First Chapter
Devas approached Lord Brahma and requested him, “Please teach us about the soul which is more minute than the atom and also about the letter “Om”. He said, “So be it” and what he said was:
“All this is the letter “Om”. What is past, what is present and what will be in future are its interpretations. All these are Om. All these are Brahmam. This soul also is Brahmam. Joining this Atma (soul) with the Brahmam called Om and joining together the Brahmam and the soul, and realizing that the birthless, deathless, nectar drenched and fearless Brahmam is nothing but the Om, and then putting together the three types of bodies and all these in to it and then making it our own so as to become one with that and then destroy it. Continue to meditate that Om which is the soul with the three types of bodies and also the Parabrahmam with three types of bodies. This soul which is gross and enjoys mega pleasures, which is also very minute and enjoys even the minutest pleasures and which becomes united and enjoys the pleasures of happiness, has four legs (branches).
When it is awake its feelings are gross. It enjoys gross feelings with its seven organs and 19 faces (ten sense organs, five pranas, mind, brain, sensibility and ego). Its name is,Chaturathma Viswan (on the whole) and Vaisvanaran (partly). This is its first leg.
In the state of dream, its feelings are very minute. It will enjoy this minute sense with its seven organs and nineteen faces. Its name is Chaturathma Thaijasan (on the whole) and also Hiranygarbhan (partly). This is its second leg.
Where there is no desire and also where there are no dreams, that state is called Sushupthi. In that state, one is single, personification of knowledge, having an endless form, one who enjoys happiness and steadfastly concentrates only on knowledge. His name is Chaturathma Pragnan (knower). This is the third leg (aspect). He alone is Lord of all beings, one who knows everything, one who resides in everything, one who is the root cause of everything and one where all beings which were born meet their end. These three involving Sushupthi and Swapna are only illusions. Soul is the only form which is real.
The fourth feet (aspect) of this four fold soul is Thureeya. It is something which make all others act, something which is within everything and it is the active essence beyond Jagrat (awakening), Sushupthi (sleep) and Swapna(dream). Something about it is as follows: It is without macro consciousness. It is without micro consciousness. It is without medium consciousness. It is the personification of consciousness. It is not something immobile and it is not immobile consciousness. It cannot be seen. It cannot be described. It cannot be understood. It is something without any identification. It is something which is unimaginable. It is something which cannot be pointed out. It is something which can be perceived only with the firm belief that there is only one soul. It is that aspect of Pancha Boothas (Five elements viz earth, air, fire, water and ether), where the entire universe is crashed in. It is considered as the fourth state after Shiva (peace), Santha (inner peace without any negative activity), and Advaita (the concept of non dualism). It is the soul. It is that thing which has to be understood. It is that aspect of God, which is the knowledge beyond all knowledge and is called Thuriya Thuriyam.
Second Chapter
The four branches of Brahmam, which is Shining well, is full of same essence of happiness, is never aging, is never dying, is full of nectar and which is providing protection, should be matched with the four letters (branches) of Om. The one who knows, that the Chaturathma Viswan (on the whole) and Vaiswanaran (partly) who are awake and have similarity to the four formed Aakara (letter Aa), are spread inside everything in the form of Sthoola (macro), Sookshma (micro), Bheeja (root) and Sakshi (witness) and are the first of everything, would realize all his wishes. He would be the first among every one.
The Chaturathma Thaijasan (on the whole) and Hiranya Garbhan (partly) who exist in the state of dreams are similar to the four formed letter Uu. This Uu has the form of gross, micro, root and witness. Because of its greatness and because of its double relation, the one who knows this through gross, micro, root and witness aspects would increase the tide of knowledge. He would possess equanimity along with pleasure and pain.
