ESSENCE of TAITTIRIYA ARANYAKA Part 1
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ESSENCE OF TAITTIRIYA ARANYAKA Part 1 ( KRISHNA YAJURVEDA) BY V. D. N. RAO 1 Compiled, composed and interpreted by V.D.N.Rao, former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, now at Chennai. Other Scripts by the same Author: Essence of Puranas:-Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda- Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers -Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu - Dharma Bindu - Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana-Essence of Paraashara Smriti Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ (Quintessence of Upanishads) Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata- Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Also Essence of Knowledge of Numbers Essence of Narada Charitra; Essence Neeti Chandrika-Essence of Hindu Festivals and Austerities Essence of Manu Smriti- Quintessence of Manu Smriti- Essence of Paramartha Saara; Essence of Pratyaksha Bhaskra; Essence of Maha Narayanopashid; Essence of Maitri Upanishad Essence of Vidya-Vigjnaana-Vaak Devi; Essence of Bhagya -Bhogya-Yogyata Lakshmi Latest releases 2 Essence of Soundarya Lahari- Essence of Popular Stotras- Essence of Pancha Maha Bhutas Essence of Pratyaksha Chandra- Essence of Gayatri*- Quintessence of Soundarya Lahari* Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www. Kamakoti. Org/news as also on Google by the respective references. The one with * is under process] Preface: Taittiriya Aranyaka‟ (Part 1) covers 10 chapters of which 6 are Aranyaka proper. The first chapter of Aruna Prashna deals with the daily duties of „shrotriya brahmanas‟; Parashara Smriti aptly details the „Shat Karmas‟: Sandhyaa snaanam japo homo Devataanamcha pujanam, Vishwa Devaatithi yaamcha shatkarmaani diney diney/ or Sandhya Vandana after „baahyaantara shuchi‟ or external and internal cleanliness-Japa-Homa- Devatarchana and Puja- and vishwa deva-athithi seva. The second chapter discusses Pancha Maha Yagjnas to be observed daily viz. Deva Yagjna-Pirtu Yagjna-Bhuta Yagjna- Manushya Yagjna and Brahma Yagjna. Chapter 3 deals with the intricacies of homa karyas and Yagjnas. The Chapters 4 and 5 are worthy of avoidance as those are of rather risky contents of applied shrouta rituals. Chapter 6 relate to pitrumedha mantras and pitrumedha rituals of post- life relevance. The Chapters of 7-8-9 are „vallis‟ viz. Shiksha- Bhrigu and Ananda vallis, anchored to Taittiriya Upanishad. The 10th chapter is Maha Narayaonopanishad. An important highlight of this Script is the „Manasika Yagjna‟ which has ready applicability to the present generation; one may not be able to execute Agni Karyas or even time for Introspection with- standing the harsh winds of materialism and family responsibilities. In this context, a hesitant confession made by me before Maha Swami once at a chance prostration some five decades ago, I mumbled that despite our „genes‟ we could hardly perform karmas of virtue like agni karyas and even the minimal sandhya vandana properly; he smiled and said: „Be Good and Do Good‟! Is that not the Essence of Veda- Vedangas, Upanishads and even Scriptures of Hinduism, and for that matter all the Religions! Aakaashat patitam toyam Sarva Deva namaskaarah Keshavam pratigacchati! My earlier efforts in the past covered Essence of Dwaadasha Upanishads- already released by the website of kamakoti.org in the Articles Section were: Brihadaranyka, Katha, Taittiraya, Isha, Svetahsvatara of anchored to Yajurveda; Chhandogya Kena and Maitreya by SaamaVeda; Kaushitaki and Atreya of Rig Veda; and Mundaka, Manduka and Prashna by Atharvana Veda. Those were supplemented in the series with that of Maha Narayanopanishad and Maitri Upanishad which too were released by the website. Our family bonds with Kanchi Mutt are over half century old. After retirement of active service during which I visited several countries and witnessed the nuances of dharma, especially after visits to USA- Italy, Gernany, Soviet Union -Israel- South and Far Easts- and Middle East especially Riyadh and Tehran and sought to absorb some flashes of their religious thoughts. I adopted 'writing' as a passion especially on Hindu Dharma and its global „prachaara‟. Blessed was the day when I had hesitantly showed sketchy manuscripts