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==== Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ====

==== Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ====

Mentioned in the Brhadaranayaka Upanishad, in the Yajnavalkya Gargi Samvada, one finds a very comprehensive synopsis about Brahman being attributeless<blockquote>स होवाच एतद्वै तदक्षरं गार्गि ब्राह्मणा अभिवदन्ति, अस्थूलमनण्व-ह्रस्वमदीर्घ-मलोहितमस्नेह-मच्छायमतमोऽवाय्वनाकाश-मसङ्गमरस-मगन्ध-मचक्षुष्क-मश्रोत्र-मवागमनोऽतेजस्क-मप्राण-ममुख-मगात्रमनन्तरमबाह्यम् न तदश्नाति किंचन । न तदश्नाति कश्चन ॥ बृह. ३,८.८ ॥ (Brha. Upan. 3.8.8)<ref>Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D_3p Adhyaya 3 Brahmana 8])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : O Gargi!, the knowers of Brahman say, this Immutable (Brahman) is that - it is neither gross (अस्थूलम्) nor minute (अनण्वः), neither short (अह्रस्वः) nor long (अदीर्घः), neither red in color (अलोहितः) nor viscous/oily (अस्नेहः), neither shadow (अच्छायः) nor darkness (अतमः), neither air (अवायुः) nor ether (अनाकाशः), unattached (असङ्गम्), neither of any taste (अरसम्) or odour (अगन्धः), without eyes (अचक्षुष्कः) or ears (अश्रोत्रः), without the speech organ (अवाक्) or the mind (अमनः), non effulgent (अतेजस्कः), without the vital force (अप्राणः) or the mouth (अमुखम् or face), not a measure (अगात्रम्), and without interior (अनन्तरम्) or exterior (अबाह्यम्). It does not eat anything, nor is IT eaten by anybody.<ref>Swami Madhavananda (1950 Third Edition) ''The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad with the commentary of Sankaracharya.'' Almora: Advaita Ashram. (Page 517)</ref>

Mentioned in the Brhadaranayaka Upanishad, in the Yajnavalkya Gargi Samvada, one finds a very comprehensive synopsis about Brahmatattva being attributeless<blockquote>स होवाच एतद्वै तदक्षरं गार्गि ब्राह्मणा अभिवदन्ति, अस्थूलमनण्व-ह्रस्वमदीर्घ-मलोहितमस्नेह-मच्छायमतमोऽवाय्वनाकाश-मसङ्गमरस-मगन्ध-मचक्षुष्क-मश्रोत्र-मवागमनोऽतेजस्क-मप्राण-ममुख-मगात्रमनन्तरमबाह्यम् न तदश्नाति किंचन । न तदश्नाति कश्चन ॥ बृह. ३,८.८ ॥ (Brha. Upan. 3.8.8)<ref>Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D_3p Adhyaya 3 Brahmana 8])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : O Gargi!, the knowers of Brahman say, this Immutable (Brahman) is that - it is neither gross (अस्थूलम्) nor minute (अनण्वः), neither short (अह्रस्वः) nor long (अदीर्घः), neither red in color (अलोहितः) nor viscous/oily (अस्नेहः), neither shadow (अच्छायः) nor darkness (अतमः), neither air (अवायुः) nor ether (अनाकाशः), unattached (असङ्गम्), neither of any taste (अरसम्) or odour (अगन्धः), without eyes (अचक्षुष्कः) or ears (अश्रोत्रः), without the speech organ (अवाक्) or the mind (अमनः), non effulgent (अतेजस्कः), without the vital force (अप्राणः) or the mouth (अमुखम् or face), not a measure (अगात्रम्), and without interior (अनन्तरम्) or exterior (अबाह्यम्). It does not eat anything, nor is IT eaten by anybody.<ref>Swami Madhavananda (1950 Third Edition) ''The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad with the commentary of Sankaracharya.'' Almora: Advaita Ashram. (Page 517)</ref>

By the fourfold negation of size (gross, minute, short, and long) all the characteristics of a substance are denied of IT, thus Brahman is not a substance (द्रव्यम्). Owing to lack of qualities such as red color, viscosity, oiliness etc Brahman does not have any qualities (गुणाः). Without any sense organs or the mind, it lacks any lustre, is immeasurable, lacking any vital force.

By the fourfold negation of size (gross, minute, short, and long) all the characteristics of a substance are denied of IT, thus Brahman is not a substance (द्रव्यम्). Owing to lack of qualities such as red color, viscosity, oiliness etc Brahman does not have any qualities (गुणाः). Without any sense organs or the mind, it lacks any lustre, is immeasurable, devoid of Prana or the vital force.

