|| iÉæ̨ÉUÏrÉÉåmÉÌlÉwÉiÉç || mÉëjÉqÉÉ zÉϤÉÉuÉssÉÏ TAITTAREYA UPANISHAD – 1 Sheeksha Valli The Science of Vedic Chnting “THE SANDEEPANY EXPERIENCE” Reflections by TEXT SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA 36.01 Sandeepany’s Vedanta Course List of All the Course Texts in Chronological Sequence: Text TITLE OF TEXT Text TITLE OF TEXT No. No. 1 Sadhana Panchakam 24 Hanuman Chalisa 2 Tattwa Bodha 25 Vakya Vritti 3 Atma Bodha 26 Advaita Makaranda 4 Bhaja Govindam 27 Kaivalya Upanishad 5 Manisha Panchakam 28 Bhagavad Geeta (Discourse -- ) 6 Forgive Me 29 Mundaka Upanishad 7 Upadesha Sara 30 Amritabindu Upanishad 8 Prashna Upanishad 31 Mukunda Mala (Bhakti Text) 9 Dhanyashtakam 32 Tapovan Shatkam 10 Bodha Sara 33 The Mahavakyas, Panchadasi 5 11 Viveka Choodamani 34 Aitareya Upanishad 12 Jnana Sara 35 Narada Bhakti Sutras 13 Drig-Drishya Viveka 36.01 Taittiriya Upanishad – Chap 1 14 “Tat Twam Asi” – Chand Up 6 37 Jivan Sutrani (Tips for Happy Living) 15 Dhyana Swaroopam 38 Kena Upanishad 16 “Bhoomaiva Sukham” Chand Up 7 39 Aparoksha Anubhuti (Meditation) 17 Manah Shodhanam 40 108 Names of Pujya Gurudev 18 “Nataka Deepa” – Panchadasi 10 41 Mandukya Upanishad 19 Isavasya Upanishad 42 Dakshinamurty Ashtakam 20 Katha Upanishad 43 Shad Darshanaah 21 “Sara Sangrah” – Yoga Vasishtha 44 Brahma Sootras 22 Vedanta Sara 45 Jivanmuktananda Lahari 23 Mahabharata + Geeta Dhyanam 46 Chinmaya Pledge A NOTE ABOUT SANDEEPANY Sandeepany Sadhanalaya is an institution run by the Chinmaya Mission in Powai, Mumbai, teaching a 2-year Vedanta Course. It has a very balanced daily programme of basic Samskrit, Vedic chanting, Vedanta study, Bhagavatam, Ramacharitmanas, Bhajans, meditation, sports and fitness exercises, team-building outings, games and drama, celebration of all Hindu festivals, weekly Gayatri Havan and Guru Paduka Pooja, and Karma Yoga activities. This series is an effort to promote the learning of Vedanta; it does not replace the Course, but hopes to inspire young people to spend two years of their life for an experience that is sure to make a far-reaching spiritual impact on their personal lives. Sandeepany is an all-round spiritual course that gives proper direction to the youth and to those approaching retirement. Hinduism is in dire need of a band of systematically trained teachers or Acharyas who can serve this Eternal Religion. – The Author, 8th September, 2019, Sacred Birthday of Sri Swami Sivananda Om Namah Shivaaya! Text 36.01 || iÉæ̨ÉUÏrÉÉåmÉÌlÉwÉiÉç || TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD – 1 mÉëjÉqÉÉ zÉϤÉÉuÉssÉÏ “Sheeksha Valli – Science of Vedic Chanting” by Rishi Yajnavalkya Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the Series of 14 Lectures by Swami Advayanandaji Acharyaji for 15th Batch Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai. March 1st – March 16th, 2013 Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda SERIES THEME: “Piercing the Clouds; Crossing the Seas”. Copyright & Author’s Details Author: Swami Gurubhaktananda (ex Krishna Chaitanya, born Bipin R. Kapitan in Durban, South Africa) Email: [email protected] © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Copyright held by Swami Gurubhaktananda. About