Maha Upanishad

The Upanishad:

OM! May Brahman protect us (the Guru and Sishya) both! May he give us both (enough) to enjoy! Efficiency may we both attain! Effective may our study prove! May we not hate (each other) at all!

Om Shanti ! Shanti ! Shanti !

Narayana, verily, was alone, they say; there was no Brahman, no Isana, no water, no Agni and Soma, no heaven and no earth here, no stars, no Sun, but only he, the Nara (Purusa) alone. A sacrificial hymn of praise is uttered by him, as he remains absorbed in meditation. Therein originated fourteen Purusas (men) and a girl, viz., ten indriyas (organs), the Manas (mind) as the eleventh, the Tejas (knowledge) as the twelfth, the Ahamkaara (ego) as the thirteenth, the Praana as the fourteenth (the Atman or the soul), as fifteenth the buddhi (brain). Besides the five subtle elements and the five gross elements. This is the twenty-five fold Purusa. The Primordial Purusa appointed him as the Creator. Yet his creatures are not born without the year, but they are born from the year.

Then Narayana, desirous of another once more meditated in his mind. As he stood absorbed in meditation, there was born from his forehead, a three eyed Purusa holding a trident, possessing about him beauty, truth, chastity, austerity, renunciation, intelligence and masteryl but the OM sound and the three Vyaahridis (bhur, bhuva, suvah) , the Rigs, Yajus, Samans, Atharva Angiras’ and all metres, they abided in his limbs.

Then Narayana, desirous of another, once more meditated in his mind. As he stood absorbed in meditation, sweat came out of his forehead. It expanded into these primordial waters. In them was born the Tejas as a golden egg. Therein was born the god Brahman with four faces. He meditated towards the east, and there was born the exclamation Bhur, the metre Gayatri, the Rig Veda; - towards the west and there was born the exclamation Bhuvar, the metre Tristubh, the Yajur Veda; towards the north and there was born the exclamation Suvar, the metre Jagati, the Sama Veda; towards the sorth and there was born the exclamation OM janad, the metre Anushtub, the AtharvaVeda.

OM
To the God with thousand heads, thousand eyes, bringing every happiness – who, the eternal, transcends all – the all Narayana, Hari

The Purusa who is all this – who is the enlivener of the world – the wise lord of all who – omniform, resides in the waters.

Like a lotus-calyx it hangs – almost like a flower-cup – In the heart with drops of dew as if – swollen, it hangs downwards.

In its midst a great fire – all fire flaming in all directions, in it a pointed flame – a fine one, striving upwards.

And in the midst of the pointed flame, the Purusa, the highest self, He is Brahman and Isana –the eternal, Supreme Lord.

The Brahman who studies this Maha Upanishad text, one who is not an authority on scriptures becomes an authority on scriptures, an uninitiated becomes initiated; he is purified by Agni, purified by Vayu, purified by Surya, purified by Soma, purified by truth, purified by all; he is known by all the gods, is meditated upon by all the Vedas, becomes one who has bathed in all the holy bathing places, and all sacrifices are performed by him; sixty thousand Gaayatri stanzas are muttered by him, a hundred thousand stanzas of the Ithihaasa – puraanaas and of the Rudra – hymns are muttered by him, ten thousand pranavaas are chanted by him. He purified the assembly as far as his sight reaches, he purifies up to the seventh generation (ancestors and descendants); thus has the exalted Hiranyagarbha promised.

By muttering one attains immortality – one attains immortality.

OM! May Brahman protect us (the Guru and Sishya) both! May he give us both (enough) to enjoy! Efficiency may we both attain! Effective may our study prove! May we not hate (each other) at all!

Om Shanti ! Shanti ! Shanti !

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