The Taittiriya Upanishad is a section of the Krishna or black Yajur Veda. It forms the 7th, 8th and 9th parts of the Taittiriya aranyaka (wisdom of the forest) which itself is a section of the Taittiriya Brahmana (the sacred knowledge of Brahman, the Supreme reality). Though comparatively short, it is one of the most important upanishads and is recited and chanted in many parts of India even today, with proper accent and intonation. It is regarded as a source book of Vedanta philosophy.
Taittiriya is a Sanskrit word that means “from Tittiri”. The root of this name has often been interpreted as the name of a vedic sage, Tittiri who gathered students and gave them instruction in the forest.
Each book or chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad is called a Valli. Each sub-section or part of that book or chapter is called “anuvaka”.
There are three books in the Taittiriya Upanishad. Shiksha Valli, Brahmananda Valli and the Brigu Valli.
The Siksha Valli, Book 1 – The wisdom imparted by the teacher to his students in the Taittiriya Upanishad sheds light on the spiritual practices of prayer and chanting. There also are instructions that prepare a sadhaka (disciple, student) to live an ethical life of balance and good conduct.
Brahmananda Valli, Book 2 – The second book of this Upanishad discusses the knowledge of Brahman. This is done with the explanation of the five sheaths which hide the Self as a scabbard hides a sword.
Bhrigu Valli, Book 3 – begins with a dialog between Varuna and his son, Brigu, which teaches Brahman as the cause of creation, continuance, and dissolution of the universe.
Book I (or Chapter 1) – Shiksha Valli
Shiksha Valli deals with pronunciation and includes prayers for removing obstacles to spiritual wisdom. This first part concludes with an exhortation by the Vedic teacher to his students, on the eve of their returning home after the completion of their studies, comparable to a convocation address of modern times instructing them how to conduct themselves in the world.
First Anuvaka – Invocation, adoration and supplication
May Mitra bring us good fortune. May Varuna bring us good fortune. May Aryaman bring us good fortune. May Indra and Brishaspati bring us good fortune. May Vishnu of wide strides bring us good fortune. I give honor to Brahman. I give honor to you, O Vayu. You are indeed Brahman manifest. Of you, the manifest Brahman, I will speak. I will speak what is right. I will speak what is true. May that protect me. May that protect the speaker. May it protect me. May it protect the speaker.
Om shantih shantih shantih
~ Vernon Katz and Victor Egenes translation
Second Anuvaka – Lesson on pronunciation
Om! We will expound Pronunciation: The sound (varna); The accent (svara); The quantity (matra); The force (bala); The articulation (sama); The combination (santana).
~ Robert Earnest Hume translation
Knowledge of an Upanishad is no doubt the most important element in Vedic studies, but it is very helpful to learn how to recite the text correctly. So much of the first chapter is devoted to the science of pronunciation and the art of chanting.
Third Anuvaka – The mystic significance of combinations
…………..
Now next, we will explain the inner teaching (upanishad) on connection, under five headings: regarding worlds, regarding lights, regarding knowledge, regarding offspring, regarding oneself…..
~ Valerie Roebuck translation
After the student has practiced the recitation of the sounds, rhythms, etc. of the sloka, he is given instruction on how to meditate on the combinations of the words. This is relevant to this day as you find, even in contemporary Hindu temples, chanting mantras around the fire and offerings of clarified butter and herbs are done signifying the conclusion of each line of the mantra with “svaha” invoking the power of the mantra which is being offered..
Fourth Anuvāka – A teacher’s prayer
…O God (deva), I would become possessor of immortality! May my body be very vigorous! May my tongue be exceeding sweet! May I hear abundantly with my ears! Thou art the sheath of Brahma, With intelligence covered o’er! Guard for me what I have heard!
~ Robert Earnest Hume translation
Read slokas 2 and 3 (Fourth Anuvaka) ending with svaha
~Vernon Katz and Victor Egenes translation
Fifth Anuvāka – The fourfold mystic utterances
Bhur, verily, is the in-breath (prana); Bhuvas, the out-breath (apana); Suvar, the diffused breath (vyana); Mahas, food (anna) Verily, all the vital breaths (prana) and made greater by food.
…………..
Sixth Anuvaka – A departing person’s attainment with the four Utterances
~ Read sloka 1 and 2 from Vernon Katz translation
Seventh Anuvāka – The fivefoldness of the world (material existence (adhi-bhuta) and of the individual (adhy-atma).
Eighth Anuvāka – Glorification of the sacred word, Om. Om as the symbol of Brahman. Om is meant to be chanted. While chanting the mind of the chanter should be centered on Brahman. It is recommended that the student repeats Om and follows it into the silence beyond all sound. Pronounced correctly, the form of the sound of the word is said to be the purest syllable. When in tone it travels a complete octave, and incorporates expression of breath, the use of the throat, the palate and the lips, including the closed mouth and the nasal sound of the M, it encompasses all vocal possibilities. The sound of Om is the matrix from which all other sounds may be developed with the help of the tongue. And, such is its power, that it is chanted before and after every sacred mantra, invocation, eulogy and prayer.
Ninth Anuvāka – The study of the sacred word, the most important of all duties.
Tenth Anuvaka – The excellence of Veda-knowledge –a meditation.
I am the mover of the tree. My fame is like the mountain’s peak. Exaltedly pure, like the excellent nectar in the sun, I am a shining treasure, Wise, immortal, indestructible. Trishanku’s recitation on Veda-knowledge.
~ Vernon Katz and Victor Egenes translation
(note: Here, according to Sri Adi Shankara, it is the tree of samsara. This is the cycle of life and death which needs to be uprooted.
Eleventh Anuvāka – Practical precepts to a student
This is an address to graduating students on how to live ethically.
Twelfth Anuvāka – Invocation, adoration and acknowledgement.
In this anuvaka, the teacher offers a prayer – a homage to Brahman and asks that Brahman’s protecting power be given to him and his students. He is leading by example and tells the students that they should remember the teaching and live their lives ethically and with purity, and clarity of mind as they pursue their earthly aspirations of career, wealth, prosperity and progeny. But they also have been taught how this wisdom can help them realize their own higher nature of Brahman. This is the purpose of Shiksha valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad.
Please note: Excerpts and references from the following Vedanta society teachers: Advaita Society lectures and literature Swami Sarvapriyananda, Swami Nikhilananda, Swami Ranganathananda Swami Gambhirananda The Hindu Sound by William Corlett & John Moore
Excerpts from the following Translations of the Upanishads Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes Eknath Easwaran Patrick Olivelle Valerie Roebuck Robert Ernest Hume
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