The Chaturathma Pragnan (on the whole) and Easwaran (partly), who are in the state of sleep, are similar to the four formed letter Ma. This letter Ma also has the forms of gross, micro, root and witness. The one who knows this in its aspect of its measurability and its capacity to hide it in itself by macro, micro, root and witness properties, would be able to measure the entire world by his wisdom and would be able to hide everything within himself.
Like this we have to pray on the stages of wakefulness, sleep and dream by the Aa, Uu, and Ma letters of Om. The fourth letter is the one which has within itself the Easwara. It is that which can rule by itself, it is itself Easwara and it has a self glitter. This soul which is the fourth, exists as known and unknown among all beings. Its light is like the Kalagni Surya (sun who is like a fire causing death) at the time of the final deluge. It gives to all, itself as soul and would make everything in to itself. Like the Sun which swallows darkness, this soul which is the unified power, exists like fire which remains detached after burning the fuel, beyond word and mind and has a holy divine form and is the Thuriya. This is the Om. It is within everything which has a name and form, and is the knowledge and the knower. Because it exists as Thuriya and has a divine form and is within everything as knowledge and the knower and is detached and formless, there are no differences within it. And so the teaching regarding this is as follows:
Because it is without syllable, it is peace (Shiva), it is the place where universe meets the end, it is indescribable, it has a non dualistic form and is placed in the fourth position, and it is “Om” itself. The soul, who understands this in this manner, would attain the soul himself.
This valorous hero would understand Thuriya using the Narsaimha Anushtup Mantra Raja. This would make the soul shine. He should deeply meditate on Brahmam as something which would destroy everything, which cannot be conquered by any one, which is everywhere, which shines for ever, which is devoid of ignorance, which is able to cut off his own bondage, which is non dual, which is personification of happiness, which is the basis for everything, which exists for ever and which is one without ignorance, passion and base qualities.
Third Chapter
Meditate deeply on Pranava (Om) in the form of Chidagni (The fire within) which is in Agni Mandala (Orbit of fire) of the Mooladhara, in the Maha Peeta (consisting of 4, 7 and 32 petal lotus) with its family of four worlds (Earth, atmosphere, heavens and moon world) and seven souls (Loka-Veda-Devatha-Gana-Chanda-Agni-Vyahruthi). Then meditate on letter Aa which is the Chaturathma (4 souls) and the Sapthathma (seven souls) as Brahma in the belly (Mani Pooraka), on letter Uu as Vishnu in the heart (Aanahatha), on letter Ma as Rudra in the middle of eyelids (Aagna), on the dot which is the happy nectar form of the soul of Omkara (Sound of Om) in Dwadasantha (just above the eyes) and the soul (Athma) in the form of sound in Shodasantha. Thus after worshipping with nectar (Ananda Amrutha) the four fold Brahmas (Devatha, Teacher, Mantra and the soul), Vishnu, Rudra separately and then together in the form of Linga with offerings and then unifying the linga forms in the Atma Jyothi (Light of the soul) and filling up the macro, micro and causal bodies with this light, we have to unify Atma Jyothi which is their basis with macro, micro, root and witness properties. Afterwards adjust the very gross Virat form in the very micro Hiranyagarbha form, and this micro form in the great causal Iswara form and after arranging the mantras similarly, and meditating on “Otha-Anuj-Jnathru-Anugna-Avikalpa” stages, and merging all this in to the Omkara (sound of Om) in Thuriya, we have to reach the Nirvikalpa Paramathma (formless great truth).
Fourth Chapter
Thus the soul should be meditated upon nine times as the Omkara form of Para Brahma with thuriya pranava sound. Using anushtup mantra as the ever happy full Atma starting with the chants “Om Ugram, Sachidananda Poorna-Prathyag-Sadathmanam, Nrusimham Pramathmanam Param Brahma Chinthayami” and ending with “Om Mruthyum Mruthyum….”. Then the same prayer nine times with Chidathmanam instead of Sadathmanam. Then the same prayer 9 times with Anandathmanam instead of Sadathmanam. Then the same prayer 9 times with Poornathmanam instead of Sadathmanam and again the same prayer with Pratyagathmanam instead of Sadathmanam. Meditating well on the five forms of Sath, Chit, Ananda, Poorna and Atma and pray with the Navathmaka mantras and then meditate on the soul using “Aham (self)”, then salute and then unite yourself with Brahmam. [Example for mantras of Namaskara (saluting) “Om Ugram Sachidananda Poorna Prathyag Sadathmanam (substitute Chidathmanam etc) Nrusimham Paramathmanam Param Brahma Aham Namami.”]
