Mandyukya upanishad-Extract from my paper "Science of Mantra" presented in Puri Conference

Our gross body experiences the following states daily,

1. Awaken state ruled by Vaiswanara
2. Light sleep or dreaming state ruled by Taijasa
3. Deep sleep or no identity state ruled by Pragna

AUM is the pranava mantra (seed of all mantras and the basis of creation). Here `A’ represents the waking state – where all causes and effects are experienced, `U’ represents the dreaming state - where also all causes and effects are experienced and `M’ represents the deep sleep state - where only causes are experienced.

There is a fourth state beyond this called `turiya’ or deep meditative state, which is not automatic but can be attained only by conscious practice. With constant repetition of `AUM’ this state is transcedented. In this stage neither causes nor effects are experienced. However this is out of the scope of our present article.

Mandyukya Upanishad tells that during awaken state we are under the influence of the Devata Vaishwanara. He has 7 limbs and 19 mouths.

This is to be understood clearly – as this is closely connected to the concept of karma cycle. Seven limbs are as follows,

1. Prithvi tatwa is His base or feet
2. Jala tatwa is His kidney
3. Agni tatwa is His mouth
4. Vayu tatwa is His vital air
5. Akash tatwa is the middle part of His body - all pervasive.
6. Sun is His eye
7. Universal mind is His head.

19 mouths are our 19 indriyas. They are
1. 5 indriyas of knowledge through which we gather information
a. Eye – sight (agni tatwa)
b. Ear – sound (akash tatwa)
c. Nostril – smell (prithvi tatwa)
d. Tongue – taste (Jala tatwa)
e. Skin – touch (vayu tatwa)
2. 5 indriyas of action through which we perform
a. Hands (Jala tatwa)
b. Legs (prithvi tatwa)
c. Mouth i.e vocal cord for speech (akash tatwa)
d. Generative organ (vayu tatwa)
e. Waste disposal organs (vayu tatwa)
3. 5 Pranas (vital energy or life force), these works without our any conscious effort
a. Prana – perceiving sense
b. Apana – Throwing out waste and ejecting seed
c. Vayana – for digestive efficiency
d. Samana – for distribution of assimilated food throughout body
e. Udana – it is the energy with which soul leaves the body with mind and intellect
4. Mind (manas or conscious mind)
5. Intellect (budhhi)
6. Ego (I feeling, the aham)
7. Chitta (real self or subconscious / super conscious mind)

Thus Mandyukya upanishad narrates about the cosmic purusha and all these 7 limbs and 19 indriyas are present in individual bodies also – in other words all our limbs and indriyas are part of the limbs and indriyas of the all pervading cosmic purusha Vaishwanara. All our experiences in this material world are actually experienced by Vaiswanara only. He is conditioned by all gross objects i.e all causes and all effects created by the causes.