The ''Akshi Upanishad'' ( sa, अक्षि उपनिषत्), also spelled ''Akshy Upanishad''), is a Sanskrit text and one of the minor

Upanishad The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

s of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

. It is attached to the

Krishna Yajurveda The ''Yajurveda'' ( sa, यजुर्वेद, ', from ' meaning "worship", and ''veda'' meaning "knowledge") is the Veda primarily of prose mantras for worship rituals.Michael Witzel (2003), "Vedas and Upaniṣads", in ''The Blackwell C ...

, and one of the 21 Samanya (general) Upanishads. The text is structured in two sections, and as a discourse from the Sun god (Surya). The Upanishad is notable for its

Advaita Vedanta ''Advaita Vedanta'' (; sa, अद्वैत वेदान्त, ) is a Hindu sādhanā, a path of spiritual discipline and experience, and the oldest extant tradition of the orthodox Hindu school Vedānta. The term ''Advaita'' ( ...

themes. The first section of the text presents the Caksusmati-Vidya. The second section discusses nonduality of Atman and

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...

Yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consci ...

, seven steps to reach a dispassionate view of life and freedom, and the Om

mantra A mantra ( Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ...

History

Neither the author nor the date of composition of ''Akshi Upanishad'' are known. Manuscripts of this text are also found titled as ''Aksyupanisad''.Vedic Literature, Volume 1, , Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 270-271 In the Telugu language anthology of 108 Upanishads of the Muktika canon, narrated by

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...

Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...

, it is listed at number 72.

The ''Akshi Upanishad'' is structured into two ''khanda'' (parts, sections). The first part is prose, the second part has 48 verses.

Chakshushmati Vidya

The first section of the Upanishad opens with an expression of reverence, by sage Samkriti to ''Surya'' (Sun). He expresses respect to all three

Guṇa ( sa, गुण) is a concept in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism, which can be translated as "quality, peculiarity, attribute, property".Samkhya philosophy, with salutations to

Sattva Sattva ( Sanskrit: सत्त्व, meaning ''honesty'') is one of the three guṇas or "modes of existence" (tendencies, qualities, attributes), a philosophical and psychological concept understood by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.Jame ...

Rajas Rajas (Sanskrit: रजस्) is one of the three Guṇas (tendencies, qualities, attributes), a philosophical and psychological concept developed by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.James G. Lochtefeld, Rajas, in The Illustrated Encycloped ...

and Tamas. Then a fragment of hymn from the ancient

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad The ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'' ( sa, बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्, ) is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the ''Br ...

is incorporated by the text, stating, Sun is the one who shows the truth, who scorches ignorance, who cleanses, he is the embodiment of

Hamsa The ''hamsa'' ( ar, خمسة, khamsa) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings.Bernasek et al., 2008p. 12Sonbol, 2005pp. 355–359 Depicting the open right h ...

(Atman, soul), asserts the Upanishad. Thousand beamed Sun is, a hundred directions does Sun radiate unto, states the text, he is the life-giving energy to all living beings. Embracing the entire universe, in full compassion for all, is this Sun. He empowers the eyes, he brings peace to mind, he moves me, states the Upanishad. Salutations, O Sun! This is the ''Chakṣuṣmati Vidya'', asserts the text, recited by sage Samkriti, to Surya.

Brahma Vidya

The second section of the Upanishad opens with sage Samkriti asking Sun for Brahma-Vidya (literally, the knowledge of Brahman). The rest of the text contains the answer, structured as a discourse from ''Surya'', wherein the Sun god states that this knowledge leads to liberation and freedom while one is alive (

Jivanmukta A ''jīvanmukta'', literally meaning ''liberated while living'', is a person who, in the Vedānta philosophy, has gained complete self-knowledge and self-realisation and attained '' kaivalya'' or ''moksha'' ( enlightenment and liberation), thus ...

state). The ultimate Reality and Truth called

is all, it is one, without origin, the infinite, the quiescent and the constant. To comprehend its true nature, its relation to self, is to reach an inner calm, this is the Brahma-Vidya, and this is the goal of

say those who know, asserts the Upanishad. The first stage of Yoga, for the one who seeks self knowledge, is detachment day by day, from impressions, from being controlled by one's senses, from being controlled by external things or others. In this stage, the yogi thinks before acting, abstains from engaging in vulgar vices, avoids arguing with others and devotes self to virtues, state verses 2.4 to 2.7 of the text. He is gentle, he never seeks distress for anyone, he uses kind words, he is affectionate to everyone, he helps the virtuous with his deeds, with his words and with his thoughts, states the Upanishad. He studies the

Shastras ''Shastra'' (, IAST: , ) is a Sanskrit word that means "precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatise" in a general sense.Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'zAstra'' The wo ...

