Prashna Upanishad (Praśna Upaniṣad)

Category: Prasna Upanishad | Author : THT | Date : 03 November 2025 15:28

Prashna Upanishad (Praśna Upaniṣad)

The Prashna Upanishad is one of the primary Upanishads and belongs to the Atharvaveda. Its name means “Question,” and it is uniquely structured as a dialogue where six dedicated students approach the sage Pippalada with six fundamental questions about the nature of reality. This question-and-answer format makes it exceptionally systematic and accessible, building a comprehensive philosophy from the ground up.

Core Teachings: The Six Questions and Their Answers

The Upanishad is structured into six chapters, each addressing one profound question.

1. Question 1: The Origin of Life Asked by: Kabandhi Katyayana Question: "Sir, whence (from where) are all these beings born?" The Answer: Pippalada explains that the supreme Purusha (the Cosmic Person) created life through the union of two primal principles:
• Prana (Matter, Life-Force, the active principle)
• Rayi (Form, Substance, the material principle)
• He uses the analogy of the sun: the sun is the source of Prana (life-energy) for the world, and the moon is the source of Rayi (nourishing forms like rain and food). All beings are born from the interaction of these two.
2. Question 2: The Supreme Power in the Body Asked by: Bhargava Vaidarbhi Question: "Sir, which deity (power) is it that supports this body, sustaining the universe? Which is the greatest among them?" The Answer: The sage declares that it is Prana (the Vital Life Force) that is the supreme power.
• To prove this, he asks the other senses—speech, sight, hearing, mind—to leave the body. The body continued to live.
• But when Prana prepared to leave, all the other senses realized they were utterly dependent on it and cried out, "Sir, please stay! You are the greatest among us!" This establishes that the one life force (Prana) is the underlying support for all individual faculties.
3. Question 3: The Source and Nature of Prana Asked by: Kausalya Ashvalayana Question: "Whence is this Prana born? How does it come into this body? How does it depart? How does it support the external and internal world?" The Answer: Prana is born from the Atman (the Self).
• Just as a shadow is cast by a person, Prana is projected by the Atman.
• It enters the body by the force of the mind. It divides itself into five vital airs (Pancha Pranas) to perform different functions. It is the fundamental connector between the individual and the cosmos.
4. Question 4: The States of Consciousness Asked by: Sauryayani Gargya Question: "Sir, which are the ones that sleep in a man? Which are the ones that remain awake in him? Which is the deity that sees the dreams? To whom does the experience of happiness belong? In whom are all these established?" The Answer: The sage uses the beautiful analogy of the setting sun.
• Just as the sun's rays all merge back into the solar orb at sunset, all the senses (Indriyas) merge into the mind during sleep.
• The mind remains awake as the deity that sees dreams. The supreme happiness in deep sleep is experienced by the Pranas resting in the Atman, the heart. All these are established in the supreme, immortal Atman.
5. Question 5: Meditation on the Syllable "Om" (AUM) Asked by: Saibya Satyakama Question: "Sir, what world does he who meditates on Om until the end of his life, win by that?" The Answer: This is one of the most important teachings on meditation.
• The sage explains that Om is the supreme symbol of both the personal and impersonal Brahman. Meditating on Om leads one to the highest world of Brahmaloka.
• He breaks down AUM into three phonemes (A, U, M) representing the three states of consciousness—waking, dream, and deep sleep—and the fourth, silent part, which is the Turiya (the fourth state), the supreme, non-dual reality.
6. Question 6: The Person in the Lotus of the Heart Asked by: Sukesha Bharadvaja Question: "Where is that Person (Purusha) having sixteen parts?" The Answer: The "Person with sixteen parts" refers to the embodied being, composed of the five elements, five pranas, five senses, and the mind.
• Pippalada explains that this Person is located within the body, specifically "within this body, in the heart."
• He concludes the entire Upanishad with the ultimate revelation: This Person in the heart is, in truth, the immortal, supreme Brahman. The goal of life is to know this Person and attain immortality.

Modern Utility & Connection to a Unified World

1. A Science of the Self The Upanishad models a systematic, question-based inquiry into consciousness. It encourages a rational, step-by-step approach to spirituality, moving from the gross (the body) to the subtle (the mind) to the causal (the Atman).
• Modern Utility: The Upanishad models a systematic, question-based inquiry into consciousness. It encourages a rational, step-by-step approach to spirituality, moving from the gross (the body) to the subtle (the mind) to the causal (the Atman).
• This is highly appealing to the modern, scientifically-minded seeker.
2. The Unifying Principle of Prana The teaching that one life force (Prana) animates all beings is a powerful basis for unity. If the same energy that gives me life gives you life, then we are fundamentally connected at a biological and energetic level.
• Modern Utility: The teaching that one life force (Prana) animates all beings is a powerful basis for unity. If the same energy that gives me life gives you life, then we are fundamentally connected at a biological and energetic level.
• This shared "aliveness" transcends all divisions of race, nationality, and creed.
3. A Universal Tool for Well-being: Meditation on Om The detailed instructions on meditating on Om provide a universal, non-sectarian technique for calming the mind and connecting with a higher state of consciousness.
• Modern Utility: The detailed instructions on meditating on Om provide a universal, non-sectarian technique for calming the mind and connecting with a higher state of consciousness.
• This practice is now globally recognized for its benefits in reducing stress and enhancing mental clarity.
4. Understanding the Mind for Mental Peace The analysis of the three states of consciousness (waking, dream, sleep) provides a framework for understanding our own minds.
• Modern Utility: The analysis of the three states of consciousness (waking, dream, sleep) provides a framework for understanding our own minds.
• Recognizing that our true Self is the witness of all these states (Turiya) can bring profound detachment and inner peace, freeing us from being tossed about by the mind's fluctuations.

How the Prashna Upanishad is Useful for Being Without Caste, Creed, Color, Race

• It Focuses on Universal Human Functions: The questions are about life, breath, sleep, and consciousness—functions common to every human being.
• The answers are based on these universal principles, not on any sectarian dogma or social identity.
• It Identifies a Shared Biological and Spiritual Core: The doctrine of Prana establishes that we are all animated by the same universal life force.
• The teaching that the supreme Person is in the "heart" of every being means the sacred is equally present in all bodies, regardless of their external appearance.
• It Champions a Meritocracy of Seeking: The six students are accepted based on their sincerity and one year of disciplined preparation, not their birth.
• The sage Pippalada judges them by their dedication to truth, not their lineage. This establishes that spiritual knowledge is earned through personal effort, not inherited.

In summary

• The Prashna Upanishad is a masterful, step-by-step guide to self-realization. It takes the seeker from the fundamental question of the origin of life to the ultimate revelation of the Supreme Self residing in the heart of all.
• By grounding its philosophy in universal human experiences and a rational structure of inquiry, it provides a powerful and accessible path for realizing the unity that underlies our apparent diversity.