TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD BHRUGUVALLI FIRST ANUVAKA

            Varunidevatha Upanishad                                             

                                                                                       

    Introduction:                                                                            
                                  

 The substance elucidated so  far in Anandavalli or Brahmavalli is that the Brahman which is the form of ‘Satya, Jnana,  and  Ananta’ (Truth,Knowledge,and Infinite), after the creation of ‘akasa’(sky) and ‘anna’(food) and other things, manifested Itself through them and appears to perform the duties of  material existence (samsarikadharmas). Therefore one should realize that he is the form of that ‘ananda’ or Bliss which is beyond all actions and invisible. One who realizes the unity and non-distinction between the Jiva (individual soul)and the Brahman (Absolute Soul)will transcend all actions good and bad.These actions shall destroy the cycle of his birth and death.This brings the Brahma Vidya description to an end.

      But the ‘tapas’(penance) leading to Brahma Vidya (knowledge of the Brahman) and the know how for the upasana of ‘anna’(food) and other things have not been described.  So, for that purpose, Bhruguvalli is described in the form of a conversation between the father Varuna and his son Bhrugu as ‘vidyasthuthi’. A father instructs his darling son on the best and foremost of education which is out of the ordinary. He would enthuse his son not to neglect or be nonchalant or casual about such an invaluable education.

Mantra:  bhrugurvai varunihi Varunam pitaramupasasara adhihibhagavo brahmeti………….

Meaning:  The renowned sage Bhrugu approached his father Varuna with a desire for the knowledge of the Brahman and prayed by saying ‘adhihibhagavo Brahma.’ Then , the father Varuna, seeing his son approach him like a true disciple in search of a ‘sadguru’ (true preceptor) for Brahma jnana, instructs him on the six main gateways to the knowledge of the Brahman. They are, according to Varuna, 1 ‘anna’ (food),  2 prana (soul), 3 chakshus (eyes), 4 srothra (ears), 5 manas (mind)and 6 vak (speech). He also described to his son Bhrugu the characteristics of the Brahman. He explained to Bhrugu that Brahman is that object that has created Brahma and all other creatures.It is also that by which all the created beings live and thrive on and finally merge in to IT during the deluge. In short, that object with which every creature, in its birth, life and growth is connected and finally merges into it at death is defined as the Brahman.The root cause of this Jagat (universe) is the Brahman. Varuna asked his son Bhrugu to understand  IT specially. “Obtain this Brahman through these six  gateways of ‘anna, prana, chakshus, srothra, manas,and vak.’”

According to Sruthi ‘pranasya pranamutha chakshusas chakshuruta srothrasya srothra mannasy annam manaso ye manovidusthe nichikyur Brahma puranamagryam.’ (He is) the life of life,eye of the eyes, ear of the ears, food of foods, mind of the minds, and  speech of speeches. One who understands Him shall realize the pre-creation Brahman as the ‘atma’.

Having heard from his father, the characteristics of the Brahman and the main gateways through which he could approach and realize, sage Bhrugu  performed  penance (thapas) for obtaining the Brahman. Varuna, has described the characteristics and the ways to attain the Brahman. But he has not defined the Brahman as This or That. In fact, it is impossible to define the Brahman conclusively as This  or That.

Though Varuna did not order him to do  thapas,  Bhrugu performed penance as it is the best means of obtaining what one wants. Acute concentration and focusing of the mind and the organs of the body is what is called the great  thapas  or penance. This is greater than all other duties or dharmas (Mahabaratha Moksha Dharma 250-4). According to Sutra Samyuta, an enquiry into these questions, “Who am I? What is mukthi? I am drowned in samsara by this!” and an explanation of these critical issues is real thapas or penance in the words of scholars and pandithas.