pranava

That is why it is called pranava, to mean that it pervades life and runs through our prana or breath..

Archive 2009-08-01 photographerno1 2009

That is why it is called pranava, to mean that it pervades life and runs through our prana or breath.

Archive 2009-07-01 photographerno1 2009

Since the pranava, which is a part of the udgîtha, is introduced as the subject of meditation in the first prapâthaka of the Chândogya, and extends over the later vidyâs also, it is appropriate to assume that also in the clause 'the gods took the udgîtha' -- which stands in the middle -- the term udgîtha denotes the pranava.

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

I, 1, 1, 'Let a man meditate on the syllable Om as the Udgîtha'; and the clause forming part of the tale, 'they meditated on that chief breath as Udgîtha.' therefore refers to a meditation on the pranava which is a part only of the Udgîtha.

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

'As in the case of the attribute of being higher than the high,' &c. In one and the same sâkhâ there are two meditations, in each of which the highest Self is enjoined to be viewed under the form of the pranava (Ch.Up. I, 6; I, 9), and in so far the two vidyâs are alike.

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

Thus the object of meditation for the Chandogas is the pranava viewed under the form of Prâna; while for the Vâjasaneyins it is the Udgâtri (who sings the Udgîtha), imaginatively identified with Prâna.

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

-- The conclusion from all this is that in the Chândogya the object of meditation is constituted by the pranava -- there termed udgîtha -- viewed under the form of prâna; while in the Vâjasaneyaka the term udgîtha denotes the whole udgîtha, and the object of meditation is he who produces the udgîtha, i.e. the udgâtri, viewed under the form of prâna.

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

But while the former text enjoins that the pranava has to be viewed under the form of

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

Devas and the Asuras struggled together, 'connects itself with the pranava (the syllable Om) which is introduced as the object of meditation in Chánd.

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881

With _Om_ the Adhvaryu gives orders, with _Om_ the Hotri recites, with _Om_ the Udgâtri sings, 'which declares the pranava -- which is a' quality 'of the meditation, in so far as it is its basis -- to be common to the three

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881