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Articles: Devotion | Prasnopanishad
- Prof. venkata ramanamurty mallajosyula
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PRASNOPANISHAD –AN INTRODUCTION
1.Prasna Upanishad is in prose and belongs to the Atharva Veda to the Pippala Sakha. Pippala is the principal teacher in the Upanishad. This contains six questions and their answers and hence its name.
2.The Prasna, lay great stress on the sacred syllable OM or Pranava. This Upanishad goes by the name Shat-Prasna Upanishad also, because it contains six questions. They have a family resemblance.
3.Six seekers of Brahman go to a sage called Pippalada and put to him six questions. These questions and answers form the substance of this Upanishad. The first question is most general and the sixth is the most specific and particular. The first question deals with the creation or the cosmogony.
4. Prana or the life principle, Rayi or the matter were first created by the Lord. Prana acts on Rayi or matter. Various forms manifest. It is the inter-mingling of these two that gives rise to the world of diverse forms. The one is active, positive and the male principle, the order is the passive, negative and the female principle. Prana belongs to the conscious side of creation, while Rayi or matter belongs to the form – side of creation.
5.The first question shows the relation between Prajapathi, the creator and the creatures, the period of creation and the way in which Prajapathi is to be adored. The whole description is mythological and symbolical. Prajapathi was desirous of offspring. From this desire a pair sprung forth, viz, matter or the universal food and Prana(life or consumer). As life and matter Prajapathi is gradually the sun, and the moon, the year in its two halves, day and night etc.
6.Prana, Adithya (sun), day, Amurta(form less), life, spirit, northern path, invisibility, belonging to the life-side. Rayi, the moon, the night, murta(with form), matter, southern path, visibility, belonging to the matter side. The body is composer of five elements. The ten senses discharge their functions through the body. The body is upheld by the Prana or life-principle.
7. The second question refers to the Devas who support man and enlighten the senses and the constituents of the body, the third to the nature and origin of Prana, the fourth to sleep and dreams , the fifth to Pranava or OM, and the sixth to the Purusha ( Antara-Atma) of sixteen Kalas or parts.
-Prpf: Venkata Ramanamurty Mallajosyula
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