Taittiriya Upanishad Bhramananda Valli

Readers are requested to listen to Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami Gari Pravachanam in telugu.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=TattriyaUpanishad+BhramanandaValli+Volume14&aq=f

There are totally 14 Volumes and each volume contains 10 videos.

Homage to Guru:

Before we start any vedic or mantra chanting, it is necessary that we pay homage to our Guru and secure His blessings to start and successfully complete the chanting / Japam etc.,

Those who have not yet identified a Guru can chant the following sloka instead and think of the Supreme Almighty as the very Guru:

"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwarah
Gurus sakshat para Brahma thasmai sri Gurave Namah"


Introduction to the Shanti Mantra:

Devas place obstacles in men's way to Brahmavidya - the mantra for removal of such obstacles is the Shanti Mantra. Devas are put to much pain when men realise the identity of the self and Brahman and it is quite contrary to the wishes of the Devas that men should acquire Brahmavidya, so Devas put obstacles in the way of men who wish to acquire Brahmavidya. The great sage Pathanjali has defined a few of the Obstacles: "disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, sloth, worldly-mindedness, misconception, missing the point and unsteadiness are the causes of the mind's distraction and they are the obstacles".

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says If happiness can be retrieved by earning lot of money really then we can quote many humans examples where we they are not happy irrespective of having lots of money.

Similarly if there is no happiness for poor people who are not having money then we can quote many humans examples where we they are happy irrespective of not having lots of money.

Humans not knowing themselves properly(Who Am I?) is the only Problem and happiness is our nature and not existing in external objects.

He says "Undi badha pettedi dukham poyi badha pettedi sukham".

He says Our sankalpas will not make us feel happy.Our thoughts are like crow as there is proverb in telugu "kaki pilla kakiki muddu" so generally we like our thoughts.

But our thoughts are like crow.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says "sramistu srama telikanda vundatam antee ashramam" means though we work and keep effort but still we donot know the pain.

He says not to be lazy and be always enagage in good devotional activities like writing songs on god,doing good activities etc.

Treat mother,father as god but our mother,father are not god as they are also unable to give us moksha and infact in their old age they are dependent on us.

But as they have given life to us we should be greatful to them.

He says Feeling incompleteness is a symtom and it is very bad to think we are not happy etc.In sastras it is called Ninjatvam.

Shanti Mantra:

(First verse of Anandavalli)

Hari OM!

May Brahman protect us (the Guru and Sishya) both!

May he give us both to enjoy!

Efficiency may we both attain!

Effective may our study prove!

Hate may we not (each other) at all!

OM Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

The above shanti mantra is recited for removal of all obstacles in the way of or path to Brahma Vidya.


Introduction to Anandavalli:

Brahma Vidya is expounded in fullest detail in this lesson - Anandavalli. The lesson analyses the constitution of a man into his inner parts and finally concludes as to what is real in the constitution of a man and what is not stable of him. It starts with defining his constitution as completely made of food, (annamaya kosa); then goes on to the next kosa - filled with air (pranamaya kosa); then goes further to the next level - manomaya kosa - formation of manas and finally concludes with the deepest level - namely - the vijnanamaya kosa - comprised of Knowledge. Here, knowledge shall not be construed as bookish or subject or material knowledge but as "Knowledge of the Self".

The lesson further explains the kind of bliss or ananda (which is unknown to us) that a knowledgeable soul attains and quantifies the bliss by comparing to other kinds of bliss known to us. (Thus, this gets the name - Anandavalli - as it explains the ananda or bliss that a Knowledgeable Soul will attain and enjoy.)

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Karma are dependent on kartha who will be doing karma.

Humans have the ability to do/stop/do it other way his/her karmas but river,clouds etc donot have that possibility as they have no other choice like clouds cannot stop making water coming down to earth and rivers cannot stop water not to flow and stop.

Moksha cannot be achieved by doing karma.By karma we get karma phalam i.e may be get svargam.

Moksha can be achieved by only jnana.

Antakarana Naishalyam is not the only prerequiste for brahma jnana.

Examples: Ravana,Hiranya kashyapa have amazing concentration levels but they have done wrong deeds. Moreover people involved in September 11 attack have amazing concentration of mind but they have used for wrong deeds. So these people have Antakarana Naishalyam but they have no Antakarana suddhi.

So ideally both are required.

Brahma jnana is not related to lord brahma who is creator of our universe.

As we see our face in the mirror just because we love ourselves and want to see ourselves in the mirror and we really donot have love for mirror similarly We read upanishads because it tells us our experience.