==== Kathopanishad ====

==== Kathopanishad ====

This upanishad describes the <blockquote>अशब्दमस्पर्शमरूपमव्ययं तथाऽरसं नित्यमगन्धवच्च यत् ।</blockquote><blockquote>अनाद्यनन्तं महतः परं ध्रुवं निचाय्य तन्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥</blockquote>

This upanishad describes Brahmatattva as follows <blockquote>अशब्दमस्पर्शमरूपमव्ययं तथाऽरसं नित्यमगन्धवच्च यत् ।</blockquote><blockquote>अनाद्यनन्तं महतः परं ध्रुवं निचाय्य तन्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥(Kath. Upan. 1.3.15)<ref name=":2">Kathopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4 Adhyaya 1 Valli 3])</ref></blockquote>One becomes freed from the jaws of death by knowing That which is soundless (अशब्दम्), touchless (अस्पर्शम्), formless (अरूपम्), undiminishing (अव्ययम्), and also tasteless (अरसम्), eternal (नित्यम्), odourless (अगन्धवत्), without beginning or end (अनाद्यनन्तं), distinct from Mahat (महतः परं), and ever constant (ध्रुवं).<ref name=":3" />

 

=== Unity of Jivatma and Brahman ===

=== Unity of Jivatma and Brahman ===

When Nachiketa presses Yama to reveal to him the supreme secret, Yama says <ref name=":1">Sharma, Ram Murthy. (1987 2nd edition) ''Vaidik Sahitya ka Itihas'' Delhi : Eastern Book Linkers (Page 143)</ref><blockquote>यदेवेह तदमुत्र यदमुत्र तदन्विह । मृत्योः स मृत्युमाप्नोति य इह नानेव पश्यति ॥ १० ॥</blockquote><blockquote>मनसैवेदमाप्तव्यं नेह नानाऽस्ति किंचन । मृत्योः स मृत्युं गच्छति य इह नानेव पश्यति ॥ ११ ॥ (Kath. Upan. 2.1.11)<ref>Kathopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Adhyaya 2, Valli 1])</ref></blockquote>Summary : The entity that exists in all beings from Brahma down to immovable and appears as non-Brahman owing to limiting factors (Jiva) is different from Supreme Brahman is subject to birth and death. What indeed is here, is there and what is there is here. He who sees as though there is difference between the two, goes from death to death. This is to be attained through the Manas only. There is no diversity between the Self and Supreme Brahman.<ref>Swami Gambhirananda (1989 Second Edition) ''Eight Upanishads, Volume 1 (Isa, Kena, Katha,and Taittriya)'' Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama</ref>

When Nachiketa presses Yama to reveal to him the supreme secret, Yama says <ref name=":1">Sharma, Ram Murthy. (1987 2nd edition) ''Vaidik Sahitya ka Itihas'' Delhi : Eastern Book Linkers (Page 143)</ref><blockquote>यदेवेह तदमुत्र यदमुत्र तदन्विह । मृत्योः स मृत्युमाप्नोति य इह नानेव पश्यति ॥ १० ॥</blockquote><blockquote>मनसैवेदमाप्तव्यं नेह नानाऽस्ति किंचन । मृत्योः स मृत्युं गच्छति य इह नानेव पश्यति ॥ ११ ॥ (Kath. Upan. 2.1.11)<ref>Kathopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Adhyaya 2, Valli 1])</ref></blockquote>Summary : The entity that exists in all beings from Brahma down to immovable and appears as non-Brahman owing to limiting factors (Jiva) is different from Supreme Brahman is subject to birth and death. What indeed is here, is there and what is there is here. He who sees as though there is difference between the two, goes from death to death. This is to be attained through the Manas only. There is no diversity between the Self and Supreme Brahman.<ref name=":3">Swami Gambhirananda (1989 Second Edition) ''Eight Upanishads, Volume 1 (Isa, Kena, Katha,and Taittriya)'' Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama</ref>

Brhdaranyaka Upanishad also lays emphasis of the Unity of Jiva and Brahman (2.4.6-9). In the [[Yajnavalkya Maitreyi samvada (याज्ञवल्क्यमैत्रेय्योः संवादः)|Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada]], the very nature of Atman is defined. All the brahmanas, kshatriyas, the whole world, the countless devatas and all beings are the form of Atman only.<ref name=":1" />

Brhdaranyaka Upanishad also lays emphasis of the Unity of Jiva and Brahman (2.4.6-9). In the [[Yajnavalkya Maitreyi samvada (याज्ञवल्क्यमैत्रेय्योः संवादः)|Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada]], the very nature of Atman is defined. All the brahmanas, kshatriyas, the whole world, the countless devatas and all beings are the form of Atman only.<ref name=":1" />

* Narayana as in Bhagavata Purana

* Narayana as in Bhagavata Purana

Nirguna Brahma devoid of all attributes is termed as

Nirguna Brahma devoid of all attributes is termed as

* Tat as in Chandogya Upanishad (6.8.7)

* Tat as in Chandogya Upanishad (6.8.7) Katha (2.1.3)

* Paramatma

* Paramatma

* Brahman (Atman) as in Brhdaranyaka (1.4.10) and Chandogya (3.14.1)

* Brahman (Atman) as in Brhdaranyaka (1.4.10) and Chandogya (3.14.1)