Taittiriya Upanishad – 1

 

Introduction & Shanthi Mantra

The word ‘Upanishad’ is interpreted to mean that knowledge, which destroys the ignorance of Brahman of those who approach it with shraddah and mumukshutvam and steadfastly abide by its teaching, in short BrahmaVidya, knowledge of Brahman, the Cosmic Supreme. The word ‘Upanishad’ primarily refers to the knowledge of Brahman, and secondarily to the book that contains the knowledge of Brahman. Upanishads form the end portion of Vedas, Veda anta bhaga, and so are called Vedanta as well. Since this portion deals with the knowledge of Brahman and its realization and gives the knowledge of jiva, the individual, jagat, the universe and their relationship with each other and with Brahman, this is the philosophical portion of Vedas and is called the jnana khanda.  The earlier portion of Vedas, Veda purva bhaga, deals only with karmas and upasanas and is called the karma khanda.

Taittiriya Upanishad belongs to Krishṇa Yajur Veda and forms part of its Taittiriya Aranyaka.  The svaras (intonation) of this Upanishad are available for chanting and this Upanishad is chanted on all auspicious religious occasions.  There are two stories behind how Taittiriya Upanishad got its name.  One is that this Upanishad was composed by a rishi called Tittiri and therefore, the Upanishad is called Taittiriya Upanishad.  The other is that Vaisampayana rishi got annoyed with a prominent disciple of his, Yajnavalkya, and he ordered the disciple to return back all the knowledge so far taught to him.  Yajnavalkya ‘vomited’ the entire knowledge acquired which the other disciples taking the form of Titttri birds (partridges) consumed giving this portion of Veda, its name ‘Taittriya’.  The story is symbolic and is to be interpreted as; Yajnavalkya learned from his Guru Vaisampayana, digested the teaching and gave it to the fellow students at the command of the Guru.  The other students are represented as Tittri birds as these birds, though small, are active and ever vigilant, to indicate that the students are smart and vigilant in their quest for knowledge.

Taittriya Upanishad is in a prose form divided into paragraphs, instead of verses. A paragraph, small or big, is known as anuvaka.  Taittiriya Upanishad consists of three Chapters viz., Sikshavalli, Brahmanandavalli and Bhriguvalli.   Sikshavalli consists of 12 anuvakas and it is a preparatory chapter that does not contain any Vedantic teaching.  It contains the sadhanas for preparing the mind to receive the Jnanam as can be seen from the subject of the anuvakas listed below:

Anuvaka 1     ---        Invocation (Shanthi Mantra)

Anuvaka 2     ---        Lesson on pronunciation

Anuvaka 3     ---        Significance of Combinations

Anuvaka 4     ---        A Teacher’s prayer for wisdom and fortune

Anuvaka 5     ---        Fourfold mystic utterances

Anuvaka 6     ---        Contemplation of Saguna Brahman

Anuvaka 7     ---        Fivefold nature of the world and individual

Anuvaka 8     ---        Contemplation of 'Om'

Anuvaka 9     ---        Study and teaching of the Sacred Syllable

Anuvaka 10   ---        Meditation on knowledge of Vedas

Anuvaka 11   ---        Convocation address to the departing students

Anuvaka 12   ---        Conclusion (Shanthi Mantra) 

So let us see only three anuvakas 1,11 and 12 in this chapter before going to chapter 2 where the Vedantic teaching starts.  The Upanishad starts with a Shanthi Mantra as anuvaka 1.  Shanthi Mantra is recited as a prayer to Lord for the removal of obstacles to the successful pursuit of study of Upanishad.   The Mantra is:

Om sam no mitrah sam varunah I sam no bhavatvaryama I

sam na indro brihaspatih I sam no vishnururukramah I

namo brahmane I namaste vayo I

tvameva pratyaksham brahmasi I

tvameva pratyaksham brahma vadishyami I

ritam vadishyami I satyam vadishyami I

tanmamavatu I tadvaktaramavatu I

avatu mam I avatu vaktaram I

Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi II

May Mitra be propitious unto us. May Varuna be propitious unto us. May Aryaman be propitious unto us. May Indra and Brihaspati be propitious unto us. May Vishnu, of wide strides, be propitious unto us. Salutation to Brahman. Salutation to Thee, O Vayu! Thou indeed are the visible Brahman. Thee indeed I shall proclaim as the visible Brahman. Thee indeed, O Vayu, I shall proclaim as the Ritam. Thee indeed I shall proclaim as the Satyam. May That protect me! May That protect the teacher! Protect me! Protect the teacher! Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

        This Shanthi Mantra is a prayer to various deities seeking the blessings, support and good wishes of all the deities. The word ‘sam’ in Sanskrit means, be propitious i.e. be kind, be helpful. The prayer starts with 'Om' that stands for Brahman. The deities to whom the prayers offered are:

Mitra – The deity identified with the prana and the day; the deity controlling the sun.

Varuna – The deity identified with apana, the downward breath and the night.

Aryaman – The deity identified with the eye and the solar orb.

Indra – The deity identified with strength.

Brihaspati – The deity identified with speech and intellect.

Vishnu – The deity who pervades the universe and is identified with the feet.

Vayu – Vayu stands for Hiranyagarbha, samashti Prana

Ritam and Satyam are very similar in meaning, referring to the Truth. However, when used together we can interpret Satyam as right knowledge and Ritam as right action.

The student prays for his own protection and that of the teacher also as both the teacher and the taught should be mentally and physically fit for attaining the spiritual goal. If the student is dull he cannot learn and if the teacher is dull he cannot teach. The word ‘Shanti’ is uttered thrice in order to ward off the obstacles emanating from one’s own self (Adhyathmikam), from the other living beings (Aadhi bauthikam) and from the natural forces (Aadhi daivikam).

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