Eight Vidyas for meditation from Upanishads

Eight Vidyas for meditation from Upanishads 

Introduction

The word "Vidya" comes from the root "vid" which indicates "to know". So, in common parlance "vidya" indicates knowledge.

However, in Vedic parlance "Vidya" is the knowledge acquired through meditation. Because, the term also indicates subjective discovery of truth, which occurs when we meditate upon any subject.

Upanishads lay down many subjects for a "sadhaka" to meditate upon. These subjects of mediation are termed as "vidya" because they are the subjective reality of upanishadic rishis. In Vedic tradition, thirty two such vidyas are recognized and they are spread across Chandogya Upanishad, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad and Talavakara Upanishad.

Vedic Tribe is happy to discuss eight such vidyas in this introductory series: (1) Gayatri Vidya, (2) Akshi Vidya, (3) Purusha Vidya, (4) Pranagnihotra Vidya, (5) Udgitha Vidya, (6) Panchagni Vidya, (7) Anandamaya Vidya, & (8) Dahara Vidya

Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you so that you study Vedic literature and adopt them in your day to day life.

In our next write up we will discuss the first subject of meditation “Gayatri Vidya”.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

1. Gayatri Vidya

In “Gayatri Vidya”, the meaning of Gayatri Mantra is meditated upon.

The mantra in Rigveda 3.62.10 is:

Tat saviturvarenyam. 

Bhargodevasya dhimahi. 

Dhio Yo Na: Prachodayat

The first line indicates the attribute of “Parabrahman”; the second line is a resolution to meditate upon it; and the third line is seeking our mind to be inspired in its path.

The attribute of “Parabrahman” is that it pervades the entire creation and drives the same being immanent as well as transcendent. Vedic texts lays down many more such attributes and the “Sadhaka” should meditate upon these attributes. “Sadhaka” should always endeavor to align his / her mind to the path of “Parabrahman”.

Apart from this simple meaning there are many other esoteric meanings to Gayatri Mantra. For example, the three lines of the mantra represent three states of consciousness, three segments of “Purusha Sukta”, three forms of presenting Vedic knowledge (poetry, prose & music)...etc.

If you are a beginner in spiritual practice, you may start by meditating upon the simple meaning of Gayatri Mantra and gradually move to esoteric meanings, which is part of “Gayatri Vidya”.

In our next write-up, we will discuss the second subject of meditation; i.e. “Akshi Vidya”.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

2. Akshi Vidya

In “Akshi Vidya”, the experience of the eyes is meditated upon.

“Akshi Vidya” can be understood from three perspectives: “adibhoutika” (meaning in the physical realm); “adidaivika” (meaning in the realm of deities); and “adhyatmika” (the ultimate meaning referring to “Parabrahma”). 

When we close our eyes, we generally witness wispy clouds, moving specks of light, geometric shapes, flashes of white, snow …etc. It is a neurological activity generally called “phosphenes”. This can be used to focus our mind at the beginning of meditation and this is the “adibhoutika” perspective of “Akshi Vidya”.

In Vedic tradition, eyes are one of the prominent organs and many deities are associated with them (E.g. Surya, Chandra, Indra, Shachi etc) and among them, Surya is the presiding deity. “Surya-sukta” of Rigveda, “Adityahridayam” of Valmiki Ramayana or other “stotra” dedicated to Surya can be meditated upon. Similarly suktas or slokas dedicated to other dieties associated with eyes can also be meditated upon. This is the “adbhidaivika” perspective of “Akshi Vidya”.

In Mandukya Upanishad, the Parabrahman present in the eyes and driving our wakeful state is called “Vishwa”. Meditating upon this aspect of Parabrahman is the “adhyatmika” perspective of “Akshi Vidya”.

In our next write-up, we will discuss the third subject of meditation i.e., “purusha vidya”.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

—- 

3. Purusha Vidya

In “Purusha Vidya”, the deities presiding over the lifetime of a human being are meditated upon.

