The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is one of the most revered Hindu scriptures, belonging to the Shukla Yajur Veda. It is considered to be the last of the ten Upanishads and is named after its extensive size, being referred to as the Brihath Upanishad. The Upanishad instructs on Brahma Jnana, which is the knowledge of the ultimate reality, and is classified as an Upanishad.
The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is divided into six sections, or adhyayas, each of which contains a variety of teachings, stories, and parables. The first two adhyayas focus on the performance of rituals and the worship of various deities, and are known as the Karma Kanda or the section on ritual action. The remaining four adhyayas, known as the Jnana Kanda or the section on knowledge, deal with the philosophical and spiritual teachings of the Upanishad.
The third and fourth adhyayas are particularly noteworthy, as they contain the teachings of sage Yajnavalkya, one of the most prominent figures in Hindu philosophy. These teachings are imparted to King Janaka, and explore the nature of the self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). Yajnavalkya uses a variety of techniques, including parables, dialogue, and meditative practices, to help his students come to a deeper understanding of these concepts.
The grandeur of the intellectual eminence of sage Yajnavalkya is impressively evident in this Upanishad, and aspirants who are eager to reach the goal of liberation are often drawn to his teachings. These sections are therefore referred to as Yajnavalkhya Kanda.
This book is a transliteration in English from the original Sanskrit of the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. It is an attempt to pass on the sacred mantras to aspirants who are not conversant with Sanskrit knowledge but are keen to learn to chant the mantras of this Upanishad. The transliteration is as close as possible to the original Sanskrit mantras, including the pronunciation of letters and words.
Much care has been taken to ensure that the transliteration is as close as possible to the original Sanskrit mantras, including the pronunciation of letters and words. However, the refinement in chanting can only take place through careful listening and chanting together with Vedic pandits, setting aside the inadequacies while transliterating.