Contribution of Andhra to Prashna Upanishad

Contribution of Andhra to Prasna Upanishad

                                              ( A Brief Study)

Dr. Chilakamarthi Durga Prasada Rao

PRASNA UPANISHAD :

This Upanishad belongs to Atharvaveda. It is called  Prasnopanishad because it consists of highly philosophical and intriguing questions.

1) What is the ultimate cause of the world?

2) What is the nature of the Supreme Being?

3) What are the nature and power of the sound Om?

4) What is the relation of the Supreme Being to the mundane world?

This Upanishad is more in prose form than in verse. Its commentaries include:-

Anandagiri's Bhashyatippani.

Upanishadbrahmendrayogi's Vivarana.

Bellamkonda Ramarayakavi's Vedantamukthavali.

Here is a sloka of Ramarayakavi from the Prasnopanishad.

स्थूलं जागरितं ह्यकारमयते विश्वं च वैश्वानरं

सूक्ष्मं स्वप्नमुपेति तैजसमथो हैरण्यगर्भात्मकम् |

मायां सुप्तिपदं च यं कलयते प्राज्ञं च योSपीश्वरं

प्राज्ञा यं न हि कम्पते भवति यत्सर्वात्मभूत: पुमान् ||

(The divine symbol 'AUM' has three attributes - 'A', 'U' and 'M'. The wakeful state is identified with 'A', the dreaming state, with 'U' and the deep sleep with 'M'. A fourth state, both different from and a remnant after the demolition of 'A', 'U' and 'M', is identified with Atman.)

TRANSLATIONS:

Atmanandayogi - Upanishattulu

Charla Ganapathi Sastry - Upinishat sudha

Pisapati Narayana Sastry - Andhradwadasopanishattulu

Pullela Sriramachandrudu - Prasnopanishad

(with pratipadartha and tatparya)

Nori Srinatha Venkata Somayajulu - Upanishaddarsanamu.

Kanuparthi Markandeyasastry - Srimad Andhropanishadjnanadeepamu.