5 Preparation
5-7 TaittiriyA Upanishad: SikshA Valli
5-7-1 Anuvaka 2 The Study of Pronunciation Chanting Veda mantras is a spiritual discipline. The science of phonetics defines the rules of pronunciation. If not properly learned, the mistakes will continue for future generations. One must memorize the mantras before chanting; reading from the book is not considered chanting. Learning is complete only when chanting is done from memory. Once memorized, fast chanting is practiced. In ancient times everyone thoroughly studied the Vedas (minimum of 8 years and maximum of 12)., they have various ways of chanting: word by word and words in different sequences: (1) 1-2, 2- 3, 3-4, (2) 1-2-2-1-1-2, (3) 1-2- 2-1-1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3-2-3-3-2-2-3-4-4-3-2-2-3-4, etc. While chanting in different permutations and combinations, rules of combination (Sandhi) are applied Thus, every Vedic student is thorough with every letter of the Vedas not just every word. In a ritual, chanting is at a medium pace to make every letter pronounced and heard clearly. While teaching, chanting is slow-paced, so the student correctly catches each letter. There are rules for combining and splitting the letters.
5-7-2 Anuvaka 4 A Teacher’s Prayer for Knowledge and Prosperity Omkara has manifested from the VedAs and is considered the most important mantra. Omkara is prayed for blessing a healthy body, sweet tongue, ears to listen to Vedantic teaching, and intelligence to understand and protect what is heard and learned. It has been extracted by Brahmaji from the VedAs just as butter is extracted from churning milk. The first three lines of the Gayatri mantra are the essence of the three VedAs– Rig, Yajur, and Sama: tat savitur varenyam is the essence of Rig VedA, bhargodevasya dhImahI is the essence of Yajur Veda and dhiyoyonA prachodayAt is the essence of SAma VedA. In Kaliyuga, the people may not have the time to chant the Gayatri, therefore it is condensed: from the first line is extracted bhu, from the second line, bhuva. and from the third line is extracted suva. Then Brahmaji further condensed the bhu into letter “a”, extracted “u” from bhuva. and “m” from suva. AUM (Om) is formed from the three letters (mAtras). It is the essence of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas.
The next is homa-sAdhana: It is a prayer to Omkara-rupa-Paramesvara for four things: wealth and prosperity. The wealth should be spent on internal purification and to help gain knowledge. The knowledge should be shared with qualified aspirants. Vidya-dAna is the greatest charity. Intelligent students of varied interests who have control over minds and senses may come to him as water rushes downwards and months rush towards the next year. He seeks a merger with the Lord who has many forms.
5-7-3 Anuvaka 6 Meditation on Hiranyagarbha
Third Upasana is Hiranyagarbha Upasana. Hiranya means gold but in this context, it represents knowledge as both shine. The knowledge removes ignorance Since Hiranyagarbha is the cosmic mind and is difficult to conceive. Therefore the individual mind is used as the symbol. It helps reduce the separation between internal and external. A Hiranyagarbha upAsak attains lordship over all minds. He goes to Brahm-Loka after his death.
5-7-4 Anuvaka 8 Omkara UpAsanA
Om is taken as the symbol upon which Isvara is invoked. OmkAra can represent Virat, Hiranyagarbha or Isvara. Virat is the cosmic gross body; Hiranyagarbha is the subtle body, and Isvara is the causal body. The object of meditation is Saguna Brahman and not NirGuna Brahman. This section discusses the glory of Omkara. The letter “a” represents the gross aspect of the creation, “u” represents the subtle aspect, and “m” represents the causal aspect. Om consists of the three sounds – “a” “u” and “m”. To say something, one must open the mouth. The sound that comes freely when one opens the mouth is “a”. Therefore, it represents the first letter. “A” is the first alphabet in any Indian language. After saying something one must close the mouth, and therefore, the last letter is “m”. All the intermediary letters of the alphabet of all languages are represented by “u” Thus, om represents all the alphabets and in turn represents all the words that represent all the objects.
Omkara recitation is meant for the sanyAsi only. Those belonging to other ashrams should not chant Omkara alone because it cultivates vairAgya. For a grihastha, vairAgya should be good enough to understand the Vedanta but not strong enough to disturb his family setup. They can chant Om nama shivAya etc. When a sanyAsi takes dikshA, he resolves GAyatri in Om.
Contd Part 13