This Edition: Web Edition: 8th September, 2019, Sri Swami Sivananda Jayanti Website: Chinmaya International Foundation: www.chinfo.org Series Title : The Sandeepany Experience Series Subject: Vedanta & Supportive Subsidiary Texts Declaration by the Author: The material in this series is under inspiration of the Sandeepany Vedanta Course, but largely consists of the Author’s reflections on the Course. He is deeply indebted to the Chinmaya Mission for its excellent presentation of the Course by their renowned and dedicated Acharyas. Personal Dedication 1. To my Late Parents, Smt Sharadaben & Sri Ratilalbhai Kapitan who inspired me to study in life, to stick to the path of Dharma and pursue the highest ideals; and swamped me with their abundant Love; 2. To Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj (1932-2019) the Late President of the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, who constantly encouraged and supported this effort; 3. To Pujya Sri Swami Tejomayanandaji (Guruji) for his boundless vision and inspiration to create a vibrant organisation; 4. To Sri Swami Advayanandaji and Sri Swami Sharadanandaji my Acharyaji and Upa-Acharyaji at Sandeepany, who imparted their bountiful knowledge and wisdom with rare selfless Divine Love, just as the Rishis of yore would wish to see them do. ***** TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD – 1 “Sheeksha Valli – Vedic Chanting” || iÉæ̨ÉUÏrÉÉåmÉÌlÉwÉiÉç || mÉëjÉqÉÉ zÉϤÉÉuÉssÉÏ SHEEKSHAA VALLI PART 1: 12 No. Anuvakas (Chapters) THE SCIENCE OF VEDIC CHANTING INTRODUCTION Although the Upanishads are Artha Pradhaan, i.e. they have the predominant purpose of conveying a spiritual message, that does not make it less important to chant the verse correctly with proper intonation. The Rishis do want us to chant in the right way, for the words themselves have their own impact on our mind. Indeed, if we are careless in the chanting, it is easily possible in a language like Samskrit that we change the meaning of the word, and sometimes even convey the very opposite of what is meant. Shiksha or Sheeksha, as it is used here under Vedic license, is the science of Vedic phonetics. It governs the correct pronunciation of the syllables which make up the text. Knowledge of all the rules of this science is necessary for the correct recitation and intonation of any Samskrit verses, particularly those found in the Vedas. At the very start of our Course at Sandeepany, we underwent a thorough training in the art of Vedic Chanting. The recitation of the most important Suktams in the early part of the Course, in accordance with all the rules mentioned in this Part, was an essential part of the Course. We studied the Ganesha Atharva Sheersha, Medha Suktam, Purusha Suktam, Narayana Suktam, Shree Suktam, Durga Suktam and Ayushya Suktam. This very Upanishad was chanted over a period of two full months, learning it line by line, by breaking up the words as well as chanting it in its final form with Sandhee. The Rudram and Chamakam were then learnt under expert guidance, following a few other rules specific to them. Strict Brahmacharya and application of ash on the forehead were among these rules. The right