Upanishads

Atharvasira Upanishad

Atharva Veda
upanishad group - Shaiva (Shaivite)

Oh! O Devas (deities), may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O worthy of worship!
May we enjoy the term of life allotted to us by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs incessantly!
May the glorious Indra bless us!
May the all-knowing Sun bless us!
May Garuda, the thunderer of evil, bless us!
May Brihaspati grant us well-being!
Om! Let there be Peace in me!
Let there be Peace in my surroundings!
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!

[In the Atharvasira Upanishad, the three-syllable letter which has a meaning and also has no meaning and which is eternal stands alone. It is said to be the basis of everything and there is no basis for it.]

1. The Devas with raised hands pray to Rudra.

2. Om!

He who is Rudra, he is the only god. He is Brahma, and we salute him again and again.

He who is Rudra, he is the only god. He is Vishnu, and we salute him again and again.

He who is Rudra, he is the only god. He is the truth, and we salute him again and again.

He who is Rudra, he is the only God. He is everything, and we salute him again and again.

3.1. The earth is your feet. Bhuvar-loka (one of the seven worlds above the earth) is your middle. And suvar-loka (another world above the earth) is your head. You are the form of the universe. You who are Brahma appear to be one, also divided into two, and divided into three, and appear as if you are beyond all relationships (attachments). You are the world. You are the power. You are that which is offered in the fire, and that which is not offered in the fire. You are that which is given in charity, and that which is not given. You are everything and also nothing. You are the entire universe and you are not. You are that which is done and that which is not done. You are that which is above and that which is below. And you are the home of all beings.

3.2. By drinking much somapana (sacred drink) of your grace, we have become immortal. We have reached the apex. We have seen the devas. Who can do us any harm? We humans have no shortage of this nectar (your grace).

3.3. You, the primordial, are older than the sun and the moon.

3.4. For the sake of this world, this immortal primordial being, seizes this world which is created by Prajapati and which is small and peaceful, without touching it, and attracts its form of things by form, peacefulness by peace, smallness by smallness and airy nature by its airy nature and absorbs it. Salutations and greetings to this great absorber.

3.5. Those gods who reside in the heart, reside in the soul of the heart. And you who reside in this heart are beyond the triadic nature. [The three letters Aa, Uu and ma or the three states, namely, waking, dreaming and deep dreamless sleep.]

3.6. The head of the "Sound Om" is on your left side. Its feet are on your right side. This "Sound Om" is pranava (primordial sound). This pranava is spread everywhere. That which is everywhere is the greatest. That which is limitless shines like a white star. That which is also called shuklam (seminal fluid - the basic unit of life) is very, very small. That which is small is like the power of lightning. That which is like the power of lightning is the supreme Brahman. That Brahman is one and only one. That one and only one is Rudra (loosely translated - angry), he is also Ishana (the form of Lord Shiva with a tuft and riding a bull), he is also the supreme God and he is also the lord of all things.

4. Rudra is called the personification of Pranava because he sends souls to heaven at the time of death (dissolution).

He is called "one who has the form of Pranava" because the Brahmins recite and propagate the Rik, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas only after reciting "om".

He is called "all-pervading" because, like the oil in the sesame seed, he permeates the entire world and its beings from top to bottom and from right to left.

He is called "ananta (infinite)" because his end is neither above nor below, neither right nor left.

He is called "tara (protector)" because he protects from the fear of life, which consists of the fear of remaining in the womb, fear during birth, fear of disease, fear of old age and fear of death.

He is called "shukla" (white/seminal fluid) because by pronouncing his name we get rid of all pain.

He is called "sukshma" (minute) because he penetrates in a tiny form throughout the body without touching any organ.

He is called "vaidhyuta" (electric) because as soon as his name is pronounced, in a state of darkness where nothing is visible, holy knowledge comes like a ray of lightning.

He is called "Parabrahman (the supreme reality)" because though he is within every thing, he is within and without everything, he is the refuge of every thing and greater than the big, he is within every thing.

