| Lord Dattatreya |
Rishi Shandilya, the son of Rishi Devala and the grandson of Rishi Kashyaba, is one of the greatest rishis of Vedic Era. Rishi Shandilya was the disciple of Rishi Adhidanvaan Saunaka who taught him the nature of Brahman. He is associated with the Shandilya Vidya of Chandogya Upanishad of Sama Veda and Sathapatha Brahmana of Shukla Yajur Veda, wherein the very idea of God is first found mentioned. Rishi Shandilya was the great contributor of Upanishadic Philosophy.
Shandilya Upanishad, also termed as Sandilyopanishad, is found attached to Atharva Veda. This Upanishad is the answer to questions by the Rishi Sandilya as a seeker, hence named as such. It is the 58th Upanishad of 108 Upanishads of Muktika Upanishad order and one of the 20 Yoga Upanishads.
The Upanishad contains three chapters.
Chapter One
Ashtanga Yoga
Section 1
The Upanishad starts with the conversation between Rishi Shandilya and Rishi Atharvan. Rishi Shandilya asked to explain the eight-fold yoga as the means to attain the Atman.
Atharvan replied: The eight limbs of yoga are
· Yama
· Niyama
· Asana
· Pranayama
· Pratyahara
· Dharana
· Dhyana
· Samadhi
Yama or the self-discipline is of ten-fold. Niyama or the observance is also ten-fold. Asana or Postures are of eight kinds. Pranayama is three-fold. Five types of Pratyahara are there. Dharana is also five-fold. Two kinds of Dhyana are there. Samadhi has no variations.
Yama
The ten-fold Yamas are:
· Non-violence
· Non-violence
· Honesty
· Non-stealing
· Celibacy
· Kindliness
· Rectitude
· Tolerance
· Willpower
· Moderate Food
· Cleanliness Ahimsa is Non-violence. The continuous abstinence from causing pain or grief to all beings by the acts of mind, speech and Body is Ahimsa.
Sathya is truthfulness or honesty. Honesty in the acts of mind, speech and body which is beneficial to other beings always, is Sathya.
Asteya is non-stealing. The abstinence from stealing the belongings of other beings by the acts of mind, speech and body are Asteya.
Brahmacharya is celibacy. The abstinence from the bodily union at all forms and places by the acts of mind, speech and body is Brahmacharya.
Daya is kindliness. The showing of love to all beings in all places is Daya.
Arjava is rectitude. The maintenance of one and the same attitude in the acts of mind, speech and body towards the prescribed as well as the prohibited activities are Arjava.
Shama is tolerance or patience. The treating of sweet praise and repugnant condemnations alike is Shama.
Drutir is willpower. The steadiness of the mind even at the loss of wealth, close relative or friend and acquisition of new wealth, close relative (example: a birth of a son/daughter) or friend is Drutir.
Mithahara is moderate food. The taking of pure and sweet food leaving off the quarter of it is Mithahara.
Sausam is cleanliness. It is of two kinds: external cleanliness and internal cleanliness. External cleanliness comes with water and earth. Internal cleanliness by purification of mind. It is attained through Atma Vidya, the study of Atman.
Section 2
Niyama
The ten-fold Niyamas are
· Penance
· Exuberance
· Faithfulness
· Munificence
· Worship of God
· The study of Scriptures
· Modesty
· Sincerity
· Chanting
· Observance of vows
Tapas is Penance. The emancipation of body by adherence of painful austerities like Krcchra and Chandrayana rites described in the scriptures is Tapas.
Santosa is exuberance. Being content over whatever nature bring in is Santosa.
Astikya is faithfulness or belief in God. Faith in the prescription and prohibition of conducts as laid down in the scriptures is known as Astikya.
Dana is munificence. The sincere donation of rightly procured money and materials to the persons of need is Dana.
Isvara Pujanam is the worship of God. The worshipping of Lord Vishnu, Lord Rudra and other deities with the expression of happiness and to the extent possible to one’s ability is Isvara Pujanam.
Siddhantha Sravana is the study of scriptures. The exploration of Vedanta (the philosophy of Upanishads) is Siddhantha Sravana.
Hree is modesty. The disinclination towards the conducts prohibited in general or by scriptures is Hree.
Mathi is the sincerity. The observance of acts laid down in the Scriptures is Mathi.