First 24 years of life are presided over by “Vasu” group of deities; next 44 years by “Rudra” group; and the next 48 years by “Aditya” group. Hence, in the Vedic parlance, a healthy life is perceived to be 116 years long. “Purusha Vidya'' is to meditate upon these deities seeking such a long and healthy life.

“Vasu” group includes 8 deities and they represent 8 syllables in each line of “Gayatri Chandas” (8 syllables X 3 lines = 24 syllables). Hence they preside over the first 24 years of our life. 

“Rudra” group includes 11 deities and they represent 11 syllables in each line of “Trishtup Chandas” (11 syllables X 4 lines = 44 syllables). Hence they preside over the next 44 years of our life. 

“Aditya” group includes 12 deities and they represent 12 syllables in each line of “Jagathi Chandas” (12 syllables X 4 lines = 48 syllables). Hence they preside over the next 48 years of our life. 

You may always meditate upon different mantras and depending on your age you may concentrate on matras as per Purusha Vidya. For example, Gayatri Mantra of Rigveda (3.62.0) which is in Gayatri Chandas OR Hiranya Garbha Sukta of Rigveda (10.121) which is in Trishtup Chandas OR Brahmanaspati Sukta of Rigveda (2.23) which is mostly in Jagati Chandas. This specific practice is key in “Purusha Vidya”.

In our next write-up, we will discuss the fourth subject of meditation: “Pranagnihotra Vidya”.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

4. Pranagnihotra Vidya

In the physical realm, "Prana" means totality of senses and the state of aliveness (homeostasis). 

In the realm of deities, "Prana" is the highest conscious being in the creation who is responsible for homeostasis of all other consciousness.

"Agnihotra" is a daily (external) ritual of offering ghee, milk or other obligations in sacred fire. So "pranagnihotra" is a daily (inner) ritual of offering food as oblation in the sacred fire present in our stomach. Offering is made to five forms of "prana" present in our body.

"Prana" operates in five forms in our body: 1. "Mukhya Prana" maintaining homeostasis; 2. "Apana" controlling downward movement of energies; 3. "Udana" controlling upward movement of energies; 4. "Samana" ensuring equal distribution of energies; 5. "Vyana" maintaining vital organs especially the heart.

At the beginning of food consumption, five small bites are consumed by chanting "pranaya-swaha, apanaya-swaha, udanaya-swaha, samanaya-swah and vyanaya-swaha" indicating the said oblation. One more bite is consumed by chanting "brahmane-swaha" for indicating ultimately it's parabrahma who receives all the essence. You may practice this "Pranagnihotra Vidya" by getting initiated as per the Vedic tradition and by being appropriately guided by a “Guru”.

In our next write-up, we will discuss the fifth subject of meditation “Udgita Vidya”.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

5. Ugditha Vidya

In yajnic ritual, "Udgatr" is the one who sings Samaveda mantras.

In the realm of deities, "Prana" is the highest conscious being in the creation and is responsible for our respiration. He is also called "Udgitha" in Upanishads because he turns our respiration into song in the praise of Parabrahma.

"Vak" (Bharati) is the consort of "Prana" and she regulates our speech. She turns our speech into oblation to Parabrahma present in Devas, humans and Pitrus. In “Udgitha Vidya”, she is imagined as a cow and her four legs are four chants dedicated to them (two chants for Devas and one chant each for humans & Pitrus). 

Speech also can be categorized into four levels: “Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama, Vaikhari”. “Para” is the subtle speech at unconscious level; “Pashyanthi” is the speech which has risen to conscious level but no words are assigned; “Madhyama” is the speech structured in words but not yet uttered; and “Vaikhari” is the speech uttered. “Vak” regulates these four levels of speech too.

So in Udgitha Vidya, we offer all the four levels of our speech as oblation to Devas by chanting "swaha / vasat”, to humans by chanting "hanta" and to Pitrus by chanting "swadha”. You may practice this "Udgitha Vidya" by getting initiated as per the Vedic tradition and by being appropriately guided by a “Guru”.