He is called "eka (single)" because he alone destroys everything and recreates everything anew.

He is called "tirtha (sacred water)" because he is the supreme fusion of all the sacred waters sought in the east, south, north and west.

He "eka (loner)" because he creates all beings and travels in them alone, and no one understands where he comes from and where he goes.

He is "Rudra" because his fast-moving form is not understood by everyone, but only by great sages and devotees.

He is "Ishana" because of his power of creation and maintenance, and because he rules over all the devas (gods).

We come to you as to a cow for milk. You are 'Ishana' because the Vedas indicate you as the one who shows the heavens and rules over the other gods.

You are also called 'Maheshwara (the great Lord)' because you bless your devotees by giving them knowledge, because you created words and brought knowledge, and because you renounced everything and achieved the highest state of being through yoga and your grace.

This is the story of Rudra.

5.1. This god is the one who penetrates all sides. He is the one who came before all things. He is the one who is in the womb. He is the one who is in all beings that have appeared so far and in all those who will be created in the future. He is also the one who sees within, but has a face that looks outward.

5.2. Rudra is one and only one. There is no second to him. He rules all the worlds by his power. He completely permeates all beings. He is the one who, during the deluge, absorbs all beings. He is the one who creates all beings and maintains them.

5.3. He alone exists in all the organs where birth takes place. He travels among all beings and is the cause of their existence. The seeker will get immeasurable peace by seeking and surrendering to this god who gives everything to him who asks and who is worthy of praise.

5.4. He turns fire, air, water, earth, ether and everything that exists here into ashes. He who sees this and mentally realizes it and observes the "penance (austerity) of Pashupati (Lord of all beings)" and who covers his whole body with this ashes, attains the state of Brahman. By worshipping "Pashupati (Lord of all beings)" in this way, the bondage of all beings is broken and they attain salvation.

6. There is none greater than he, on whom all the worlds are strung like beads. Throughout the ages, nothing has been greater than he and nothing will be greater than him. He has thousands of legs, but one and only one head. He pervades everything.

From "akshara (letter/language/immortal being)" time is created. From "time (ages)" "all-pervasiveness" is created. This "all-pervasiveness" is Rudra. Rudra destroys beings even when he sleeps. From his 'breath' the 'power of tamas (darkness)' is created. From tamas water is created. Mixing this water with the finger makes it cold. Mixing the coolness creates 'foam'. From this foam the galaxy is created. From the galaxy Brahman is created. From Brahman air is created. From air the 'sound of Om' is created. From the 'sound of Om' Savitri is created. From Savitri Gayatri is created and from Gayatri all the worlds are created. Those who worship 'penance' and 'truth' attain permanent happiness. Worship of this Brahman, who is a mixture of light, water, essence and nectar, by repeating 'om bhur bhuva swara' is the greatest penance.

7. The Brahmana who studies this Upanishad Atharva-shira becomes an Ashrotriya and a Shrotriya. He who is not educated is educated, he is purified by fire, he is purified by air. He is purified by the sun, he becomes known to all the gods. All the Vedas meditate on him, and he has bathed in all the holy places. It is by all sacrifices that Gayatri is desired. Sixty thousand chants of the Purana history are recited. One hundred thousand Rudras are recited. One thousand omkaras are recited. It purifies the eyes. It purifies the seventh Purusha-yuga, said Lord Atharva-sira. After reciting this mantra, as soon as he is purified and engaged in action, by reciting the second mantra, one attains lordship over the ganas. After reciting the third mantra, one should enter the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Om! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O worthy of worship!
May we enjoy the life span granted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs incessantly!
May the glorious Indra bless us!
May the all-knowing Sun bless us!
May Garuda, the thunderer of evil, bless us!
May Brihaspati grant us well-being!
Om! May there be Peace in me!
May there be Peace in my surroundings!
May there be Peace in the forces that act upon me!

Thus ends the Atharvasira Upanishad, which belongs to the Atharva Veda.