United States or Australia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
This much will be apparent to anyone who will read and study the "Kaushîtaki- Upanishad," which is one of the most wonderful of the religious books of the East.
And in the Yagus portion the Hotri weaves the Rik portion of the sacrifice. And in the Rik portion the Udgâtri weaves the Sâman portion of the sacrifice. He, the Adhvaryu, or prâna, is the self of the threefold knowledge; he indeed is the self of prâna. He who knows this is the self of it, i.e., becomes prâna. "Next follow the three kinds of meditation of the all-conquering Kaushîtaki.
The all-conquering Kaushîtaki adores the sun when rising, having put on the sacrificial cord, having brought water, and having thrice sprinkled the water-cup, saying: 'Thou art the deliverer, deliver me from sin. In the same manner he adores the sun when in the zenith, saying: 'Thou art the highest deliverer, deliver me highly from sin. In the same manner he adores the sun when setting, saying: 'Thou art the full deliverer, deliver me fully from sin. Thus he fully removes whatever sin he committed by day and by night.
The scientific knowledge of the rishis was very great; in the KAUSHITAKI BRAHMANA we find precise astronomical passages which show that in 3100 B.C. the Hindus were far advanced in astronomy, which had a practical value in determining the auspicious times for astrological ceremonies.
"Brahman says to him: 'Water indeed is this my world, the whole Brahman world, and it is thine. "Whatever victory, whatever might belongs to Brahman, that victory and that might he obtains who knows this, yea, who knows this." "Prâna, or breath, is Brahman," thus says Kaushîtaki.
Thus the Kaushîtaki Upanishad says, "He it is who causes the man whom he will lead upwards from these worlds to do good works and He it is who causes the man whom he will lead downwards to do evil works. He is the guardian of the world, He is the ruler of the world, He is the Lord of the world and He is myself."