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Brahmavidya Upanishad, also spelled as Brahma Vidya Upanishad and known as Brahmavidyopanishad, is one of the 108 Upanishadic Hindu scriptures, written in Sanskrit. It is one of the 32 Upanishads under the ''Krishna Yajurveda''. It is called as “an esoteric teaching of the science of Brahman”. The Upanishad mainly explains the structure of Om, aspect of its sound, its placement, its beginning and end, and the significance of the fading away of its sound. ==Contents== The ''Brahmavidya Upanishad'' has 110 verses. The key issues dealt with in the scripture are Brahmavidya – the knowledge of ''Brahman'', the character of Brahman, the Om symbol and an individual’s nature of self-consciousness, human attachments and freedom therefrom. The description is "more mythical and symbolic", rather than philosophical. The first ten verses say that Om is composed of the three syllables, naming ''A'', ''u'' and ''m''. The syllable “m” is added a diacritic (Anusvara) in the form of dot (bindu) above it which gives the word a spiritual sound. The syllables are compared with three Vedas as well as three worlds – Svarga (heaven, upper realms), Prithvi (earth) and Patala (lower realms). It is stated as representing the sun, moon and fire (agni). The Sushumna ''Nadi'' (channel) which runs along the spinal cord of the body is described. The sun’s brightness emanating from 72,000 chords is compared to the Sushumna. The chanting of Om by the sage causes him to be one with the Brahman, in a similar fashion as the sound of bells coalesce into “sound of peace” releasing him from his strong convictions. The sound of Om is compared to the sound made by a metallic vessel or the sound of a bell, which gradually terminates into silence. The individual self is represented by air, essential breathing and the sky. It is said that chanting the ''soham'' which means “I am that”, is akin to chanting Om and it enables realization of self in the same way as ghee (clarified butter) is sourced to milk. The chanting done, with the cords in the middle of the body, is compared to the realization one attains through yogic exercise of the Kundalini. The "Supreme Self" (Paramatman) is compared to the ''hamsa'' bird residing in the heart of all as soul; the self-realization of which frees one of worldly bondages. The practice of yogic exercises, through a guru (who is identified as the Lord), has the power to realize the ultimate self and Brahman, and thus detach oneself from the life cycle, Veda and sciences and so forth. The realization of Paramatman is said to be achieved only via a guru or the Vedas. The nature of Paramatman is explained further and identified with the deities Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Purusha. The difference between ''jiva'' (the living being) and ''Brahman'' (the infinite Self) is expounded. Five selves are related to five ''Pancha-Brahma'' deities Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshvara and Sadashiva, who are said to be in charge of creation, protection, destruction, dissolution and regeneration of the Universe. They are said to reside in "the heart, throat, palate, forehead and the tip of the nose" in the body. For example, Brahma is said to be positioned 12 aṅgula (a finger's breadth) from the extreme end of the nose, where the yoginis (female practitioners of Yoga) reside, and where breathing abates and vanishes. It is the location whose control can bring back the breath, and link it to the mind to achieve the secret of utmost happiness, which will be oblivious to the externalities of sight and feelings. Yoga, which enables one to attain to be rid of aspects of good and evil, is to be imparted only by a guru to a student who deserves it and has the sincerity of devotion and desire to learn it. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Brahmavidya Upanishad」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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