A King Becomes Guru To The Brahmin-Sage
The Chhandogya Upanishad lays T down a unique template which maps out each activity in the universe through the prism of chants. The term 'chandogya' is etymologically derived from chaand, poetic metre. Even as it presents a five-to-seven fold chant structure, through which all human and natural phenomena are seen, the Chhandogya, at another level, goes deep into the metaphysical dimension of the empirical world. The Chhandogya posits the Panchang Vaidya, the theory of the Five Fires, central to the understanding of the laws of the universe. The doctrine of panchang is presented through the story of Svetaketu, the highly learned and educated son of Sage Uddalaka, who, in the course of his travels, turns up at the court of King Prakarana JaVale. Having welcomed the learned young man, the King poses some questions to Svetaketu to comprehend how much the young man has learned. His first question, "Do you know where mortals go to after death?" perplexes Svetaketu, who is at ales forwards. The second question, "Do you know from where people come when they are reborn?" confuses Svetaketu. The third and fourth question, ""Are you aware of the two paths through which the soul ascends?" and "What is the reason this world is able to contain so many people, yet not overflow?" further stumps the young scholar. he last question, "Are you aware of the five oblations that are offered, and how the fifth as water/liquid becomes a human?" leaves Svetaketu at his wit's end. He realises that there are fundamental principles of which he is unaware, despite his learning and scholarship. He turns back to his father, but Uddalaka too has no insight into such matters. Uddalaka turns to the King for answers. The King initiates Uddalaka into the principle of the Five Fires, in which the cosmos/sky is in itself metaphorically seen as a great altar, into which the fuel of the burning sun is offered, from which rises the moon. The Upanishad lays down this as the first Fire, stating that all existence follows this cycle of fire. The next altar is of clouds, where the fuel is the air from which arises rain. The third altar is Earth. where the fuel is time, from tree which arises food. The fourth altar is man, where the fuel is food, from which arises semen, seed. The fifth and last altar is woman, to who the seed is offered as oblation, and from whence rises the foetus. The Chhandogya views Creatural levels as a sort of Yajna, sacrifice where every activity is interconnect he birth of a child is Notjust a simpoutcome between man and woman. Chhandogya states that a child is coved from every cell of the universe. Notion of "my child" and "your chili misunderstanding of the basic lather universe. The Upanishad states the interconnectedness of the uneven contemplation of this principle through the theory of the Five Fires true meditation into the essence of things. It prompts us to look beyond obvious, to delve deep into the fundatals of whatever we see, hear ortoucTat Tvam Asi is the grand chant the Chhandogya, the Mahavakyatheach of us comes from, and arethatSelf, the Atman, nothing less
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Pranav Khullar and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Pranav Khullar and Speaking Tree,Times of India
A King Becomes Guru To The Brahmin-Sage
The Chhandogya Upanishad lays T down a unique template which maps out each activity in the universe through the prism of chants. The term 'chandogya' is etymologically derived from chaand, poetic metre. Even as it presents a five-to-seven fold chant structure, through which all human and natural phenomena are seen, the Chhandogya, at another level, goes deep into the metaphysical dimension of the empirical world. The Chhandogya posits the Panchang Vaidya, the theory of the Five Fires, central to the understanding of the laws of the universe. The doctrine of panchang is presented through the story of Svetaketu, the highly learned and educated son of Sage Uddalaka, who, in the course of his travels, turns up at the court of King Prakarana JaVale. Having welcomed the learned young man, the King poses some questions to Svetaketu to comprehend how much the young man has learned. His first question, "Do you know where mortals go to after death?" perplexes Svetaketu, who is at ales forwards. The second question, "Do you know from where people come when they are reborn?" confuses Svetaketu. The third and fourth question, ""Are you aware of the two paths through which the soul ascends?" and "What is the reason this world is able to contain so many people, yet not overflow?" further stumps the young scholar. he last question, "Are you aware of the five oblations that are offered, and how the fifth as water/liquid becomes a human?" leaves Svetaketu at his wit's end. He realises that there are fundamental principles of which he is unaware, despite his learning and scholarship. He turns back to his father, but Uddalaka too has no insight into such matters. Uddalaka turns to the King for answers. The King initiates Uddalaka into the principle of the Five Fires, in which the cosmos/sky is in itself metaphorically seen as a great altar, into which the fuel of the burning sun is offered, from which rises the moon. The Upanishad lays down this as the first Fire, stating that all existence follows this cycle of fire. The next altar is of clouds, where the fuel is the air from which arises rain. The third altar is Earth. where the fuel is time, from tree which arises food. The fourth altar is man, where the fuel is food, from which arises semen, seed. The fifth and last altar is woman, to who the seed is offered as oblation, and from whence rises the foetus. The Chhandogya views Creatural levels as a sort of Yajna, sacrifice where every activity is interconnect he birth of a child is Notjust a simpoutcome between man and woman. Chhandogya states that a child is coved from every cell of the universe. Notion of "my child" and "your chili misunderstanding of the basic lather universe. The Upanishad states the interconnectedness of the uneven contemplation of this principle through the theory of the Five Fires true meditation into the essence of things. It prompts us to look beyond obvious, to delve deep into the fundatals of whatever we see, hear ortoucTat Tvam Asi is the grand chant the Chhandogya, the Mahavakyatheach of us comes from, and arethatSelf, the Atman, nothing less
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Pranav Khullar and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Pranav Khullar and Speaking Tree,Times of India