of a couple of Puranas to Balaswami HH. Vijayendra Sarasvati and his encouragement- guidance- and inspiration has blessed me 3 eversince. This has been enabling to add my squirrel like efforts towards Dharma Prachaara. He is literally extending my longevity to do translations of various aspects of Hindu Thought into English. This modest effort of Essence of Taittiriya Aranyaka is placed at the golden feet of Maha Swami as a lotus flower with venerative prostrations; indeed He is our Family God who was not only the illustrious „Walking God‟ but the unfailing beacon of Hindu Dharma, underlining the concept of Aham Brahmasmi or one‟s own Antaratma or Inner Conscience is Paramatma the Supreme. VDN Rao, Chennai CONTENTS PAGE Prashna One 7 1.1.1-7: On Jala Devata and Sarasvati- 1.2.1-11( P7): The Time Cycle- 1.3.1-12 (P8)- 1.3. 1-12 & 1.4-1- 8: About Shad Ritus or The Six Seasons (P9) 1.5.1-5: Vaishva Devas (P 10) 1.6.1-8- Description of Six Seasons again (P11) 1.7.1- 20: Aditya-svarupas- (P12) 1.8.1-23. Kaalamaana- Vishnu-Death and Beyond -Suryas ( P 13) 1.9.1-18: Agni- Vaayu -Marut / Parjanya swarupas and the recycling of energies (P 15)- 1.10.1-17: Worship of Prithvi- Swarga-Agni-Aditya for their unique magnificence (P 16) 1.11.1-21: Soma - Purification - Gayatri- Introspection ( P 17) 1.12.1-14) Offerings to Indra, Rudra, Subrahmanya, Agni Swarupas (P 24) - 1.13.1-10: Aditi the Infinity and Martanda the Generator of Life on Earth (P 25)- 1.14.1-11: Surya- the Seasons-Samvatsara- Kaalamaana (P 26)- 1.15.1-10: Ashta Aditya Purushas (P 27)- 1.16.1: The glory of Eight Suryas (P 28.) 1.17.1-4: Vayu (P28) Purusha Swarupas- 1.18.1-3 : Ashta Shaktis of Agni Deva (P 29)1.19.1-2: Direction wise placement of Narakas (P29) 1.20.1-3: May the Beings on Earth be protected by Indraadi Devas P (29) 1.22.1-10: May mantra Jalas be showered as Mantra Pushpas on Devas (P30) 1.22.11-22 : Construction of Homa Kunda (P 33) 1.23.1-20: Ancient Maharshis discovered Kurma as the Adi Purusha and the works of Arunaketu with mantric powers (P 34) 1.24. 1-11: Maharshis by the „mantra shakti‟ collect waters and manifest Arunaketuka Agni! (P 36) 1.25.1-9: Preparation of Homa Kunda (P 37) 1.26.1-15: Worship of Agni Deva in varied forms and the rules and benefits ( P 38) 1.27.1- 20: Wake up call before Yagjna Karyas to maintain „bahyaantara shuchi‟ and reap benefits of longevity and swarga( P 39) 1.28.1-2: Might of Agni to demolish demonic shaktis ( P 42) 1.29.1-3: Parjanya Deva brings in joy and contentment (P 42) 1.30.1-3: May mantra shakti lead to physical fulfillment and good progeny ( P 43) 1.31.1-16: Worship to Kubera and of Agni Deva (P 43)-1.32.1-9: Prescribed methodology of Dharma alone the lead factor to fulfillment!(P 44) Prashna Two 44 2.1-6. Yagjnopaveeta Prashasti (P. 45)- 2.2. 1-7: Prajapati‟s boon to Rakshasaas resulting war with Indra saved by Gayatri ( P.46) -2.3.1-9: Kushmanda / Pumpkin homa: Prayaschitta to purify one‟s sins; Pumpkin like a human body with pulp and fluids to wash out and cleanse the consciousness from sins. 2.4.1-8: (P. 47) An address to alleviate unpaid debts, indulging in the spread of misleading rumors, and curing physical diseases by the execution of kushmanda homa. 2.5.1-17: ( P 47) Worship to Agni by 4 appropriate mantras an assured climb up to long and contented life ( P 48) -2.6. 1-13: Vaishvanara worship an assured path of negating indebtedness (P 49) 2.7. 1-4: Ideal progeny and disease-free long life ( P 49) - 2.7: 1-4. Vaataarshana Maharshi prescribes „deeksha‟ preceeded by Kushmanda Homa (P 2.7.1- 2-2.8.1-10: Taking to „Deeksha‟ or Initiation and the do‟s-and don‟t‟s ( P 53) 2.9. 1-2: Significance of Svaadhyaaya or Self- Study (P 53) 2.10.1-8: Pancha Maha Yagjnas: Deva Yagjna, Pitru Yagjna- Bhuta Yagjna, Manushya Yagjna and Brahma Yagjna (P 54) 2.11. 1-7: Performance of Brahma Yagjna ( P 60) 2.12.1-4 : Requirements- Difficulties- Exceptions of the practice of „Svadhyaaya‟/ Brahma Yagjna ( P 61) 2.13: 1-5 : Further details of Brahma Yagjna-(P 61) 2.15.1-9 Positive Impact of „Svaadhyaaya‟- (P 62) 2.16. 1-4: Inappropriate deeds call for Tri-Veda pathana or Tri Ratra Gayatri- (P 63) 2.17.1-2: Purification and prescribed Atonement- (P63) 2.18: 1-8: Prayaschitta regains the good-will of Devas- ( P 64) 3 2.19. 1-5: Ultimate Protective Shelter- Surrender with Faith- Glory of „Sishumaara‟ ( P 64) 2.