Sri Sundara chaitanya Swami says If only by mouna only jnana can be attained why all the sastras are there?

Constitution of Pancha Budhas and Purusha:

(Anuvaga 1 of Anandavalli)

The knower of Brahman reaches the Supreme. On that, this has been chanted: 'Real consciousness, Infinite is Brahman; who so know the one hid in the cave in the highest heaven attains all desires together as Brahman as the wise. (In the heaven of heart, there is the cave of buddhi or understanding and in the cave is Brahman hidden). From that verily (from this self), is akasa born; from akasa - the air; from the air - fire; from fire - water; from water - earth; from earth - plants; from plants - food; from food - man. He, verily, is this man formed of food essence. This itself (the self) is his head; this is the right wing; this is the left wing; this is the self; this is the tail, the support.' On that, too, there is this verse. (thatabyesha sloko bhavathi - On that, too, there is this verse)

Note: The explanation of a man's wings, tail etc, is to be construed as likening of a man's creature to any other creature such as a Bird etc., In other words, all living creatures are created out of food essence and so is the creature of a man.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says here in this verse they compared human with Pakshi(bird) as there are many similarities.

He says World is an affect of Brahman(God).World is brahman but brahman is not world.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says functional aspect of the brain is called mind.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says By atma-gnana we will not get moksha because by atma-gnana karyam we get karma palitam.

In sankara Basyam it is written that Only by guru's grace we can get moksha.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says having doubt is very dangerous in devotional field.

Anubhavam loo priyatvam lopistu untundi. Anubhavaniki adaramayina swarupamloo priyatvam lopinchadu.

Example: eating 2nd laddu will not get same happiness like eating 1st laddu as our experience of eating food as already started.

Humans get real happiness 2 times

a) In deep sleep
b) Suppose we desire to eat laddu then real happiness comes only when we have completed eating laddu because after eating laddu our desire got fulfilled and which means now we have no more desire to eat laddu at that moment.

So happiness comes only when we have no desires.We donot get real complete happiness while eating laddu because we may feel that laddu we are eating is getting over as we already started eating.So only little happiness will be gained while eating but not complete happiness.

Ideally any one upanishad is sufficient to study and contemplate so that is the reason there is no order to read upanishads.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Upanishads Generally donot have interest in creation and puna-janma related stuff.

Annamaya Kosa & Pranamaya Kosa:

(Anuvaga 2 of Anandavalli)

From food (anna) indeed are all creatures born - whatever creatures dwell on earth; by food again, surely they live; then again to the food, they go at the end. Food, surely, is of beings the eldest; thence it is called the medicament (medicament - aushada - the medicine) of all. All food verily, they obtain who food as Brahman regard; for food is the eldest of beings, and thence it is called the medicament of all. From food, beings are born. When born by food, they grow. It is fed upon and it feeds on beings; thence it is called the medicament of all.

Pranamayakosa described: Than that verily, than this one formed of food essence - there is another self within, formed of prana; by him this one is filled. He verily- this one - is quite of man's shape. After his human shape, this one is of man's shape. Of him prana itself is the head; vyana is the right wing; apana is the left wing; akasa is the self; the earth is the tail, the support. On that, too, there is this verse.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says If pranam is there body will be there and if prana is not there then there is no body.So as of now we will agree that we are prana and not body.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Prana is the link between the body and the mind.As when we fell down and our body gets hurt immediately our mind will come to know about this.

But still we are not prana as prana is jada i.e insentient.

we are the knower of prana and not prana. Example: Sometimes when people are in trouble they say "amma naa pranam potundi" means here he is knowing that his life is about to get lost and which means we are the knower.

Likes and deslikes i.e raga/dvesha are not there for air,prana.

So in Manomaya Kosam it is said that we are not body,prana but mind as likes and deslikes are known to the mind only.

Prana - the Universal life & Manomaya Kosa:

(Anuvaga 3 of Anandavalli)

After Prana, do devas live, as also men and beasts. Prana is the life duration of beings; then it is called the life duration of all. The whole life duration do they reach, who prana as Brahman regard. Prana is of beings the life duration; then it is called the life duration of all. Thus ends the verse. There of - of the former- this one is the self-embodied than this one formed of prana, there is another self within formed of Manas (Thought stuff). By him this one is filled. He, verily, this one is quite of man's shape.After his human shape, this one is of man's shape.