The other alternative is to pray Lord Narasimha using the Anushtup Mantra. He (Narasimha) who is God exists as a human being and also as soul of every one for all times and every where, and also as one who destroys attachments and also as God of the universe. He is the soul of Thuriya. Believing he is yourself, the one who practices yoga should meditate on the Omkara Brahmam.
He is the great sage who serves God, who establishes the lion with its fame, after mutually attracting Viswa, Thaijasa and Pragna who are like the sons of Atma with Pranava which has been pointed out as the bull of Vedas, after making them without separate identity and finishing them in Sakshi Chaithanya and afterwards kill the darkness of ignorance using the fame of the lion.
That devotee who after saluting Virat, Hiranya Garbha and Easwara who have been joined in the horns of Pranava and uniting them in the same Paramatma principle and then saluting Narasimha as described above and make him personally present by methods like Ugra (Very angry) and Veera (great hero), would exist in the form similar to Narasimha.
Fifth Chapter
That type of practitioner would not have any desire towards worldly things, would have all his earlier desires fulfilled and would have desire only on Atma (soul). His Pranas (soul spirits) do not start and go any where and would attain their ultimate here itself in Brahmam. He exists as Brahmam and attains Brahmam. He who worships the exalted Atma in Omkara (the letter Om), attains Brahmam in the form of Narasimham.
He who meditates and venerates the ultimate God in the form of Aa, Uu and Ma, which is incomparable, which is the holy spirit, which sees every thing, which is the witness of everything, which swallows everything, which is the darling of every body, which is prior to everything and which makes everything else shine, would understand and know Para Brahma. One who knows like that would shine as God Para Brahma Narasimha.
Sixth Chapter
Devas wanted to understand this Atma (soul). The Asura qualities caught hold of them. To get rid of that effect, they worshipped Narasimha who is the Thuriya soul which is in the summit of Omkara using the Anushtup Mantra. Then the sin like Asura qualities itself became the great light of wisdom which is the prime happiness (like poison becoming medicine). Those devas became mentally calm, having their sensory organs under control, became those who were not attracted by worldly desires, became those having patience, became those whose conduct became stable, became those who were attracted by the Atma, became those who were having playfulness, unity and happiness, and became those who realized that “Om” is “light of Atma which is Para Brahmam”, and felt that all other places are empty and merged in to the “Om”. So the practitioner should do penance like devas, stabilize his mind in the Omkara Para Brahmam, and would make other people see his Atma as Para Brahmam. There is a holy stanza about this viz. “After meditating on the horns which are the different parts of Pranava and further meditating on the Thuriya Paramatma which is a horn but not a part, add the Nrusimha Raja Mantra to the different parts of Pranava.” The three types of Devas(Sathvika, Rajasa and Thamasa) serve the pranava in which, the first two letters (Aa and Uu) are merged and fixed in the third letter Ma and make themselves exalted.
Seventh Chapter
Adding the first half of the Uu with the letter Aa, and making it as the form of Lord Narasimha, and then using the second half of letter Uu on Narasimha Brahma because it is macro, because it is shining, because it is famous, because it is Mahadeva (great God), because he is Maheswara (Greatest God), because it is the best Sathva (sathvic quality), because it is the greatest wisdom, because it is the greatest happiness, and because it is the greatest lord, then unite it with soul which is the meaning of the letter Ma. One who knows this, would be without a body, without sensory organs, without soul, without ignorance, with the form of Sat Chit Ananda (ever lasting bliss) and would become as one who attained salvation (one who attains Swarajya).
