Devi Upanishad (देव्युपनिषत्)
 |
This article needs editing.
Add and improvise the content from reliable sources. |
Devi Upanishad (Samskrit: देव्युपनिषत्) is one of the minor Upanishads listed as the 81st of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad.[1] It is a Shakta Upanishad (ie. an Upanishad extolling Shakti) belonging to the Atharvaveda.[2] In this Upanishad, Devi declares that she is the all; the deities pray to her with Devi-Gayatri; and the Goddess is identified with Adi-vidya through whom sorrow is overcome.[3]
शान्तिमन्त्रः ॥ Shanti Mantra
The Muktikopanishad mentions 'bhadram karnebhih' as the shanti mantra for Devi Upanishad belonging to the Atharvaveda.
प्रश्नमुंडकमांडुक्य...त्रिपुरातपनदेवीभावना...दत्तात्रेयगारुडानामथर्ववेदगतानामेकत्रिंशत्संख्याकानामुपनिषदां भद्रं कर्णेभिरिति शांतिः ॥५॥[4] praśnamuṁḍakamāṁḍukya...tripurātapanadevībhāvanā...dattātreyagāruḍānāmatharvavedagatānāmekatriṁśatsaṁkhyākānāmupaniṣadāṁ bhadraṁ karṇebhiriti śāṁtiḥ ॥5॥
The complete shanti mantra of the Devi Upanishad is as follows,
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः । स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाँसस्तनूभिर्व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः । स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥[2]
oṁ bhadraṁ karṇebhiḥ śr̥ṇuyāma devāḥ bhadraṁ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ । sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvām̐sastanūbhirvyaśema devahitaṁ yadāyuḥ ॥
svasti na indro vr̥ddhaśravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no br̥haspatirdadhātu ॥
oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
Meaning: Om, O worshipful ones, may our ears hear what is good and auspicious. Many we see what is auspicious. May we sing your praise, live our allotted span of life in perfect health and strength. May Indra (who is) extolled in the scriptures, Pushan, the all-knowing, Tarkshya who saves from all harm, and Brhaspati who protects our spiritual lustre, vouchsafe prosperity in our study of the scriptures and the practice of the truths contained therein. Om peace, peace, peace.[5]
The first half of this mantra ie. 'bhadraṁ karṇebhiḥ... devahitaṁ yadāyuḥ' appears atleast, if not more, in Rgveda (sukta 1.89)[6], Yajurveda (Maitrayani samhita, 4.14)[7], Aitareya Aranyaka (1.1)[8], Laugakshi Grhyasutra[9], etc. while the complete mantra is seen in Samaveda (Kauthumiya samhita, 2.9.3)[10], Taittiriya Aranyaka (1.1)[11], Apastamba Shrautasutra (14.16)[12], Hiranyakeshi Shrautasutra (15.5)[13], etc.
Text & Meaning
चिद् शक्तेः सर्वात्मरूपेण ब्रह्मत्वम् ॥ The Power of Consciousness, as the Self of all, is Brahman
सर्वे वै देवा देवीमुपतस्थुः । कासि त्वं महादेवि । साब्रवीदहं ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी । मत्तः प्रकृतिपुरुषात्मकं जगच्छून्यं चाशून्यं च ।अहमानन्दानानन्दाः विज्ञानाविज्ञाने अहम् ।
Meaning: All the gods questioned the Devi : Who are you, O great Goddess ? She replied, I am of the nature of Brahman. From me is the world, of the nature of Prakriti and Purusha, void and non-void. I am pleasure and pain. Knowledge and ignorance.[3]
All the gods waited upon the Goddess (and asked): 'Great Goddess, who art Thou ?'
She replied: I am essentially Brahman. From Me (has proceeded) the world comprising Prakrti and Purusha, the void and the Plenum. I am (all forms of) bliss and non-bliss. Knowledge and ignorance are Myself.[14]
ब्रह्माब्रह्मणि वेदितव्ये । इत्याहाथर्वणि श्रुतिः ॥ १॥[15]
Meaning: Brahman and non-brahman are to be known - says the scripture of the Atharvan-s.[14]
अहं पञ्चभूतान्यपञ्चभूतानि । अहमखिलं जगत् ।[3][15]
Meaning: I am the quintuplicated and non-quintuplicated elements. I am the entire world.[3]
I am the five elements as also what is different from them ie. apanchabhutani or the radical forms of the five elements, earth, water, fire, air and akasha in their uncompounded state; known also as Panchatanmatras.
I am the entire world.[14]
वेदोऽहमवेदोऽहम् । विद्याहमविद्याहम् । अजाहमनजाहम् । अधश्चोर्ध्वं च तिर्यक्चाहम् ।[15]
Meaning: I am the Veda as well as aveda ie. what is different from the Veda meaning, all non-scriptural work in all languages, including Sanskrit.[14]
I am vidya as well as avidya (?)
I am the unborn; I am the born. Below and above and around am I.[14]
References
- ↑ 108 Upanishads
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Devi Upanishad
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 TMP Mahadevan, The Upanishads, Madras: G.A.Natesan & Co.
- ↑ Muktikopanishad
- ↑ Muktikopanishad
- ↑ Rgveda, Mandala 1, Sukta 89
- ↑ Maitrayani Samhita, Kanda 4, Prapathaka 14
- ↑ Aitareya Aranyaka, Aranyaka 1, Adhyaya 1
- ↑ Laugakshi Grhyasutra, Kandika 41-50
- ↑ Samaveda, Kauthumiya Samhita, Uttararchika, Prapathaka 9, Urddha 3
- ↑ Taittiriya Aranyaka, Prapathaka 1
- ↑ Apastamba Shrautasutra, Prashna 14
- ↑ Hiranyakeshi Shrautasutra, Prashna 15
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 A.G.Krishna Warrier (1967), The Sakta Upanisads, Madras: The Adyar Library and Research Centre.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 A.Mahadeva Sastri (1950), The Sakta Upanisads, Madras: The Adyar Library.