, he reflects on them, he investigates the world of knowledge and himself, in the first stage of Yoga. The second stage of Yoga, states the Upanishad, is inquiry with the help of teachers (

guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...

s), those who know, and those he admires. He seeks out those who righteous in their life and their past conduct proves so, those who are lucid in explaining ideas, who know the Sruti and

Smriti ''Smriti'' ( sa, स्मृति, IAST: '), literally "that which is remembered" are a body of Hindu texts usually attributed to an author, traditionally written down, in contrast to Śrutis (the Vedic literature) considered authorless, that ...

, who understand the rules of reason, proper inferences, correct and incorrect knowledge. He serves such teachers, learns from them, while he continues to cast off his tendencies to vices and cast in his tendencies to virtues, asserts the text. The third stage of Yoga is the stage of non-concern, states the text. He reads and listens to ideas about Atman (soul, self), in the quiescent environment of hermitages, by walking alone in the woods and peaceful places of nature, bringing his mind where he is not concerned by anything other than his frame of mind. The state of non-concern is of two kinds, asserts the Upanishad. One is about non-clinging to things, or to one's past

karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...

, or to one's anxiety about the future. The other is about non-clinging to one's assumption about one's soul, self. The first is called ordinary non-concern, states the text, while the latter is called extraordinary non-concern. The fourth stage of Yoga, according to Akshi Upanishad, is eliminating ignorance and incorrect knowledge from within. This includes realizing the flaws in dualism, understanding what is constantly changing and what is unchanging constant, states the Upanishad. The fifth stage of Yoga, states the text, is awakening state. This is the state of learning about the self, the non-dual state (

Advaita ''Advaita Vedanta'' (; sa, अद्वैत वेदान्त, ) is a Hindu sādhanā, a path of spiritual discipline and experience, and the oldest extant tradition of the orthodox Hindu school Vedānta. The term ''Advaita'' (l ...

), arousing the inward consciousness, of correct knowledge in within, where one functions in the empirical world and also fully aware of oneself. The text presents the sixth stage of Yoga as the Turiya state. Therein, asserts the text, he learns and realizes a consciousness where there is neither absence of individuality nor is there the arrogance of ego. He is without fear, without incorrect knowledge about the world around him and the world within him, he has no fancies or delusions about either. He is now a

, has the Brahma-vidya, states the Upanishad. The seventh and last stage of Yoga is the Videha-mukti state, one the Jivanmukta arrives naturally with time. Here, he accepts and is content with the prospect of his death someday, because he already has the Brahma-vidya.

The Omkara and Brahman

The Omkara (A-U-M) is the sign for the ''Viswa'' (world) and ''Prajna'' (wisdom) of nondual Brahman and Atman, states the Upanishad in verses 2.43- 2.48. The "A" in A-U-M signifies the world, the "U" signifies ''Taijasa'' (brilliance, the light), while the "M" signifies the wisdom. This is the realization where the yogi fully comprehends, "I am the

Vasudeva According to Hindu scriptures, Vasudeva (Sanskrit: वसुदेव, IAST: ''Vasudeva''), also called Anakadundubhi, (''anakas'' and ''dundubhis'' both refer to ''drums'', after the musicians who played these instruments at the time of his ...

", that the Atman is transcendent bliss and eternal, the pure, the nondual and the Om. It is the Om, asserts the text, which reminds one of the real existent, the glory of that which is beyond the darkness of ignorance, blissful, the flawless, the wisdom, "the ultimate reality Brahman is me". Thus ends the Upanishad.

References

Bibliography

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