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Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad (नृसिंह तापनीय उपनिषत्) or Nrisimhatapanopanishad (((サンスクリット: नृसिंहोत्तरतापनीयोपनिषत्)), is one of the 108 Upanishadic Hindu scriptures, written in Sanskrit. It is one of the 31 Upanishads under the Atharvaveda. It is classified as one of the 17 Samanya Upanishad. It is presented in two parts, the Purva Tapaniya Upanishad and the Uttara Tapaniya Upanishad, which formed the main scriptures of Nrisimha sect of the Vaishnavas dated prior to the 7th century, when people of Nrisimha sect started worshipping the Man-lion avatar or incarnation of Vishnu. He is worshipped in this form mostly in South India and is the family deity of many followers of this sect. The Nrisimha Mantra, with its four supplementary mantras, is enunciated with the epithet "mantraraja" (king of hymns). It has "Om" as the foremost hymn which is repeatedly emphasized throughout this Upanishad. The text eulogizes Nrisimha Mantra and related hymns. It is one of the first sectarian theologies of Hinduism which focuses on the Nrisimha's three forms of Om, Atman, and Brahman. ==Contents== The Upanishad’s invocation and concluding hymns are prayers to the Devas, Indra, Sun, and Garuda as destroyer of evil, seeking blessings of eyes to see and offer obeisance and to enjoy a life span that the divine being ordains. Brihaspati, lord of prayer or devotion, too is invoked to bestow health, prosperity and peace. The Upanishad is presented in two parts, Poorva Tapaniya Upanishad which has five sub divisions which are also called Upanishads, and the Uttara Tapaniya Upanishad which consists of nine sections. ===Poorva Tapaniya Upanishad=== In the first part of this Upanishad, Nrisimha, also spelled Narasimha, is described as an avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu born in the anthropomorphic form of half human and half lion and seen in two colours of black and golden red. He takes this form to kill the demon, father of Prahlada, in order to put an end to the evil deeds of the demon. Nrisimha's description is also stated to represent Shankara, and not of Vishnu, as Neela Lohita (meaning: blue necked) which is an ascribed physiognomy of Lord Shiva and also as Umapathi (husband of Uma) or Parvati.〔〔 In the second part the significance of the Nrisimha Mantra as an important hymn to recite to overcome death and enjoy family life is emphasized. The key words used in the Nrisimha Mantra to worship Nrisimha are: "''Ugra'' (fierce), ''Veera'' (heroic), Maha Vishnu, ''Jwalantham'' (burning), Nrisimha (half man and half lion), Trivikrama (one who measures the world in three steps), ''Bheeshanam'' (fear full), ''Bhadram'' (safe), and ''Mruthyu-Mruthyum'' (death and deathlessness).”〔 In the third division of the Poorva Tapaniya, the Devas appeal to Brahma to teach them the meaning and benefits of Nrisimha Mantra, known as the king of all chants, which is set in ''anushtap'' meter (eight lettered rhythmic structure), which Brahma agrees to explain. Brahma explains that illusion or ''maya'' is personified by Nrisimha which in turn is identified as Om, each letter of which is recited differently to be blessed with benefits such as getting rid of misdeeds, attaining “ethereal knowledge.”〔 In the fourth division, Brahma explains that the benefits of the Nrisimha Mantra as a combination of: Pranava that is Om or AUM; Savitri an eight lettered hymn, which gives prosperity and wealth; Yajur Lakshmi, a 16-lettered hymn which will usher fame and prosperity; and ''Nrisimha Gayathri'' hymn in which Vedas and Devas are imbibed. Reciting it would give long life and bring moksha or liberation to the person who is knowledgeable about them. Brahma also tells that God will appear before the person who recites this mantra.〔 In the fifth division of this Upanishad, Brahma explains the importance of the Sudarshana Chakra, also known as Maha Chakra, which would fulfill one’s wishes and opens the way to ''moksha'' or liberation. Reciting this mantra daily without any aspirations would help overcome "fire, wind, sun, moon, devas, plants and poison". At the center of this Sudarshana Chakra, Om, the Taraka mantra and the single syllable ''Kshroum'' of Nrisimha are inscribed. On its several layers of petals prayers pertaining to specific gods are written. These are: Sudarshana (on six petals), Narayana (on eight petals), Vasudeva (on 12 petals), and ''mathruka'' (on 16 petals). The hymn ''Narasimha Anushtup Mantra Raja'' is inscribed on 32 petals. The chakra also represents the Yajur Veda, the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, Brahman and Amrutha (soma which confers immortality).〔 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「Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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