Originally Posted by
yajvan
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~
namasté
If we look to the taittirīya upaniṣad , brāhmaṇanda vallī, we are offered the following:
bhīśā 'smād vātaḥ pavate. bhīṣodeti sūryaḥ. bhīṣā' smādagniścendraśa mṛtuyr dhāvati pañcana iti
What does this say? bhīśā is the key word in this śloka - it is defined as the act of frightening , fear of. It says,
Thus (iti) through fear of Him the wind (pava) blows (vātaḥ) .
Through fear ( or being afraid of Him) the sun (sūryaḥ ) rsies.
Being afraid of Him fire (agni) and indra function.
And death (mṛtuyr) runs as the 5th (pañcana) or is the 5th item offered here.
What is the widsom here? One cannot take this śloka separately without considering all of the brāhmaṇanda vallī. The wisdom is keyed in the previous śloka and suggests to us, When one finds (this) fearlessness ( or abhaya - fearlessness, absence or removal of fear , peace , safety , security ) as one's firm support then he has reached fearlessness. However, if one differs even slightly from this then for him there is fear.
But what is 'differing slightly' ? It is the following: Any time there is a sense of 2, fear arises i.e. dvitiyad vai bhayam bhavati - Fear is born of duality so says the bṛhadaraṇyaka upaniṣad - puruṣavidha-brāhmaṇa, 2nd śloka.
So, I can see both points made - from atanu and mahahrada... In ignorance there is no doubt duality and hence the possibility of fear. In union there is only one, and fearlessness presides.
But what of the sun, death, the wind? Why does the upaniṣad offer this analogy? It has much to do with acting independently. Fear arises even in these great elements if it thinks it is seperate from the whole (bhūman) is my understanding.
praṇām