365bet

Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)

by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words

This page relates ‘‘OM� –In the Prashnopanishad� of the study on the Shaiva Upanishads in English, comparing them with other texts dealing with the Shiva cult (besides the Agamas and Puranas). The 貹Ծṣas are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

10. ‘OM� –In the Praśnopaniṣad

There is a reference to ٲⲹ峾 asking his preceptor ʾ貹岹:

“Who is to be meditated upon till one exits from the mortal body and which realm does he attain to by such a meditation�,

The preceptor replied:

‘The entity designated �Aum� denotes Parabrahman and Apara Brahma (i.e.Lord վṣṇ primarily and Caturmukha secondarily as an image of Parabrahman-վṣṇ).

One who meditates on Aum reaches either of the two.

If one mediates upon only one of the three ٰ of �AUM� after getting enlightened about that one ٰ (without knowing the other two ٰ), he comes back swiftly to the earth, after his death, as if beckoned by the Lord.

The presiding deities of hymns lead him to the world of man. There in that human birth, through austerity, continence and faith, he experiences greatness. If then one gets attuned to the Lord in his mind through two ٰ, he is led to the world of Moon in the intermediate region by the deities presiding over Yajur Veda hymns, where he enjoys the riches and returns again to the mortal world.

He who meditates on the Supreme Person with the three-syllabled Aum (having correctly understood the true significance of all the three ٰ) envisions that Supreme person and attains to the resplendent Sun. After reaching the Sun, he is freed from Prārabdha Karma, even as a snake is freed from its slough. He is led to the world of (Caturmukha) Brahma i.e Satya Loka by the presiding deities of the hymns of Sāma Veda. There in that Brahma loka, blessed by the instructions of Brahma-the highest among the ī, he perceives the Lord ܻ𱹲, the supreme sovereign, who is stationed in all the bodies (of living beings)[1]

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

ʰṇa 貹Ծṣa 5-2 -5-5.

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: