The Om – Selections From the Upanishads, an Ancient Hindu Text, Part 2 of 2

Let’s continue with selections from the fourth to the seventh khanda in the first prapâthaka in the Khandogya-Upanishad from the book “The Upanishads,” translated by Max Müller. This text expounds on how the Om is the essence of all beings on Earth and emphasizes the importance of meditating on the Om to achieve eternal liberation.

KHÂNDOGYA-UPANISHAD.

FOURTH KHANDA.

“Let a man meditate on the syllable Om, for the udgîtha is sung beginning with Om. And this is the full account of the syllable Om. The Devas, being afraid of death, entered upon (the performance of the sacrifice prescribed in) the threefold knowledge (the three Vedas). They covered themselves with the metrical hymns. Because they covered (khad) themselves with the hymns, therefore the hymns are called khandas. […] Death observed the Devas in the Rik, Yagus, and Sâman-(sacrifices). And the Devas seeing this, rose from the Rik, Yagus, and Sâman-sacrifices, and entered the Svara, that is the Om (they meditated on the Om). When a man has mastered the Rig-veda, he says quite loud Om; the same, when he has mastered the Sâman and the Yagus. This Svara is the imperishable (syllable), the immortal, free from fear. Because the Devas entered it, therefore they became immortal, and free from fear. He who knowing this loudly pronounces (pranauti) - that syllable, enters the same (imperishable) syllable, the Svara, the immortal, free from fear, and having entered it, becomes immortal, as the Devas are immortal.”

FIFTH KHANDA.

“The udgîtha is the pranava, the pranava is the udgîtha. And as the udgîtha is the Sun, So is the pranava, for He (the Sun) goes sounding Om. ‘Him I sang praises to, therefore are Thou my only one,’ thus said Kaushîtaki to his son. ‘Do thou revolve his rays, then thou will have many sons.’ So much in reference to the Devas. Now with reference to the body. Let a man meditate on the udgîtha […], for he goes sounding Om. […]

He who knows that the udgîtha is the pranava, and the pranava the udgîtha, rectifies from the seat of the Hotri priest any mistake committed by the Udgâtri priest in performing the udgîtha, yea, in performing the udgîtha.”

SIXTH KHANDA.

“[…] Now that golden person, who is seen within the Sun, with golden beard and golden hair, golden altogether to the very tips of His nails, Whose eyes are like blue lotuses, His name is ut, for he has risen (udita) above all evil. He also who knows this, rises above all evil. […]”