In the next write-up we will discuss the sixth subject of meditation: "Panchagni Vidya".

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

6. Panchagni Vidya

In Vedic tradition, "tretagni" (three sacred fire) which is part of "shrauta" ritual are: Garhapatya-agni, Avahaneeya-agni and Dakshina-agni". In Upanishads, two more fires are added to make “panchagni”; i.e., man (who provides seed for procreation) and woman (who completes the process of procreation).

Vedic tradition treats the process of procreation as “vama-yajna” and calls man & woman - two fires as a metaphor. The food eaten by the man is an oblation for providing seed of procreation and food eaten by woman is an oblation for sustaining & completing the process of procreation.

In addition to the said two metaphoric fires, three more actual fires are part of “panchagnihotra vidya”: Garhapatya-agni, Avahaneeya-agni and Dakshina-agni.

Garhapatya-agni is kindled during the marriage and is maintained continuously as a part of ritual called “agni-hotra”. It becomes the source for other two agnis. Upon the death of the householder, the same agni is used to kindle the funeral pire.

Avahaneeya-agni is kindled from Garhapatya-agni only on special occasions for making oblations to devas in “shrauta yajna” rituals.

Dakshina-agni is kindled from Avahaneeya-agni only on special occasions for making oblations to pitrus in “shrauta yajna” rituals.

You may meditate upon this "Panchagni Vidya" by getting initiated as per the Vedic tradition and by being appropriately guided by a “Guru”.

In the next write-up we will discuss the seventh subject of meditation: "Anandamaya Vidya".

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

7. Anandamaya Vidya

In common parlance, Vedic literature is divided into "karma kanda" (ritual segment) and "jnana kanda" (knowledge segment). However, there is another segment, knowledge of which is almost lost - "upanasa-kanda". 

Karma-kanda deals with "karma mimamsa" (contemplation on Vedic rituals), upasana-kanda deals with "daivee mimamsa" (contemplation on deities) and jnana-kanda deals with "Brahma mimamsa" (contemplation on Parabrahma).

In daivee mimamsa, hierarchy of deities, their subtle nature, method of worshipping them, their appearance in the physical realm…etc are dealt with.

"Anandamaya Vidya" in Upanishads captures one of the aspects of daivee mimamsa - i.e. hierarchy of deities. 

So, "anandamaya vidya" is to understand that the hierarchy of deities depend on their inherent "ananda" (bliss) and also to worship them according to their hierarchy. This form of worship is called "devata taratamya upasana" and it is also part of "panchatantra" tradition. This tradition is continued among adherents of "tatvavada" even today.

To know more you may read "kaksha taratamya sandhi" of "Harikathamrutasara" by Sri Jagannatha Dasa.

In the next write-up we will discuss "Dahara Vidya".

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe

— 

8. Dahara Vidya

"Om" is called "pranava" and "bhuh, bhuvah, suvah" are called "vyahriti" (extension of "om").

In the physical realm, "bhuh" means land, "bhuvah" means sky and "suvah" means space ("Akasha").

"Akasha" encompasses both the land and the sky. "Agni" is the deity of land, "Vayu" is the deity of sky and "brahmanaspati" is the deity of space. They also represent "bhuh", "bhuvah" & "suvah" respectively.

In "Dahara Vidya" our heart is imagined to have an inner space called "dahara-akasha". Upanishad says both "vayu" & "Agni" are present in "dahara-akasha". They are worshipped via "bhuh, bhuvah" chant and "brahmanaspati" is worshiped via "suvah" chant. Ultimately, through these deities, "Parabrahma" is worshipped inside our heart.

You may adopt this practice of meditating upon these deities and the Parabrahma inside your "dahara-akasha".

Vedic Tribe is happy to have brought you eight vidyas from upanishads in this introductory series.

Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you so that you study Vedic literature and adopt them in your day to day life.

All the best.

Madhwesh K

Vedic Tribe