UPANISHADS- The truth about life, god & death!

Om bhadram no apivaataya manah.Om shantih, shantih, shantih" Meaning: Salutations! May my mind and all these (the body, senses, breath etc.) be good and well! Om peace, peace. peace! UPANISHADS What it means ? Lets break down this word. It derives from upa- (near), ni- (down) and sad (to sit), i.e. referring to the "sitting down near" a spiritual teacher (guru) in order to receive instruction in the Guru-shishya tradition. According to native authorities upanishad means 'setting at rest ignorance by revealing the knowledge of the supreme spirit..." What are Upanishads? •The Upanishads are chronologically the latest portions of the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism. Because they are the final portions of the Vedas, they are also known as Vedanta, the end of the Vedas. Also the essence of Vedas. Vedas: The foundation scriptures of Hindus. Eternal truth revealed to great sages. Classification of Vedas- • Rig - General knowledge • Yajur – Knowledge of action • Saam – Knowledge of worship • Atharva – knowledge of science How old are they: •The earliest Upanishads, probably dating from 900 to 600 BC, later works have also been accepted from time to time as Upanishads. The essential teaching of Upanishads is the revelation of Highest Truth, i.e. there is one Reality as Absolute Consciousness, which is separate from our body-mind complex. This is called as God, Brahman, Self, Consciousness, or “Atman”. They teach the identity of the individual soul (atman) with the universal essence soul (Brahman). Upanishads deal with fundamental questions about existence, life, Creation, death, Post death life?, Spiritual meditation practices, etc. In the Chaandogya Upanishad it is said : In the beginning the world was just Being, one only, without a second.Then it thought to itself : "Would that I were many. Let me procreate myself". All this is verily Brahman. Brahman is that from which everything proceeds, that in which everything breathes and that in which everything is finally dissolved. Major Upanishads Ishaa – Philosophy of God and God realization Mandukya – Niraakaar(without form) aspect of god Prashna – Questions like root cause of universe, functioning of vital force of life Aitareya – Atman and births of atman are described Kaushitaki – Course for souls after death, doctrine of prana and moksha Katha – Q&A between Yama and Nachiketa Taittariya – Tells more about the creation of god Brhadaranyaka – Negation of all conceptions of self Chhandogya – Sacrifices and other forms of worship Kena – Sacrifices and other forms of worship Interesting Facts! •The essence of Vedas and upansihads is condensed into 700 concise shlokas. These provide a guidance to the science of self- realization. •The Upanishads have their own unique Style. Their description is in four different ways: Dialogue with questions and answers. Narration and episodes, stories. Metaphors and illustrations. Symbolism. Shanti Mantras are prayers for peace, in the Hindu Mythology. Shanti Mantras are also known as "Peace Mantras". Shanti Mantras form the part of Upanishads. From Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Ishavasya Upanishad: "Om Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornat Poornamudachyate, Poornasya Poornamaadaya Poornamevavashishyate, Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih" Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "That is Absolute, This is Absolute, Absolute arises out of Absolute, If Absolute is taken away from Absolute, Absolute remains OM Peace, Peace, Peace". "Om Asato Maa Sadgamaya, Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityor Maa Amritam Gamaya, Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih" Meaning: The accurate sense of this mantra is: "OM lead me from unreal to real, lead me from darkness to light, lead me from death to immortality OM Peace, Peace, Peace". From Taittiriya Upanishad: "Om Sham No Mitra Sham Varunah Sham No Bhavatvaryamaa, Sham Na Indro Brihaspatih Sham No Vishnururukramah, Namo Brahmane Namaste Vaayo Tvameva Pratyaksham, Brahmaasi Tvaameva Pratyaksham Brahma Vadishyaami, Rtam Vadishyaami Satyam Vadishyaami, Tanmaamavatu Tadvaktaaramavatu Avatu Maam Avatu Vaktaaram, Om Shantih Shantih Shantih" Meaning: This Mantra implies: "OM. May Mitra do good to us, may Varuna do good to us, may Aryama do good to us, may Indra do good to us, may Brihaspati do good to us, and may Vishnu who has vast coverage do good to us. We Salute Lord Brahma and Lord Vayu, the only visible Brahman. We say right, we say truth, may it protect us and may it protect teacher. OM Peace, Peace and Peace" References for Upanishads translations/study: Max Müller, Jayaram. V,Robert Ernest Hume, Shree Purohit Swami and W.B. Yeats, S .Radhakrishnan, Sri Aurobindo.