Therefore one has to meditate on Para Brahma with the letter Aa, cross the mind with letter Ma and search for that state where one is the witness of the mind. When one pushes out everything, then everything enters in and when he attains awakening of wisdom, then everything rises from him. Thus if one meditates, catch it, set fire and swallow, he would become Narasimha who is of the form of Atma and would establish himself in his own power. There is a holy stanza about this. Its meaning is like this: Join Aa the first letter of Pranava, with the first part of its second letter Uu, and join these together with letter Ma and merge it with Thuriya Brahma which is the meaning of Pranava and is a witness beyond the states of waking sleep and dream.
Eighth Chapter
His soul is woven completely from side to side with thuriya. This with its Narasimha form, and in which every thing pervades and which is the soul of everything, contains everything. This is the secret and is without form or seed. This soul is non dualistic and without form or seed. The word “Om” is non dualistic and is full of wisdom. (Narasimha, the soul of thuriya and the meaning of Omkara are all the same. They swallow everything). This is the unique body of Parameshwara (lord of every thing). This is without form or seed. This which does not have any form or seed, does not have differences within. The one who thinks that there is difference between them, breaks into hundred pieces and breaks in to thousand pieces and attains death from death. This is without a two, self resplendent and great joy. That soul is the ultimate support. It is Brahmam. Brahmam is the ultimate support. The one who knows this becomes Brahmam which is the ultimate support.
Ninth Chapter
Devas approached Prajapathi and requested him, “Oh God, please tell us about the Omkaratma (the letter Om which is the soul). He agreed and told them:
Atma stands behind and observes and is with you as a witness. It is lion, a form beyond thought, a form without feelings and something which can be attained from every where. There is nothing second to it, which is separate from that. It is the Atma which is ready everywhere. Due to the illusion this Atma appears as something different. From Pragna, due to the cover of ignorance, the world is produced. For the living being, Atma is the resplendent Paramatma. Because the sensory organs are not able to feel it, it is not known, even when it is known.
Prajapathi told devas, “see that Atma which is resplendent and without second, which is before you, as, “I am it and it is me”. Has it been seen?”
Devas replied, “Yes, it has been seen. It is beyond things which are known and things which are not known. Where has illusion gone now? How did illusion disappear?”
Prajapathi told them, “It is not surprising that the illusion has disappeared. Because you are all people with a wonderful form. There is nothing surprising even in that. That form of the soul is natural to you all. Understand that is the form of “Om”. You now tell me what you have understood.”
They said, “it appears as if we have understood it and also appears as if that we have not understood it. It also appears as if it is beyond all description”.
Prajapathi told them, “You have now got the knowledge about the soul”.
They told him, “Oh, God, we are seeing it but we are not seeing it, like we see other things. We do not have capacity to describe it. Oh, God salutations to you. Please shower your grace on us.”
Prajapathi told them, “If you want to know any thing more, please ask me. Ask without fear.”
They told, “This knowledge about the soul is a great blessing. Our salutations to you.”
Thus Prajapathi taught them. There is a stanza about it: “Understand that Atma which is spread everywhere by the practice of Om. Understand that, the Atma which does not have any thing which is different and which is in you as the knower, is very much within you. After understanding that stabilize there, as a witness who advises”.
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Here ends the Nrisimha Uttara Tapaniyopanishad, as contained in the Atharva-Veda.
[Publisher’s Note: Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad, listed as one of the 108 Upanishads in our version of Muktika Upanishad, has been shown as two Upanishads (Nrisimha Poorva Tapaniya Upanishad and Nrisimha Uttara Tapaniya Upanishad) in another version of Muktika Upanishad. Hence their translations are being provided here separately.]
