Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Prashna Upanishad: Essence and Sanskrit Grammar
    Prashna Upanishad: Essence and Sanskrit Grammar
    Prashna Upanishad: Essence and Sanskrit Grammar
    Ebook167 pages1 hour

    Prashna Upanishad: Essence and Sanskrit Grammar

    By Ashwini Kumar Aggarwal

    5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Prashna Upanishad is attributed to sage Pippalada and is in the Gopatha Brahmana of the Atharva Veda.
    This Upanishad gets its name from the word Prashna , which means “a Question” in Sanskrit.

    When
    one’s mind is peaceful,
    the heart is loving,
    basic needs are we

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDevotees of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ashram
    Release dateJan 15, 2020
    ISBN9788194489085
    Prashna Upanishad: Essence and Sanskrit Grammar
    Author

    Ashwini Kumar Aggarwal

    Ashwini is with the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ashram based in Punjab. He loves to practice Yoga, perform Homa, study Sanskrit and be at home. He was born in Ludhiana and completed his pre-University from Govt. College for Boys. He has also written texts on Upanishads & Sanskrit Grammar delving into Panini's Ashtadhyayi.

    Read more from Ashwini Kumar Aggarwal

    Related to Prashna Upanishad

    Related ebooks

    Hinduism For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • UNLIMITED

      MISCONCEPTIONS about Yoga

      Dec 1, 2018

      MISCONCEPTIONS about Yoga
      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Place for Life and Death

      Oct 5, 2018

      A Place for Life and Death
      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Bhagavad Gita Influenced Many Great Thinkers

      Dec 13, 2020

      THERE are many paths to attain self-realisation yet there are many who choose to attain the knowledge from all different parts so that they can raise their consciousness to such a great extent that they see “One God” in all organisations and in all r

      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Spiritual Benefits Of Hanuman Jayanti

      Apr 25, 2021

      TO MARK the birth of Lord Hanuman, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated all over India in the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Hanumanji has always held a special place in my heart and I am sure this is true for all Hindus as well. Lord Hanuman is kn

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Metaphors Of The Goddess

      Oct 5, 2018

      In Hinduism, god cannot be divine without the goddess. There is no Vishnu without Lakshmi. No Shiva without Shakti. No Brahma without Saraswati. But it is a mystery for many why Hindus, for whom divinity is both male and female, treat women so badly.

      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Taking a Gamble

      Dec 18, 2021

      Taking a Gamble
      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Janmashtami

      Aug 27, 2023

      janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world. This year, it will be celebrated on September 6 and 7. Krishna’s birth occurred at midnight on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Spirituality Maha Shivaratri: A Powerful Night Of Chanting

      Feb 25, 2024

      Maha Shivaratri is a great night dedicated to Lord Shiva. This year, in South Africa, Maha Shivarathri will be celebrated on March 8. On the powerful night you can easily tap into the cosmic energy, astrologically and spiritually. It is important to

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Planet Delivers Good And Bad

      Oct 8, 2023

      Q: I love reading your articles. I am writing on behalf of my brother-in-law. He is currently unemployed and is trying to do his own business. He is a very helpful and caring person. He seems to have lots of problems. Nothing seems to come right for

      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Night Of Rejuvenation And Divine Blessings

      Oct 6, 2024

      As the moon reaches its closest proximity to Earth on the evening of October 16, South Africans prepare to honour Sharad Purnima, a night steeped in spiritual significance and revered rituals. Known for rejuvenating the mind, body, and soul, this sa

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Flow Into A New You

      Aug 9, 2023

      Añjaneyasana is a whole-body expression of groundedness and connection to the sky. Isometrically draw the front heel and back toes toward each other to deepen your connection to the ground below. From that steady platform, the upper body finds integr

      1 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Navratri

      Oct 15, 2023

      There are nine magical days and nights to rejuvenate and get physical, mental and spiritual strength. This occurs during the period of Navratri. This year, it takes place from today until October 23. Two Navratris occur annually. The first, known as

      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Night To Refresh The Mind

      Oct 25, 2020

      The Night To Refresh The Mind
      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Benefits Uplift Your Soul By Dancing, Chanting During Rath Yatra

      Mar 24, 2024

      India is known for its immense spirituality, among the greatest spiritual places is the Char Dham. This is divided into two important parts, namely large and small. “Char” means four and “Dham” means abode of God. “Chardham” therefore means the “Fou

      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Tathagata’s Ten Wisdom Powers

      Jun 13, 2023

      The Tathagata’s Ten Wisdom Powers
      15 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Tips To Maximise Luck On Your Birthday

      Jun 16, 2024

      Q: Namaste Maheshji. Thanks for educating the community. Thank you for suggesting a beautiful name for my daughter. If I recall correctly, sometime back, you wrote an article about birthdays. You said that one candle on a birthday cake should not be

