Chapter III, Section III, Introduction

Adhikarana summary: Introduction

In the last section the two entities ‘thou’ and ‘That’ of the Vedic dictum (Mahavakya) ‘That thou art’ have been explained and shown to be identical. Now the scriptures prescribe various meditations that help to attain this knowledge of identity. It is not possible for the ordinary man to grasp the Infinite. Therefore the scriptures present various symbols of Brahman such as Prana, Akasa, and mind, for the beginner to meditate upon. Sometimes they prescribe the cosmic form of Brahman (Vaisvanara) for meditation. These different methods of approaching the infinite Brahman are known as Vidyas or Upasanas.

This section discusses these various Vidyas, by means of which the individual soul attains Brahmah, In this connection the question naturally arises whether similar Vidyas described differently in different recensions of the Vedas are one or different, and consequently to be combined into a single meditation or separately gone through. Here it is decided which Vidyas are the same and have to be combined into one, and which Vidyas are different in spite of certain similarities. The principle that is followed throughout in the interpretation of these Vidyas is this: Since Brahtnan, which is the only reality, is the resulting cognition of all Vidyas, it may be helpful to combine the particulars of the same Vidya mentioned in different Sakhas, since they have been found efficacious by the followers of those Sakhas.