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Prashna Upanishad (IAST praṣnopaniṣad) is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is a Mukhya Upanishad, associated with the Atharvaveda. It figures as number 4 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads.
In Sanskrit, "Prashna" means question. This book consists of six questions and their answers, hence the name. It is in the form of question-answers. except first and last questions, all other questions are actually a group of smaller sub-questions. As narrated in the beginning of this Upanishad, Six pupils interested in knowing divinity or Brahman come to sage Pippalada and request him to clarify their spiritual doubts. Instead of answering immediately, Pippalada asks them to take up penance and Brahmacharya for one year at his place. Upon completion of one year, pupils ask the sage, then the sage answers their questions.
The pupils who ask questions are:
- The son of Bharadwaja the Sukesha
- The son of Shibi the Satyakama
- The descendant of Garga the Sauryayanee
- The son of Ashwala the Kausalya
- Bhargava of the country of Vidarbha belonging to Bhrigu Gotra
- The son of Katya the Kabandhi
Each of them asks one question to Pippalada and answer(s) to it forms a chapter in the Upanishad.
The questions[]
The first question is asked by Kabandhi concerned with the root cause of the universe.
The second question asked by Bhargava is concerned with the supremacy of vital Force of Life or Prana over other sense organs of human being.
The third question asked by Kausalya is concerned with the origin and functioning of Vital Force of Life.
The fourth question asked by Sauryayanee of Garga Gotra is related to Dream world of the sleeping person.
The fifth question is concerned with fruits one gets by meditating on holy syllable OM.
The sixth and last question is concerned with the being by whom all this known and unknown universe got created and who has sixteen vital things (kala) or who is called as Shodasha Kala Purusha.
First Question[]
First question asked by Kabandhi puts forth an important issue of spirituality. What is the root cause of this world? In fact, Kabandhi's question is literally "From where (which root) these people are born ?" Pippalada answers as if the question were asked about the root cause of the world. He says that Prajapati created a union of Prana and Rayi in order to create world and their intermixing or mating produced all the things in the world. Max Muller has translated this union as Spirit and Matter. Term Rayi can be interpreted as all subtle and gross physical Matter and Prana can be taken as intangible spirit or active life force. Pippalada extols the greatness of Prana. Finally explains that Food represents Rayi (Matter) and from food, Semen is produced and from semen people are born.
Second Question[]
Second question is asked by Bhargava of Vidarbha. Question is concerned with relation between senses and Vital Life Force Prana in the body. Pippalada explains that Prana is the main sustainer of the body through an example. The question is "how many divine elements hold the body?, which among them makes body living?, who is great among them?" As an answer, Pippalada says that once space, air, fire (heat), water and earth (gross matter) and speech, mind, eye and ear said in pride that they sustain and hold the body. Then Prana (Life Force) tells "Do not be proud, I hold and sustain the body by divding myself as five forms". But other divine elements did not believe this, then Prana tried to stand up in anger, all other divine elements also rose along with Prana automatically, just like pulled up by string, as if when king bee raises all other worker bees also raise along with it. Then other divine elements realized who their master is and from who they derive their strength. They start pacifying Prana by praising. Rest of the answer tells about the greatness of Prana in the form of praise. Different forms of this "Vital Life Energy" ( Prana ) are described in the praise. Fire, Air, Indra, Rain, Earth etc. are told be different forms Prana and is also told to be supporting outer world in the form of luminous Sun. Pippalada also tells that both inner and outer worlds are under the control of Prana.
Third Question[]
After learning that Prana is the main sustainer of the body and universe, Kausalya the son of Ashvala, asks the third question about origin of Prana. The question is " From whom Prana originates ? How does he comes into body ?, How does he stays by dividing himself? How he leaves the body ? How he supports outer and inner worlds ?" Pippalada answers that Prana originates from Atman (soul), the way like shadow of the person originates. Prana comes to body by Atmans will. He divides himself into five forms called Apana,Vyana, Udana,Samana etc. and performs various functions in the body. There are Nadi's (subtle channels of energy) in the heart in which Prana in the form of Udana circulates. Through one of the Nadi's, Udana carries life to heaven during death time if man has done Punya, and to Naraka if he has done Papa and to earth (human world) if both ( Papa and Punya ) are present. Being in the form of sun, Prana gives light to eye for seeing, thus he supports outer world by assuming form of sun.
Fourth Question[]
Asked by Souryayanee Gargya, this question is concerned with dream world of human being. Exact question is "Which elements in Human being actually sleep? Which are awake at that time (while sleeping) ? Among these who sees the dream, who feels bliss in it? In whom all these elements merge finally as their final destination?" Following answer is given. The way all sun rays go back into sun at the time of sunset, so are all the senses of man go back into their master the Mind. But still the five Prana's ( Vyana, Udana etc..) are awake. The one who sees the dream is mind. During dream less deep sleep this mind merges into Supreme Reality the Akshara, or Brahman. It is final refuge of elements, then Self feels bliss.
Fifth Question[]
What fruit does one get who regularly meditates on holy syllable OM till his/her death ? Is the fifth question of Shaibya Satyakama. Pippalada answers that OM indicates supreme reality the Para Brahman and one who meditates will merge into Para Brahman.
Conclusion[]
The answers to each of the questions are developed by Pippalada, within a perspective of great depth. The language and concepts of the answers are often abstruse and esoteric, but one may get from them glimpses that are rational and perceptive. Thus, in answering the question on the origin of life, Pippalada starts with the origin of all existence in terms of matter and energy, and develops the answer step by step, till in the last one, he gives as the most direct and immediate origin of life, the sperm of the species. The answer to the last question is, that the ultimate supreme source of all existence is Brahman.
Sources[]
Prashnopanishat (Kannada translation) : by Sri Adidevananda publisher Rama krishna Mission, Mysore.
External links[]
- [1].