pitch and speed of chanting was given special attention. Acharyaji also made sure that students did not break up the flow at the wrong points, especially at the Sandhees. Every rule of Anuvaka 1.2 was obeyed to the best of our ability. ***** 1 TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD – 1 “Sheeksha Valli – Science of Vedic Chanting” CONTENTS: Introduction 1 Anuvaka 1.1: INVOCATORY CHANT 4 1.1.1: The Yajur Veda Peace Invocation 4 Anuvaka 1.2: SCIENCE OF VEDIC PHONETICS 6 1.2.1: Sheekshaa – Vedic Phonetics 6 Anuvaka 1.3: THE “GREAT WORD-JUNCTIONS” (SANDHEES) 8 1.3.1a: Prayer by Teacher and Student 8 1.3.1b: Meditations on Word Junctions (Sandhees) 8 1.3.2: Upasana 1 – About the “Worlds” 9 1.3.3: Upasana 2 – About the “Lights” 10 1.3.4: Upasana 3 – About “Knowledge” 10 1.3.5: Upasana 4 – About “Progeny” 11 1.3.6: Upasana 5 – About the “Body” 11 1.3.7: The Fruits of these Upasanas 12 Anuvaka 1.4: RETENTIVE MEMORY & WEALTH 14 1.4.1: Medha Shakti or Intellectual Vigour 14 1.4.2: More Bright Students 15 1.4.3: Shree or Wealth 16 Anuvaka 1.5: MYSTICAL UTTERANCES 18 1.5.1: Vyaahritis or Mystical Utterances 18 1.5.2: Upasana 1 – On the Worlds 19 1.5.3: Upasana 2 – On the Devatas 20 1.5.4: Upasana 3 – On the Vedas 20 1.5.5: Upasana 4 – On the Pranas 21 1.5.6: Conclusion on Vyaahritis 21 Anuvaka 1.6: MEDITATIONS ON FORM (SAGUNA) 23 1.6.1: The Centre for Meditation – the Heart 23 1.6.2: Three More “Mystic” Centres 24 1.6.3: The Departure of the Ego 25 2 1.6.4: The Stateof Sovereinty & Lordship 25 1.6.5: More Attributes for Meditations 26 Anuvaka 1.7: THE CULTURE OF “FIVES” 27 1.7:1: Pankti – the External World Groupings 27 1.7:2: Pankti – the Internal World Groupings 28 1.7:3: Pairing Up the External & the Internal 28 Anuvaka 1.8: MEDITATION ON “OM” 30 1.8.1: Upasana on the Mystic Syllable “Om” 30 1.8.2: Om Stuti – the Glorification & Uses of “Om” 30 Anuvaka 1.9: PRINCIPLES OF STUDY & TEACHING 33 1.9.1: Vedic Culture 33 1.9.2: Obligatory Duties 34 1.9.3: Perpetuation of Culture 34 1.9.4: Examples of the Sages 35 Anuvaka 1.10: THE REALISATION OF TRISHANKU 37 1.10.1: The Sacred Chant of Trishanku 37 Anuvaka 1.11: THE CONVOCATION ADDRESS 40 1.11.1: Instructions from Guru to Student 40 1.11.2: On Relationships with Others 41 1.11.3: On Actions in the World 42 1.11.4: Reverence Towards Superiors 43 1.11.5: On Charity 43 1.11.6: On Doubt About Actions 44 1.11.7: On False Accusations of Crime 45 1.11.8: The Concluding Exhortation 46 Anuvaka 1.12: CONCLUDING PEACE CHANT 48 1.12.1: The Yajur Veda Peace Chant 48 ***** 3 || CÌiÉ mÉëjÉqÉÉåÅlÉÑuÉÉMüÈ || qÉÇaÉsÉÉcÉUhÉç MANGALAACHARAN Anuvaka 1.1 Invocatory Chant Verse 1.1.1: The Yajur Veda Peace Invocation 1. Á zÉÇ lÉÉå ÍqɧÉÈ zÉÇ uÉÂhÉÈ | zÉÇ lÉÉå pÉuÉiuÉrÉïqÉÉ | 2. zÉÇ lÉ ClSìÉå oÉ×WûxmÉÌiÉÈ | zÉÇ lÉÉå ÌuÉwhÉÑ¢üqÉÈ | 3. lÉqÉÉå oÉë¼hÉå | lÉqÉxiÉå uÉÉrÉÉå | 4. iuÉqÉåuÉ mÉëirɤÉÇ oÉë¼ÉÍxÉ | iuÉÉqÉåuÉ mÉëirɤÉÇ oÉë¼uÉÌSwrÉÉÍqÉ | 5. GiÉÇuÉÌSwrÉÉÍqÉ | xÉirÉÇuÉÌSwrÉÉÍqÉ | 6. iÉlqÉÉqÉuÉiÉÑ | iɲ£üÉUqÉuÉiÉÑ | 7. AuÉiÉÑqÉÉqÉç | AuÉiÉÑuÉ£üÉUqÉç | 8. Á zÉÉÎliÉÈ zÉÉÎliÉÈ zÉÉÎliÉÈ | || 1.1.1 || 1. µ° ¾a¯ nµ mitra¦ ¾a¯ varu³a¦ | ¾a¯ nµ bhavatvaryam¡ | 2. ¾a¯ na indrµ b»haspati¦ | ¾a¯ nµ vi½³ururukrama¦ | 3. namµ brahma³£ | namast£ v¡yµ | 4.