4. Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1

Title Thumbnail & Hero Image: The Ṛṣis, source: www.indiadivine.org, access date: May 26, 2026.
4. Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1

First revision: May 25, 2026

Last change: Jul.9, 2026

Searched, gathered, rearranged, translated, and compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongkha.

Page 1

The Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa says, “formerly nothing existed, neither heaven nor atmosphere nor earth.”

Śaṁkara, in his introduction to the Taittirīya Upaniṣads, says: “Knowledge of Brahman is called Upaniṣad because in the case of those who devote themselves to it, the bonds of conception, birth, decay, etc., become unloosed, or because it destroys them altogether, or because it leads the pupil very near to Brahman, or because therein the highest God is seated.” See Pandit, March 1872, p. 254.
“Now answer us a further question: Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Kāla (time), which is breath (Prāṇa), Anna (food), Brahmā, Rudra, Viṣṇu. Thus do some mediate on him, some on another. Say which of these is the best for us?” And he said to them: “These are but the chief manifestations of the highest, the immortal, the incorporeal Brahman. … Brahman, indeed, is all this, and a man may meditate on, worship, or discard also those which are its manifestations.” (Taittirīya, i. 5).
The polytheistic conceptions were too deeply rooted in the Indian consciousness to be easily overthrown. The many gods were subordinated to the One. Without Brahman, Agni cannot burn a blade of grass, Vāyu cannot blow a whip of straw. “For fear of him, the winds, the clouds, and death perform their office.” (Tait. Up.).
“Brahmaṇaḥ kośo’si, (ब्रह्मणः कोशोऽसि)” - "Brahmaṇaḥ kośo’si medhayā pihitaḥ (ह्मणः कोशोऽसि मेधया पिहितः)" is a powerful Sanskrit mantra from the Taittirīya Upaniṣads.
Translation: "You are the sheath (or container) of Brahman, concealed by intellect."
Meaning: It is a prayer addressing one's own body-mind, recognizing it as a vessel for the supreme, universal consciousness (Brahman). This inner divinity is hidden or covered by worldly knowledge and limited understanding (medha).
The phrase is part of the Medha Suktam (a hymn invoking wisdom, memory, and concentration from the Vedas). It is chanted to awaken and clarify one's intellect, so the inner truth can shine through.
It is also recognized that the Vedic knowledge is much inferior to the true divine insight (Tait., ii.).

1.
2.
3.

back

humanexcellence.thailand@gmail.com

Visit : 6976940