yajvan
08 April 2008, 01:10 PM
Hari Om
~~~~~
Namaste,
One of my favorite upanishads is Chandogya (ChAndogya Upanishad or Chāndogya Upaniṣad). There is a much wisdom offered from this book. I thought I would take the time to look at the word itself and see if it has meaning... if any wish to extend the knowledge or the conversation, its warmly welcomed.
Chāndogya Upaniṣad is part of the sāma veda. This Sāma Ved as we know are hymns of the Rigveda ( some like to write ṛgveda) put to chandas, or sung.
The one who sings the sāma veda is known as chandoga छन्दोग or singer in metre. Also a udgatr¹ (udgAtR उद्गातृ) is the ritvik (or priest) that sings the sāman chants. This is rooted in the word gA or गा a song or singing. This metre (meter) is known as chandas.
Chandas छन्दस् is also known as a sacred hymn, and some say a synonym for the vedas, sacred hymms. Yet if we click down one more level we see this root word chad छद् which means to cover, to hide , conceal , keep secret, also to protect; also to gratify and to nourish. Reading some works from Swami Muni Narayana Prasad, he suggests this chad is chadi āhlāsane, to make one delighted.
So this Chandas, this meter, a sacred hymn is covered or kept secret, can also gratify and nourish and bring delight.
But what then is hidden away & also brings delight? It is the wisdom of the Absolute, of akaṣra from the root of a or 'not' ( it reverses the action implied) + ksi (kSi क्षि) to destroy or perish; So this akaṣra is that which does not perish or that which can not be destroyed. And what is that ? Brahman.
So , as we get to this point we know that the Chāndogya Upaniṣad deals with Brahman, wisdom that is covered (chad) yet brings delight or chadi āhlāsane, makes one delighted.
If one is interested in this covering up , this concealing, the Chāndogya Upaniṣad Chapt 1.4.0 offers where the devata are concealed within the mantras of the sacred hymns.
The good news is Chāndogya also infers that which can be understood, appreciated, or beneficial through chandas alone. Through its meter, through listening. So, with the trained chandoga , the udgatr, singer of sāman, the listener benefits.
pranams
1. udgatr (udgAtR उद्गातृ) -one of the four chief-priests ; the one who chants hymns sāman
What desire may I win for you by singing? for he alone is capable of winning desires by singing, who knowing it, sings sāman - Chāndogya Upaniṣad Chapt 1.79
~~~~~
Namaste,
One of my favorite upanishads is Chandogya (ChAndogya Upanishad or Chāndogya Upaniṣad). There is a much wisdom offered from this book. I thought I would take the time to look at the word itself and see if it has meaning... if any wish to extend the knowledge or the conversation, its warmly welcomed.
Chāndogya Upaniṣad is part of the sāma veda. This Sāma Ved as we know are hymns of the Rigveda ( some like to write ṛgveda) put to chandas, or sung.
The one who sings the sāma veda is known as chandoga छन्दोग or singer in metre. Also a udgatr¹ (udgAtR उद्गातृ) is the ritvik (or priest) that sings the sāman chants. This is rooted in the word gA or गा a song or singing. This metre (meter) is known as chandas.
Chandas छन्दस् is also known as a sacred hymn, and some say a synonym for the vedas, sacred hymms. Yet if we click down one more level we see this root word chad छद् which means to cover, to hide , conceal , keep secret, also to protect; also to gratify and to nourish. Reading some works from Swami Muni Narayana Prasad, he suggests this chad is chadi āhlāsane, to make one delighted.
So this Chandas, this meter, a sacred hymn is covered or kept secret, can also gratify and nourish and bring delight.
But what then is hidden away & also brings delight? It is the wisdom of the Absolute, of akaṣra from the root of a or 'not' ( it reverses the action implied) + ksi (kSi क्षि) to destroy or perish; So this akaṣra is that which does not perish or that which can not be destroyed. And what is that ? Brahman.
So , as we get to this point we know that the Chāndogya Upaniṣad deals with Brahman, wisdom that is covered (chad) yet brings delight or chadi āhlāsane, makes one delighted.
If one is interested in this covering up , this concealing, the Chāndogya Upaniṣad Chapt 1.4.0 offers where the devata are concealed within the mantras of the sacred hymns.
The good news is Chāndogya also infers that which can be understood, appreciated, or beneficial through chandas alone. Through its meter, through listening. So, with the trained chandoga , the udgatr, singer of sāman, the listener benefits.
pranams
1. udgatr (udgAtR उद्गातृ) -one of the four chief-priests ; the one who chants hymns sāman
What desire may I win for you by singing? for he alone is capable of winning desires by singing, who knowing it, sings sāman - Chāndogya Upaniṣad Chapt 1.79