”. The supreme Consciousness functioning through Maya is the individual Jiva. [Usually, with reference to the individual, the preferred term for Ignorance is Avidya. With reference to the Totality or macrocosm, the word Maya is preferred for the same Ignorance. But some texts, such as Advaita Makaranda, do not differentiate these two words. Hence, we see the word Maya used here with reference to the Jiva.] 

The Waking State Experience: VISWA

Omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence are the very nature of the Self. But when the Self is limited by Ignorance to only the Upadhis (body, mind, etc), it becomes known as the Jiva or the Ego. The tendency to express and feel these three qualities is still there, but the Ego tries to find them in the world outside. This is the driving force for the Ego to try to become as big and as powerful as possible, even if it has to stamp down other ‘competing Egos’, which it usually does. This impetus is the root of self-aggrandisement, attention seeking and continual sense of wanting that we see in the Ego. All this finds full  play in the waking state. 

2-3

And where does the Ego look for its growth? Identified totally with the body only, the Ego seeks fulfillment in the triple categories of “woman, food and drink” (Stree Anna-Paana). These form the hunting ground for happiness and expansion of the Ego. 

When it enjoys itself amidst these three, the Ego naturally incurs the debts of Karma in the form of Paapa and Punya (demerit and merit), the fruits of which are sorrow and joy respectively. This is the vicious cycle that traps and keeps the Ego in bondage. 

4

The total influence of Ignorance on one’s personality is seen at work in the waking state. The individual consciousness in the waking state is called Viswa, meaning  “everything”, as all the Upadhis are available in this state to transact with the environment called ‘world’. Enjoyment to the maximum degree is made possible during the waking state of the Jiva. Through the use of the physical body, senses, Pranic energies, mind and intellect, full gratification is sought in the world of objects. Such an opportunity is afforded to the Jiva only in the waking state.  

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Next
Mantram - 13: The Dream and Deep Sleep Consciousness 
Continues

#on the Series of 8 Lectures:  Swami Advaitananda.

Swami Gurubhaktananda.

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