Prashnopanishad: Pippalda

Prajapati, the lord of creation is often described in Vedic texts as having sixteen aspects. Sukesha, disciple of Pippalda, was asked by a prince as to who was the person with sixteen parts. He did not know the answer and therefore questioned his Guru.

Sukesha questioned about the metaphysical principle in man, specifically the Purusha (cosmic being/self of sixteen vital parts, Kalaas) and asked how these parts originated, existed and dissolved back into the Supreme self. Thus, revealing that the ultimate reality is this sixteen-part Purusha, the source of all creation, leading to immortality through self-knowledge. The question was, which is that Purusha in whom the sixteen parts (kalaas) are centered like spokes in the nave of a wheel?

Pippalda’s answer

Purusha existed within the body itself, possessing the sixteen parts. Purusha, himself wondered then what is that which when it vanishes, makes me vanish. And when it remains, I remain.

Then Purusha created prana; from prana he created desire; from desire–ether, air, water, fire, earth, the senses, mind and food; from food, strength, penance, the scriptures, rites and the worlds, and the names in the worlds.

Then as the rivers reach the ocean, they flow into it and become one with it, like so the sixteen parts of the wise, who realize Purusha, merge in him and lose their separateness. He then becomes free from Kalaas and is immortal. And now the Purusha is one in whom the parts of kalas radiate like the spokes from a wheel hub, and he is released from death.

Pippalda blessed his six disciples and said that may they realize the supreme Brahman, for there is none higher than him.

The six disciples worshipped Pippalda and acknowledged him as their father and as an enabler in the crossing the sea of ignorance. They continued with their prayer of being blessed by him in every aspect of their life.

Extracted from Nine Principal Upanishads from the teachings of Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

Aim Hrim Klim