By Swami Harshananda
Content[edit]
Ekākṣara Upaniṣad is a minor Upaniṣad having 13 verses assigned to the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda. It deals with God or Brahman, the One (eka = one), who is akṣara or indestructible. It is in the form of a laudatory hymn.
Ritual[edit]
When the sādhaka or the spiritual aspirant meditates upon Śiva along with his consort Umā in his sahasrāra-cakra, at the top of the head and one with him (Śiva), he realizes his identity with Śiva. Śiva is the One without a second and the indestructible (akṣara) reality.
Overview[edit]
- The Ekākṣara or the Supreme God, is the creator of this world.
- He is the protector of the world.
- Though unborn, he is all-pervading.
- He is the fire.
- He is the sacrifice.
- He is Hiraṇyagarbha, the world-soul.
- He is the sun.
- He is Kumāra or Skanda.[1]
- He is Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt.
- He is the desire of human beings and the mantras uttered in sacrificial rites to fulfill them.
- He is the incarnations like the Varāha (Boar).
- He is all the Vedas and the deity worshiped through the Vedic rites.
- He has manifested himself as the eleven Rudras.
- He is man, woman and child.
- In fact there is nothing here that is not the Ekākṣara.
- One who knows him, the ancient Lord who has become all, will attain the highest state.
References[edit]
- ↑ Skanda means the commander of the gods.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore