Trishikhi Brahmanopanishad: Attaining Yoga (Yoga Upanishads)

A brahmin goes to aditya-loka, the world of the Sun to ask the fundamental questions of existence: “O Lord! What is the body? What is the breath? What is the cause? What is the soul?” The Sun replies that all comes from the form of Śiva, whose light is Brahman. From Brahman came the unmanifest, from which came the greater mind, from which came the individual form, from which came the five senses, from which came the five elements, from which came the entire world.Then follows explanations of how the world was formed through the five major elements, their qualities, properties and functions, their synthesis and through pañcikāraṇa, the divisions and combinations of the elements.To return to the source, the unmanifest Brahman, the brahmaṇa should follow the eightfold path of yoga leading to jñānaand the path of karmayoga or kriyāyoga. The necessity of renunciation and the importance of satsang, company of the wise, are emphasised. Each step of the eightfold path of yoga, viz. yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyama, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi, is explained in detail.Comprehensive descriptions are given of the components of the subtle body, viz. cakras, koṣas, nāḍīs, prāṇas, dhatus, four states of consciousness kuṇḍalinī and ātman. Teachings are given on the agni maṇḍala, the region of fire and its role in awakening the subtle energies, and the nāḍikanda, where the three main nāḍīs, iḍā piṅgalā and suṣumnā, unite and separate. The practices and unique benefits of nāḍī śodhana and kumbhaka are described in detail. A peaceful solitary place in nature with fresh water and food nearby is recommended for progress in sādhana. One who has developed awareness of the prāṇas can recognise the signs of approaching death when the prāṇa reduces its flow to various parts of the body.Practices for meditation: the five elements; the deities of the elements; Vāsudeva, the Transcendent Self; Viṣṇu; the forms in the Universe. During meditation the mudrās heldare ṣaṇmukhī mudrā, hṛdayāñjali mudrā and khecarī mudrā which help to channel the flow of prāṇa and awaken the dormant spiritual forces. Read more