Taittiriya Upanishad - Translated By Swami Lokeswarananda

This volume is a simple and lucid translation of the Upanishad with explanation and includes an introduction which gives the birds eye view of the Upanishad. It follows Shankaras interpretation. This compilation is based on Swami Lokeswaranandas weekly discourses on the Upanishad. This Upanishad deals with various aspects of Brahmanda the Universal Egg or manifested universe the evolution of matter & life etc. The Taittiriya Upanishad is included in the Krishna Yajur Veda. This Upanishad is divided into three parts called vallis. The first part is called Siksa-Valli and it mainly deals with pronunciation and phonetics. In those days students were taught the proper way to chant the Vedic texts. This valli has altogether 11 sections each one dedicated to a most enlightening discussion by Shankara and how you can prepare yourself for knowledge. Another conclusion which emerges from the discussion is that Self-Knowledge is open to all irrespective of who you are and what you are. All that is needed is that you acquire the requisite amount of self-discipline. It is this self-discipline that then gives the purity of mind which precedes Self-Knowledge. The second part of the Upanishad is called Brahmananda-valli. Brahmananda meansbliss of Brahman. It deals with various aspects of Brahmanda the Universal Egg or manifest Brahman the evolution of matter & life etc. The third part of the Upanishad is called Brigu-valli relating the story of how the son of sage Varuna Brigu attains realisation of Brahman step by step as guided by his father. Readers are presented with a gradation of higher and higher bliss in this 3rd part. In it are also found the different layers of human personality constituted of the five sheaths and it undertakes a thorough investigation into it which finally culminates in the climactic experience of discovering the innermost Self.