The Upanishads

One of the Prana or regions of the human body, apana is the “lower regions” (70). It is associated with earth.

One of the key spiritual concepts in the Upanishads, the Atman is the eternal self or individual soul. It is also considered part of the greater universal unity of Brahman. Through knowing one’s Atman, one can also know Brahman.

Not to be confused with Brahman or Brahmin, Brahma is the Hindu god who created the universe. Traditionally, he is considered part of a trinity with the gods Vishnu and Siva. In the Upanishads, it is said that Brahma passed on the knowledge of Brahman contained in the Vedas, including the Upanishads themselves (75).

Although sometimes personified in the Upanishads as a being, Brahman is the “Supreme Spirit” (67) that unifies all reality and encompasses all things, all space, and all living things and souls. The goal of the wisdom conveyed in the Upanishads is to help an individual’s soul become aware of, and unite with, Brahman.

One of the castes (social ranks) in Indian society, Brahmins are priests and sages. The Upanishads purports to be a collection of writings and conversations between Brahmin and the people they are teaching.

Indra is one of the major gods in the Hindu pantheon, who also plays a major role in the Upanishads. Indra is the king of the gods and is associated with the sky, storms, rain, and rivers. Indra is said to have been one of the first gods to comprehend Brahman (53) and to have learned about the Atman from the god Prajapati (125-126).

Kshatriya is one of the traditional castes or social rank in Indian society. It is the caste of warriors and kings.

“OM” is a sacred mantra meant to be used in meditation. It is said to convey within itself the reality of Brahman.

Prajapati is a name used to describe a form of the creator god, Brahma. The Upanishads state that it was Prajapati who taught Indra about the Atman (125-126).

Prana refers to the various aspects of the body. These are Apana, Samana, Vyana, and Udana (70).

Among the Prana that compose the human body, Samana refers to the middle regions of the body. It distributes the energy from food to the rest of the body. It is also associated with the space between the sun and the Earth.

Samsara is the Sanskrit term for the transmigration of souls from one living being to another after death. The goal of spiritual enlightenment is to achieve “liberation” (63) from this cycle.

Also called Savitr, Savitri is a sun god that the Upanishads also calls the god of inspiration. Savitri is described as the source of spiritual enlightenment (87).

Also named Shiva in English, Shiva is a major Hindu god who has numerous attributes he governs over, including creation, change, destruction, time, and meditation. In the Upanishads, Siva is described as a god of love, in which role Siva assists souls with understanding Brahman (90).

Soma is a sacred drink made from the juice of a plant whose identity has been forgotten and is debated among scholars. Throughout the Upanishads, it is presented as a major part of religious rituals.

When the Upanishads describes “Spirit,” it refers to the unifying force behind all reality and all life. It is used interchangeably with Brahman.

Tapas is the practice of meditation. It is an important spiritual practice toward achieving the enlightenment that leads to unity with Brahman.

Udana is the Prana or aspect of the human body that causes a person to commit either evil or good actions. It is associated with fire.

Uma is a major goddess in Hinduism, who is also called Parvati. She is associated with love, motherhood, and faith. In the Upanishads, she is associated with “divine wisdom” (53).

Vayu is the Hindu god of air. He is said to have been one of the first gods to obtain knowledge of Brahman, along with Indra and Agni (53).

The Vedas are a foundational text in Hinduism, including the Upanishads themselves. The older Vedas include poems, hymns, mantras, and instructions for religious rituals while the Upanishads contain theological and philosophical texts. The various texts composing the Vedas date as far back as the 2nd millennium BCE.

Vyana is one of the Prana, the elements of the human body, and carries the body’s life force through its veins. It is associated with air.