Upanishad Series - Ep. 9 (Taittiriya Upanishad)
Do you know you have 5 bodies, not just one? This book tells you the secret like never before & here’s the tea.
Today, we’re unlocking the secrets of the Taittiriya Upanishad, which is found in the Krishna Yajurveda, and its primary author, among others, is believed to be Rishi Tittiri.
It has just 31 verses or anuvakas, split into 3 chapters called vallis, as in creepers - the Siksha Valli, Ananda Valli & Bhrgu Valli.
In the first chapter, we actually learn the science of how to pronounce our Vedic wisdom & mantras, which later evolved into an entire subject called Shiksha Vedanga, one of its 6 supporting limbs.
This chapter also contains the most famous Hindu instruction of gurus to graduating students, “Satyam Vada, Dharmam Cara” - Speak the Truth, Practice your Dharma.
In fact, it also explains the belief of “Matrdevo bhava, pitrdevo bhava,” which means one should be the kind of person who treats their parents, teachers & guests like God.
But moving into the more interesting bit, in the latter part, it explains that our body has 5 sheaths or koshas.
1) The Annamaya Kosha, which is the layer of food & digestion, our gross physical body.
2) The Pranamaya Kosha, through which the Prana, life force, actually brings alive this body
3) The Manomaya Kosha, which has our thoughts, feelings & desires
4) The Vijnanayama Kosha, which drives our understanding & conscious effortful actions
5) Anandamaya Kosha, the final last sheath of complete bliss in which we unite with our Highest True Nature & Self, the Brahman.
In the third chapter, we learn about these layers & how to get to the final one, going deeper & deeper inwards, through the discoveries done by Bhrgu, son of Varuna.
And finally, in its ending notes, the Taittiriya Upanishad also declares food to be divine - so one should never waste or disregard it but produce & share it in abundance.
In just 31 lines, this text packs extremely interesting ideas & philosophies, so if you want to read its English translation, along with the other Upanishads, just comment “VEDANTA” & I’ll DM you the links!