By Jayaram V
Brahman is the highest and most supreme divinity of the
Hindus. Brahman is
all and encompasses all. Many are the ways in which Brahman is
extolled in the Upanishads. Some of the commonly found
descriptions of Brahman are reproduced below. By contemplating
upon these verses it is possible to develop an intuitive
understanding of the true nature of Brahman.
Take the following verse for example:
Brahman is above all Gods. None could ever approach Him
closely except Indra.
What does this mean? We have of course the story of Indra,
Agni and Varuna in the Kena Upanishad
who were helped by Uma Haimavathi to know
Brahman.
"Agni, Vayu and Indra are verily above all other gods, for
they alone went nearest to Him and were the first to know Him
as Brahman. And Indra of the three went nearest to Brahman and
was the first to know Him as Brahman (from goddess Uma). (Kena
Upanishad Chapter IV)
That is one interpretation. Those who are interested in the
mythological aspect of the story would understand it as
such. But if we think deeply we can see a hidden symbolism in
the verse. Indra is the lord of the senses and symbolizes the
consciousness or the mind itself. And we all know how
consciousness plays an important role in taking us closer to
the higher self with in us. Similarly Agni symbolizes the
intense desire or aspiration and Varuna knowledge or the
plasticity of mind. Thus the hidden meaning of the verse
suggests that control of the mind and the senses, intense
yearning and right knowledge can take us closer to the realm of
higher consciousness.
The ancient gurukulas encouraged students to develop this
contemplative approach to the understanding of the scriptures
and see the truth hidden behind the words in the verses.
The verse would serve as the object of focus and Truth itself
(Akshara Brahman) disguised in the form of words. Not every one
would arrive at the same truth or develop the same
understanding. But whatever realization or experience that
comes out of such attempts would definitely bring us closer to
the realization of the hidden truth within ourselves.
1. Brahman is the Reality. He is the Absolute Truth. All
else is unreal and mere illusion, a mere shadow that
disappears when the Sun shines.
2. Brahman is constant and fixed. He is unchangeable,
immutable, permanent , incorruptible and inexhaustible. All
else is transient, fleeting and changing. Since He is the only
fixed factor in an every changing impermanent world, the seers
advise us to make Him the center of our lives and activities
3. Brahman is eternal and timeless. Since He is the
Absolute, Time does not exist in Him. The Past present and
future flow in Him simultaneously. The Master of Time and
Knower of all events, past., present and future, He creates
Time as a part of His play and subjects us all to the motions
of Time.
4. Brahman is the Creator of all. The world is his
projection. He descends into the material universe and
subjects Himself to the laws of nature.
5. Brahman is the sacred OM.
6. Brahman is beyond the senses, but is the mover and
enjoyer of senses.
7. Brahman is the first principle. He is the Ancient. No
one truly knows Him for He is without a beginning and without
an end.
8. Brahman is pure love. He is described as Lord of
Love.
9. Brahman is immortal. He in fact is the creator of death and
the wheel of life.
10. Brahman is the law giver and law maker. He maintain
Dharma and Rita (harmony). But He Himself is not subject to
any laws.
11. Brahman exists in all and all exists in Him. Yet He
is beyond all and different from all.
12. Brahman is Supreme Bliss. Pure Delight, which is the
delight of pure love.
13. Brahman is the eternal soul, the Atman, the
indweller of mortal bodies, the silent witness, the enjoyer of
life and the power behind all the movements of life breath.
14. Brahman is above all Gods. None could ever approach
Him closely except Indra.
15. Brahman is duality personified from the rationale
point of view. But strangely in Him all conflicts and
contradictions resolve themselves into perfect harmony.
16. Brahman is unified awareness, the eternal
indivisible One where there is no enjoyer and the enjoyed, the
knower and the known.
17. Brahman is radiance, effulgence and brilliance of
thousands of suns. He is the wielder of pure energy and
possessor of pure consciousness.
18. Brahman is desireless, without attachment, without
vibration, complete, fulfilled, self-satisfied and self-
absorbed.
19. Brahman is without sleep, dispeller of darkness, the
very intelligence in man, One who is awake when we are asleep.
20. Brahman is knowledge. He is the knower of all that
is, that was and that is yet to come.
21. Brahman is man Himself, the ultimate truth which
every human being realizes at the end of his spiritual
journey. (Isa Upanishad)
