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Introduction: The Vasudeva Upanisha is a Vaishnava Upanishad and belongs to the Sama-Veda. It
deals with
Urdhva Pundra or the religious marks of Vaishnavas. It
explains how to apply the marks by different categories of people along
with their the symbolic significance.
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Om ! Let my limbs and speech, Prana, eyes, ears, vitality
And all the senses grow in strength.
All existence is the Brahman of the Upanishads.
May I never deny Brahman, nor Brahman deny me.
Let there be no denial at all:
Let there be no denial at least from me.
May the virtues that are proclaimed in the Upanishads be in me,
Who am devoted to the Atman; may they reside in me.
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 !
1 Om. The God like sage Narada saluted Lord Vasudeva and requested him,
“Oh God, please teach me the rules of Urdhva Pundra (the religious
mark of Vaishnavas which is vertical and points upward)”.
2 God Vasudeva addressing him told as follows:
The Brahmachari (unmarried student of Vedas) and Grahastha
(householder) after reciting the following prayer: “Oh God who holds
the wheel, mace and conch, Oh Achyutha who is staying in Dwaraka, Oh
Govinda, Oh Lotus eyed one,
please protect me, who has surrendered to you.” should apply Urdhva
Pundra in his forehead and other 12 places with his pure finger (finger
next to the little finger) reciting either the Vishnu Gayathri or the 12
names of the Lord viz., Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu,
Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sreedhara, Hrishikesa, Padmanabha and
Damodhara.
3 The Sanyasi should wear the Urdhva Pundra with his fourth finger on
the head, forehead and chest chanting the Pranava (Om).
4 Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are three in number: Sthoola (macro),
Sookshma (micro) and Karana (cause); are three worlds above: Bhoo, Bhuva
and Suva; are three Vedas: Rig, Yajur and Sama; are three states: waking
up, dream and sleep. The Urdhva Pundras are three viz., Aa, Uu and Ma.
These Urdhva Pundras are full of Pranava and full of the letter Om. That
one pranava has only become any. The Lord of the ‘Om’ takes you
above. So you have to wear Urdhva Pundra.
5 That sage who wears four things upward viz., stick, bravery, yoga and
Urdhva Pundra would reach the high status of salvation. This stable
knowledge would reach me naturally through devotion.
Om ! Let my limbs and speech, Prana, eyes, ears, vitality
And all the senses grow in strength.
All existence is the Brahman of the Upanishads.
May I never deny Brahman, nor Brahman deny me.
Let there be no denial at all:
Let there be no denial at least from me.
May the virtues that are proclaimed in the Upanishads be in me,
Who am devoted to the Atman; may they reside in me.
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 Vasudevopanishad, included in the Sama-Veda.
Suggested Further Reading
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