Of him, the Yajur Veda itself is the head; the Rig Veda is the right wing; the Sama Veda is the left wing; the Ordinance(heart) is the self; the Atharvana Veda, Angirasa Maharshi are the tail, the support. On that as well there is this verse.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says In deep sleep even though prana is there for us but we are unable to stop theives stealing in our house.

So prana is insentient.

Brahman beyond speech & thought:

(Anuvaga 4 of Anandavalli)

When all words turn back as well as Manas, without reaching; he who knows Brahman's bliss fears not at any time. There of -of the former- this one verily is the self-embodied. Than that verily, than this one formed of Manas - there is another self within; formed of Vijnana. By him this one is filled. (The inner self of Manomaya is Vijnanamaya). He verily this one, is quite of man's shape. After his human shape, this one is of man's shape.

Of him, faith surely is the head, righteousness is the right wing, truth is the left wing, yoga is the self and Mahah is the tail, the support. On that as well there is this verse.

Note: Even though we get pains in our body it is not body that feels pain but it is mind that feels pain.That is the reason why doctors give anestisa to escape from pain.


Contemplation of Vijnana as the Hiranyagaryabha:

(Anuvaga 5 of Anandavalli)

Intelligence accomplishes sacrifice and deeds as well does it accomplish. Intelligence do all Gods worship as Brahman, the eldest . If intelligence as Brahman, one knows if from that he swerves not, in body sins forsaking, he all desires achieves. There of - of all the former, this one is the self-embodied. Than that verily, than this one formed of Vijnana- there is another self within; formed of bliss. By him this one is filled. He verily this one, is quite of man's shape. After his human shape, this one is of man's shape. Of him, love itself is the head, joy is the right wing, delight is the left wing, bliss is the self and Brahman is the tail, the support. On that, too, there is this verse.

Note: Sri Sundara chaitanya Swami says sankalpas/vikalpas are done by mind but decided by buddi i.e intelligence vignanamaya kosam.

Decision was done by Intelligence i.e vignanamaya kosam.

So karta is intellect and not mind as we thought in previous verse.

So here we naturally think we are intellect.

Mind,body are instruments only.

Suppose we go into a hotel then mind will show all its fav choices to eat before intellect like idly,vada etc.Then finally intellect will take decision and will select one tiffen to eat.

So decision is taken by vignanamaya kosam.But body decision is also important as suppose our body donot have teeth then intellect should change the decision of eating breakfast as few items cannot be taken without teeth.

So aham vritti(EGO) is vignanamaya kosam and other thoughts are dependent on this aham vritti.

Sraddha is important for disciple to succeed in devotion.

Brahman - the One being:

(Anuvaga 6 of Anandavalli)

Non- being, verily, does one become if he as non-being knows Brahman. If one knows that Brahman is, then they regard him as being. Thus reads the verse. There of - of the former, this one is the self-embodied. Hence, then, the questions that follow: whether does any one who knows nor, departing, goes to that region? Or does any one who knows, departing attain that region. He desired: many may I be, may I be born; He made Tapas; Having made Tapas. He sent forth all this and that of this more. This having sent forthwith, into that very thing, He then entered. That having entered, both the being and the beyond, He became the definite and the indefinite, the abode and the non-abode, the conscious and the unconscious, both the real and the false, did the Real become, and whatever else is here. That they say, is the Real.

Note: Sri Sundara chaitanya Swami says In Deep sleep we are infact happy as told by Ramana Maharshi.

Because there is happiness every living being likes to sleep and even prepares his bed so carefully to sleep.

And also there is no need to tell anyone to sleep as automatically we will sleep if required.But no one really wants to getup from sleep as we donot want to lose happiness.

He said One god in world first created few things in the world and then started thinking what to do next in next consecutive days which is funny.


Brahman - as external objects:

(Anuvaga 7 of Anandavalli)

Non being verily, this was in the beginning. Then indeed, the being was born; that created itself by itself. Then that the Self cause is called. That one called the Self cause, He is the flavour. Flavour indeed, this one having got, blessed becomes he. Who indeed could live, who breathe, should not this bliss be in akasa; this it is that bestows bliss. When in truth this (soul) gains fearless support in Him who is invisible, selfless, undefined, non-abode then has he the fearless reached. When indeed this (soul) makes in this one even the smallest break, then for him, there is fear. That verily, is fear to the knower who does not reflect. On that, too, there is this verse.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says happiness is our nature and it cannot be found in external objects.If really happiness is found outside in then it will become jadam i.e insentient.