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Gunas Of Nature

      Oct 1, 2024

      The Sanskrit term ‘guna’ is usually translated as ‘quality.’ The three gunas — sattva, rajas, and tamas — represent the characteristic parts and the substance at the basis of nature, prakriti. To attain liberation, we must transcend them as they are

      1 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      How To Be A Bodhisattva

      Nov 19, 2019

      How To Be A Bodhisattva
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Ask The Teachers

      Dec 5, 2023

      CHRIS JAY is a Senior Instructor with Siddhartha’s Intent, a worldwide network of Buddhist practitioners studying and practicing under the guidance of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. CHRIS JAY: Well, I can certainly understand the experience that leads t

      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Life Enhanced

      Jul 1, 2024

      Life Enhanced
      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Festival Seeking The Blessings Of Goddess Saraswati

      Feb 11, 2024

      The festival of Basant Panchami is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, literature and fine arts. She is the wife of Lord Brahma, who created the universe. It is believed that without Saraswati, the world would be shr

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      One Religion, Many Gods

      Apr 8, 2022

      One Religion, Many Gods
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Time To Rejuvenate

      Mar 19, 2023

      Awaken your consciousness and improve your fortunes in the next nine days. This is the time to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. The time is known as the “Ramayana week” in South Africa while in India people celebrate it as Navaratri. People in So

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Navaratri Observe Fasts On These Magical Days To Bring Prosperity

      Apr 7, 2024

      Awaken your consciousness and improve your fortunes in the next nine days. This is the time to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul in quick time. This time is known as the Ramayana week in South Africa, while in India people celebrate this time as N

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Yoga For Uncertainty

      Jul 15, 2021

      Yoga For Uncertainty
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Power Of Seven

      Aug 4, 2020

      If you practice yoga or reiki, chances are you’ll have worked with chakras before. Chakras are the energy centres of the body. They exist in the astral (rather than the physical) body and there are seven of them, located between the base of the spine

      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Prashna Upanishad

    5/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Prashna Upanishad - Ashwini Kumar Aggarwal

      Blessing

      "OM is the sound that goes all the way from the bottom of the Spine up, up to the top of the Crown... Crown Chakra.

      The sound OM has the same frequency as the Earth’s rotation.

      OM means Peace, Love, Purity, Clarity, Serenity."

      Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

      Bangalore Ashram

      Acknowledgements

      A joyous Lohri Makara Sankranti soaking in Satsang.

      Cover Photo Credits

      https://pixabay.com/photos/russian-dolls-matryoshka-nesting-912310/

      image by Jacqueline Macou from Pixabay

      Preface

      Once an eon something brilliant happens. This brilliance is a galactic birth, the birth of billions of bright stars and majestic minds.

      This is such an occasion. Right now it is happening. Beauty is in fashion. Benevolence is showering.

      At such time, the intellect expands. Divinity knocks. The mind is open. And the Lord walks in.

      Veda

      Mantra Verses (Samhita), and

      Brahmana Verses

      ◦  Brahmana

      ◦  Aranyaka

      ◦  Upanishad

      Adi Shankaracharya’s masterly commentary on eleven Upanishads is the de facto standard for Vedanta. These eleven have been named the principal Upanishads. Though it is said there are 1180 Upanishads written over a period of a thousand years, actual manuscripts available as of now are 108 only.

      A chart that lists the eleven Upanishads commented on in detail by Sankara.

      Rigveda

      Gives the fundamental laws of creation

      Aitareya

      प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म

      Samaveda

      Gives the intrinsic harmony within creation

      KENA, Chandogya

      तत् त्वम् असि

      Shukla Yajurveda/Krishna Yajurveda

      Gives the specific design, administrative and governing principles for a family or a nation

      Ishavasya, Brihadaranyaka, Katha. Taittiriya, Shvetashvatara

      अहं ब्रह्म अस्मि

      Atharvaveda

      Gives the specific ritucharya and dinacharya for an individual

      Mandukya, Mundaka Prashna,

      अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म

      Four great illuminating statements or mahavakyas are listed above with their corresponding Upanishads in bold. The Prashna has its very own mahavakya - यच्चित्तस्तेनैष प्राणमायाति प्राणस्तेजसा युक्तः सहात्मना यथासङ्कल्पितं लोकं नयति ॥ 3.10

      Remember that Vedic Sanskrit text cannot be literally translated into English. Thoughts form and words sprout in deep meditation when guided by a living master.

      Atharva Veda = Atharvaveda Samhita + Atharvaveda Brahmana.

