Mandukya Upanishad – In Simple and Easy Way.

The Mandukya Upanishad is an essential text in the Atharva Veda branch of Vedic literature. Written in Sanskrit, this Upanishad is attributed to sages of the Vedic duration.

It entails the exploration of the 4 states of the Self or cognizance: jagruta (the dozing state), svapna (the dream nation), sushupti (deep sleep), and turiya (the fourth nation, past the primary three ).

Despite being the smallest of the fundamental Upanishads with only twelve mantras, the Mandukya Upanishad occupies a distinguished role because of its deep non secular connotations. While not completely explained, it summarizes the vital spiritual understanding in a concise way.

A Brief Overview of the Mandukya Upanishad

The Mandukya Upanishad elucidates that the eternal essence which permeates the universe, as well as past, present, and future, and beyond, is symbolized by ‘Om’. This essence is Brahman, and this Atman (self) is also Brahman.

Features of the Mandukya Upanishad:

1. Source and Commentary:
   • The Mandukya Upanishad is derived from the Brahmana section of the Atharvaveda.
   • Adi Shankaracharya has written a commentary on this Upanishad, and Gaudapadacharya has composed Karikas (verses) elaborating its teachings.
2. The Four States of the Self (Atman):
   • The Upanishad describes the self as having four states of expression: Jagrat (waking state), Swapna (dream state), Sushupti (deep sleep state), and Turiya (the fourth state).
3. Descriptions of the Four States:
   • Jagrat (Waking State):
     • In this state, the self is known as Vaishvanara. Here, the individual soul interacts outwardly through the seven limbs and nineteen mouths (senses), experiencing the gross, physical world. This state is characterized by external awareness.
   • Swapna (Dream State):
     • In the dream state, the self is called Taijasa. The individual turns inward, experiencing the impressions of the waking state through mental projections. This state involves internal awareness through the same seven limbs and nineteen mouths.
   • Sushupti (Deep Sleep State):
     • In deep sleep, the self merges into a state of blissful knowledge, free from dreams and desires. This state is known as Prajna, where the individual soul is in a state of undifferentiated consciousness, becoming the source of creation and dissolution for all beings.
   • Turiya (The Fourth State):
     • Beyond these three states lies the Turiya, the ultimate and true state of the self. In Turiya, the self is neither inwardly nor outwardly aware, nor is it a combination of both. It is beyond comprehension, indescribable, and without attributes. It is pure consciousness, peaceful, blissful, and non-dual, where the distinctions between the world, individual soul, and Brahman dissolve.

The Essence of Omkara as Described in the Mandukya Upanishad

The Mandukya Upanishad elucidates the essence of the self (Atman) through the four states of consciousness and correlates it with the syllable ‘Om’ (Omkara).

1. Akar (अ) – The First Matra:
   • The syllable ‘A’ represents the waking state (Jagrat) and is pervasive in speech, as all spoken words start with ‘A’ and it is inherent in all sounds.
2. Ukar (उ) – The Second Matra:
   • The syllable ‘U’ symbolizes the dream state (Swapna), where the impressions from the waking state manifest internally.
3. Makar (म) – The Third Matra:
   • The syllable ‘M’ signifies the deep sleep state (Sushupti), where both the waking (Akar) and dream (Ukar) states merge into a unified, undifferentiated consciousness. When chanting ‘Om’, the concluding sound of ‘M’ contains and transcends the preceding sounds of ‘A’ and ‘U’, representing the dissolution of the manifested world.

Thus, ‘Om’ embodies the creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe, making it a powerful symbol of the cosmic process.

The Three States and the Transcendent Fourth:

• Vaishvanara (Waking State):
  • Represented by Akar, this state is characterized by outwardly focused consciousness, engaging with the external world through various sensory and mental faculties.
• Taijasa (Dream State):
  • Denoted by Ukar, this state involves inwardly focused consciousness, where the mind processes and reflects upon the experiences of the waking state.
• Prajna (Deep Sleep State):
  • Represented by Makar, this state is marked by a profound sense of bliss and undifferentiated awareness, where the individual self merges into a state of unified consciousness.
• Turiya (The Fourth State):
  • Beyond the three, Turiya is the ultimate, transcendent state of the self. It is described as the Amatra (without measure), where the dualities of life dissolve. In this state, the distinctions between the individual soul (Jiva), the universe (Jagat), and the ultimate reality (Brahman) vanish, revealing the non-dual nature of pure consciousness, or Shiva.

Composition Period of the Upanishads

The exact period of the Upanishads’ composition is a topic of scholarly debate, with no unanimous consensus among experts.

Some Upanishads are considered integral parts of the original Vedic Samhitas, making them the most ancient. Others are regarded as sections of the Brahmanas and Aranyakas, indicating a composition period following the Samhitas.

General Timeline:

The generally accepted timeframe for the composition of the Upanishads ranges from 3000 BCE to 500 BCE. This broad range is derived from various factors, which include:

1. Archaeological and Geographical Context:
   • The physical evidence and geographical references within the texts provide clues about their age.
2. Names of Mythological or Vedic Sages:
   • References to ancient sages and their teachings help in dating the texts.
3. Reigns of Solar and Lunar Dynasty Kings:
   • Historical records of rulers from these dynasties offer a chronological framework for when certain Upanishads might have been composed.
4. Astronomical Descriptions:
   • Astronomical events and descriptions mentioned in the Upanishads provide significant data for determining their period.