The Prashna Upanishad: Six Questions on Life, Prana, and the Supreme Self

Category: Prasna Upanishad | Author : THT | Date : 24 October 2025 14:45

The Prashna Upanishad: Six Questions on Life, Prana, and the Supreme Self

The Prashna Upanishad (Praśna Upaniṣad) 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?"

• 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?"

• 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 continues to live. But when Prana prepares to leave, all other senses realize their dependence and plead, "Sir, please stay! You are the greatest among us!" This establishes Prana as the underlying support for all 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?"

• 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 and divides 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?"

• Answer: Using the analogy of the setting sun, all senses (Indriyas) merge into the mind during sleep. The mind remains awake as the deity observing dreams. Supreme happiness in deep sleep is experienced by the Pranas resting in the Atman. All 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?"

• Answer: Om is the supreme symbol of both personal and impersonal Brahman. Meditation on Om leads to Brahmaloka, the highest world. AUM is broken into three phonemes (A, U, M) representing waking, dream, and deep sleep states, and the fourth silent part, Turiya, 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?"

• Answer: The "Person with sixteen parts" refers to the embodied being: five elements, five pranas, five senses, and the mind. Pippalada explains this Person resides in the heart. The ultimate revelation: this Person is the immortal, supreme Brahman. The goal of life is to know this Person and attain immortality.

Modern Utility & Connection to a Unified World

The Prashna Upanishad's utility lies in its structured, scientific approach to self-inquiry, making profound truths accessible and practical.

1. A Science of the Self
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).

2. The Unifying Principle of Prana
Modern Utility: The teaching that one life force (Prana) animates all beings establishes fundamental unity. This shared "aliveness" transcends all divisions of race, nationality, and creed.

3. A Universal Tool for Well-being: Meditation on Om
Modern Utility: The detailed instructions on meditating on Om provide a universal, non-sectarian method for calming the mind, connecting with higher consciousness, reducing stress, and enhancing clarity.

4. Understanding the Mind for Mental Peace
Modern Utility: The analysis of the three states of consciousness—waking, dream, sleep—helps recognize the true Self as the witness (Turiya). This promotes detachment, inner peace, and freedom from mental turbulence.

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

• Focuses on Universal Human Functions: Questions cover life, breath, sleep, and consciousness, applicable to every human being.

• Identifies a Shared Biological and Spiritual Core: The doctrine of Prana emphasizes the sacred in all bodies, regardless of external appearance.

• Champions a Meritocracy of Seeking: Students are accepted based on sincerity and preparation, not birth. Spiritual knowledge is earned through effort, not inherited.

Conclusion

In summary, the Prashna Upanishad is a masterful, step-by-step guide to self-realization. It guides seekers from the origin of life to the ultimate revelation of the Supreme Self residing in the heart of all. By grounding philosophy in universal human experiences and rational inquiry, it provides an accessible path to realizing the unity underlying our apparent diversity.