He says yoga school is ok till some extent to get concentration of mind and also for body maintenence but cannot be useful to reach our goal.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says without effort we will get happiness in deep sleep.So happiness is not dependent on outside external objects.

Who attains Brahman?

(Anuvaga 8 of Anandavalli)

From fear of Him does Wind blow, from fear of Him does Sun rise, from fear of Him, Agni and Indra (act) and death the fifth does run. Now, this is the enquiry concerning bliss.

Suppose a youth, a good youth, learned in the sacred love, promptest in action, steadiest in heart, strongest in body - suppose his is all this earth, full of wealth. This is one human bliss.

What is a hundred times the human bliss, that is one bliss of the human fairies, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of the human fairies, that is one bliss of the celestial fairies, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of the celestial fairies, that is one bliss of the Pitris, who dwell in the long-enduring world, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of the Pitris, who dwell in the long-enduring world, that is one bliss of the Devas born in the Ajana, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of the Devas born in the Ajana, that is one bliss of the Devas (known as) Karma-Devas, those who have reached Devas by work, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of the Karma - Devas, that is one bliss of the Devas, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion. (Note: Here, "Devas" connotes the 33 Devas [8 vasus; 11 rudras; 12 adityas; Indra and Prajapathi]- who have a right to partake the oblations offered in the sacrificial rites)

What is a hundred times the bliss of the Devas, that is one bliss of Indra, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion. (Note: Indra is the Lord of Devas)

What is a hundred times the bliss of Indra, that is one bliss of Brihaspathi (Indra's teacher), as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of Brihaspathi, that is one bliss of Prajapathi (the Lord of creatures, is the viraj, who has the three worlds for his body), as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

What is a hundred times the bliss of Prajapathi, that is one bliss of Brahma, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

Note: Sri Sundara chaitanya Swami says In anandamaya kosam there is no karta and only bhokta hence there is absolute happiness.

In deep sleep happiness which we gain has no reason where as happiness we gain in dreams and waking states have some reason for our happiness.

Example: we get happiness if we eat gulab jam etc but in deep sleep there is no reason as it is our natural state.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says god and creation is not different as he himself thought of becoming many and hence came creation.

So as adi sankara said world is false and brahman is true and world is brahman.

Sri Sundara chaitanya Swami says man is not born due to papam but only due to previous janma punyam only.In one religion it is told that man is born with a sin. He says if that is the case then everywork he does will also become sin as it is sinner who is doing the karma.

He says when ramana maharshi comes even lord indra shoukd even stand and respect him.Such is the power of ramana maharshi.

Anandamaya Kosa described:

Brahma means - Hiranyagarbha, who is manifested as the universal being as well as the individual beings who pervades all the universe of Samsara in whom all bliss unite into one, who possess Dharma which causes that bliss, the knowledge concerning Dharma and its results, as also the utmost freedom from desire.

And this one, who is in the man, and that one who is in the Sun, He is one. He who knows departing from this world, attains this Annamaya self; this Pranamaya self does he attain; this Manomaya self he attains; this Vijnanamaya self he attains; he attains this Anandamaya Self. On that, too, there is this verse.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says in one religion it says that god created the sun on 5th day and he criticised and said that how can we know 4 days have passed when sun itself is created on 5th day.

He said it is shame on humanity to write those kind of holy texts.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya swami says happiness cannot be retrieved by even mixture of combination of sense object + mind + indriyas combination.

He said there is one school who believes that the above combination gives perfect happiness.

That particular school gives example of killi in which the leaf is in green colour and sunnam is in white colour and vokkapodi is in brown colour.But finally when we mix those we will get red colour.So that school similarly we get perfect happiness in a mixture of combination of sense object + mind + indriyas combination.

However sri sundara chaitanya swami does not agree with above argument and says darkness(sense objects) + darkness(mind) + darkness(indriyas) cannot bring light.


Brahman is beyond speech and thought:

(Anuvaga 9 of Anandavalli)

He who knows the bliss of Brahman when all words recede, as well as mind, without reaching, he is not afraid of any one whatsoever. Him, verily, the thought not burns, why I have not done the right? Why have I done sin? Who so knows thus, these two as the self does he cherish. Both these, verily as the self does he cherish who thus knows. Such is the sacred wisdom.

Peace Chants:

May Brahman protect us (the Guru and Sishya) both!

May he give us both to enjoy!

Efficiency may we both attain!

Effective may our study prove!

Hate may we not (each other) at all!

Sources:

1) http://www.vedarahasya.net/siksha.htm
2) http://www.advaita.info/Taittiriya-Upanishad.html