      As of today, Samhita portion is available in two recensions, namely Paippalada and Shaunaka. Brahmana portion is available in one recension only, namely Gopatha Brahmana. Prashna is attributed to sage Pippalada and is in the Gopatha Brahmana. Pippalada is the scientist who got it first, while Gopatha is the scientist who made it known to the world. The Samhita portion is the practical aspect, that details how the day’s routine should be, what one should wear and when, what not to eat, which ritual to perform and how, when to sleep, etc. The Brahmana portion reflects on it and in the form of a dialogue seeks to answer the profound questions regarding existence that lead to happiness and nirvana.

      Mundaka verses are actually in the earlier portion, and in the later portion are the Prashna verses. Thus Prashna contains the complete essence, including that of Mundaka. Prashna Upanishad प्रश्न उपनिषद् gets its name from प्रश्न = Prashna  = a Question.

      When

      one’s mind is peaceful,

      the heart is loving,

      basic needs are well taken care of,

      Then

      a question that arises is directly addressed by the Divine, since it is addressed only to the Divine.

      Table of Contents

      Blessing

      Preface

      Prayer

      The Six Seekers

      Qualifications Prerequisites

      1st Question by Kabandhi

      How is the Universe sustained?

      Name and Form = Life and Matter

      Sunlight and Moonlight = Prana and Rayi

      Southern and Northern Pathways

      Can we make love anytime?

      2nd Question by Bhargav

      a. Which energies operate inside a Being?

      b. How are these energies sustained?

      c. Which of these is the principal energy?

      Prana = Life Force = Power of Breath

      3rd Question by Kauśal

      a. What causes the Life force?

      b. How does it function within the Being?

      c. How does it depart?

      d. What is the cosmic energy?

      e. Can it unveil the Soul?

      Prana Vayu and Upaprana Vayu

      The Karmic Impression Driving Force

      Delegate and Relax

      Prana Apana Samana Vyana Udana

      Naga Kurma Devadatta Krikala Dhananjaya

      72000 Nadis each in 100 of 101

      Light Earth Space Air

      Water

      Final Thought Rules

      Benefits of Upanishad

      Learn Sudarshan Kriya=Master the Breath

      4th Question by Garg

      What is Sleep? What is Dream?

      Sleeping Awake Dreaming Comfort

      Deep Sleep State

      Tretagni = Garhapatya-Dakshinagni-Ahavaniya

      Dream State

      Comfort State

      Physical Elements & Subtle Counterparts

      Individual Soul - Collective Consciousness

      5th Question by Satyakama

      How is the primal sound OM relevant?

      OM - its first matra अम्

      OM - its second matra उम्

      OM - its third matra मम्

      OM - its connecting ardha matra

      6th Question by Sukeśā

      Who is the Being with 16 attributes?

      Sixteen Attributes of The Being

      5 Elements + 5 Prana Vayu + 5 Senses + Mind

      Etymology of Upanishad

      Latin Transliteration Chart

      Verses for Chanting

      Sanskrit Grammar

      Conjugation process of Verb

      Declension process of Noun

      References

      Epilogue

      Prayer

      शान्तिपाठः

      ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः । भद्रं पश्ये माक्षभिर् यजत्राः । स्थिरैरङ्गैस् तुष्टुवा(गुं) सस्तनूभिः । व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः । स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः । स्वस्ति नx पूषा विश्ववेदाः । स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः । स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥

      ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

      śāntipāṭhaḥ

      oṃ bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ । bhadraṃ paśye mākṣabhir yajatrāḥ । sthirairaṅgais tuṣṭu̱vā(guṃ) sastanūbhiḥ । vyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyuḥ । svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ । svasti na(x) pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ । svasti no bṛhaspatirdadhātu ॥ oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥

      Peace Invocation

      O Lord!

      May our senses be fully functional. May our joints be firm and supple. May our reasoning be without malice. May our desires be for our welfare and for the welfare of the entire neighborhood.

      May our conscience be up and awake.

      May we let go of rigidity, obstinacy, false notions.

      Peace in our heart, in our body and in our environs.

      अथ प्रश्न–उपनिषद् (प्रशनोपनिषद्)

      atha Praśna Upaniṣad

      Now begins the Praśna

      Vowel Sandhi – Guna Sandhi – अ + उ → ओ

      प्रश्न + उपनिषद् → प्रश्नोपनिषद् ।

      The Six Seekers

      Sukesha सुकेशा (wonderful hair, well-groomed, avoid dandruff, maintain dress code and personality) the son of भारद्वाजः Bharadvaja.

      Satyakama सत्यकामः (truthful honest dedicated sincere in efforts) the son of शिबिः Shibi.

      Sun-God’s grandson सूर्यस्य पौत्रः (resplendent, brilliant, full of the vigor of life, fit as a fiddle) having गर्ग गोत्रः surname Garg.

      Kausalya कौसल्यः (healthy, pleasant and cheerful, peaceful and happy) the son

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1