Japa is chanting mantras. The repetition of a mantra duly initiated by a Guru and which is not going against the injunctions of the Scriptures is Japa. Japa is of two kinds: Vasika and Manasa. The repetition by way of contemplation in the mind alone is Manasa. Oral practice is Vasika which is of two kinds: Ucchai and Upamsu. Ucchai is loud repetition whereas Upamsu is repetition by the whisper. Ucchai bestows the intended results, but Upamsu gives a thousand-fold result. Manasa Japa gives 10 million times of the intended result.
Vrata is the observance of vows. The adherence of prohibitions and injunctions of the scriptures is Vrata.
Section 3
Asana
The eight-fold Asanas are:
· Svastika
· Gomukha
· Padma
· Vira
· Simha
· Bhadra
· Mukta
· Mayura
(Note: Here only eight asanas are listed in the Upanishad. But nine asanas are explained while giving the detailed description. Siddhasana is not listed here which was by the Upanishad while giving the detailed description)
Svastika Asana is placing the soles of the feet between knees and thighs with the body erect and posture balanced.
Gomukha Asana resembles the face of a cow. It is assumed by placing the right ankle of the leg on the back of the left leg and left ankle on the back of right leg.
Padma Asana is held in esteem by all. It is assumed by placing the soles over the thighs and holding the toes by hands placed cross-wise.
Vira Asana is placing one foot over the other thigh and placing another thigh over the other foot.
Simha Asana is assumed by pressing the left side with the right heel and right side with the left heel and placing the two hands on the knees with fingers stretched out, trunk in a straight line, mouth wide open, fixing the eyes on the tip of the nose. Simha Asana is always adored by the Yogis.
Siddhasana is explained by the Upanishad here which was not listed. Placing the right leg below the genitals and left leg above the genitals is Siddhasana.
Bhadra Asana is placing the two ankles below the testicles on either side of the perineum, holding the two feet by the hands by their side and remaining motionless. It is a panacea for the all the ills and antidote for all the poisons.
Mukta Asana is pressing the right side of the perineum by the ankle of the left leg and left side by the right leg.
Mayur Asana is holding the body on the hand by palms facing down, fixing the elbows by the sides of the navel, lifting the legs and head up, and floating like the stick in the empty place. It is the destroyer of all the sins. All diseases will vanish. Poisons are nullified.
A weak man may go for any posture that is suitable for him.
Benefits of Asana
The person who has mastered the Asanas has control over the three worlds. One who has mastered Yama, Niyama and Asana should proceed to Pranayama wherein the Nadis are purified.
Section 4
Pranayama: Nadis, Vayus and Kundalini
Then Rishi Shandilya raised the following questions:
· How could we get the Nadis Purified?
· How many Nadis are there?
· What are their characters?
· How many Vayus (vital airs) reside in them?
· What are the seats of Vayus and their functions?
· Which of them should be studied deeply?
The Rishi requested Rishi Atharvan to answer the above questions and Atharvan replied:
Nadis
The length of one’s body is 96 Angulas when measured by his own finger-digits. The Vayu Prana goes 12 Angulas farther than that.
By the practice of yoga, one who retains the Prana that is equal to the power of Kundalini or less than that is an adept in yoga.
The Kundalini in humans is located in the middle of the body in the form of a triangle with the radiance of igneous gold. In the case of quadrupeds, it is in the form of quadrangular. For birds, it is circular. It is located in middle as a flame of fire, slim and auspicious.
In humans, it is two Angulas above the anus and two Angulas below the genitals. In quadrupeds, it is in the middle of the heart. For birds, it is in middle of the belly. At the Nine Angulas length with a height of four Angulas with the shape of an egg in the middle of the body.
In humans, in the middle of the body is navel with a chakra (energy centre) with twelve spokes. Being induced by the virtues and sins, the Jiva is whirling in there, like a spider in the middle of the cob-web. In the body, the Jiva perches in the Prana.
The location of Kundalini is below, across and above the navel. (Note: Already mentioned perineum as the seat. Here it is said that navel is the seat. It should be interpreted that the seat of Kundalini is perineum in case of ignorant and it is navel in case of a wise one as explained in other Upanishads)
The power of Kundalini is eight-fold and consists of eight coils. It blocks the movement of Vayus, food, drink and others by covering this place with its head and the crevice of Brahman with its tail. It vibrates at the time of yoga together with Apana and fire. The heart radiates in the form of the effulgence of knowledge.
How many Nadis are there?
There are fourteen important Nadis based on the kundalini situated in the middle. They are:
· Idaa
· Pingalaa
· Susumnaa
· Sarasvati
· Vaaruni
· Poosaa
· Hasti-jihvaa
· Yajasvini
· Visvodaraa
