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{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with [[Hemachandra]]'s Jain text which is also known as ''Yogashastra''}}
{{Infobox Upanishad
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| name = Adhyatma
| Devanagari = अध्यात्म
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Adhyātma
| meaning = spiritual
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| type = [[Muktikā#Samanya|Samanya]]
| Veda = [[Shukla Yajurveda]]
| Brahmana =
| Aranyaka =
| chapters = 1
| verses = 64
| philosophy =
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'''Adhyatma Upanishad''' ({{IAST|Adhyātma}}) or '''Adhyatmopanishad''' is one of the 108 [[Upanishadic]] [[Hindu texts|Hindu scriptures]], written in [[Sanskrit]]. It is one of the 19 Upanishads under the [[Shukla Yajurveda]] or White Yajurveda.{{Sfn|Prasoon|2008|p=82}} It is classified as a ''[[Muktikā#Samanya|Samanya]]'' (non-sectarian) Upanishad.<ref>{{Citation|title=An outline of the religious literature of India|first=John Nicol|last=Farquhar|publisher=H. Milford, Oxford university press|year=1920|isbn=81-208-2086-X|page=364}}</ref> It is also known as '''Ṭurīyāṭīṭa Avaḍhūṭa Upanishaḍ'''.<ref name=Sacred>{{cite book | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/tmu/tmu12.htm | title=Thirty Minor Upanishads | author=K. Narayanasvami Aiyar | year=1914 | pages=55–60}}</ref> The Upanishad expounds on the nature of [[Brahman]].<ref name="Dalal2014">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT113|date=18 April 2014|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|page=113}}</ref>

==Contents==
In the invocation, Brahman is praised as limitless and all-pervading in this universe. Prayer is offered for ushering peace in this world.<ref name=Warrier>{{Cite web|last= Warrier |first= Dr. A. G. Krishna |url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/shukla_yajur_veda/adhyatma.html |title=Adhyatma Upanishad|publisher= The Theosophical Publishing House}}</ref>

The ''Adhyatma Upanishad'' describes the eternal form of ''Brahman'', the unborn (''Aja'') one who remains within the recess of the heart. His body is represented as the earth ([[Prithvi]]), water ([[Ap (water)|Apa]]), fire ([[Agni]]), air ([[Vayu]]), ether ([[Akasha]]), mind ([[Manas (early Buddhism)|Manas]]), intellect ([[Buddhi]]), sense of self ([[ahamkara]]), Subconscious mind or memory (''chitta''), unmanifestated ([[Avyakta]]), indestructible ([[akshara]]), and Death ([[mrityu]]), all of these elements act within themselves, and within the body without one's awareness.<ref name=Sacred/><ref name=Warrier/> Brahman is then equated with the god [[Narayana]] ([[Vishnu]]) who resides in the soul and cleans everything and washes away all misdeeds.<ref name=Sacred/>

The Upanishad states that one who shuns the ego of “I and Mine” by meditating on Brahman, will be aware of his state of ''Pratyagatma'' (Brahman in an individual), of intellect. He should fix his thoughts on ''[[Soham (Sanskrit)|Soham]]'' ("I am That"). His aim should be of selflessness without pursuing worldly things with total obliviousness to sleeping, gossip, and sounds. He should surrender his [[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (soul) to [[Paramatman]], the Supreme Soul. In order to realize Atman, he should not pay any attention to his impure body, a parental burden, which is to be shunned like an out caste.<ref name=Sacred/> As a confined space becomes one with the infinite space, one should absorb his atma (self) with the Supreme Soul.<ref name=Warrier/>

The [[Macrocosm and microcosm]], which are the storehouses of all impure things, are to be rejected to become the "self-luminous Substratum". Shunning [[Psychological egoism|egoism]] amounts to a blissful and bright state, similar to the moon shining bright after an eclipse. Getting rid of impulsive thoughts will usher a feeling of freedom.<ref name=Warrier/> An intelligent person avoiding truth gets into an illusory state, in the same way as a reed pulled out does not remain straight.<ref name=Warrier/>

The ''Adhyatma Upanishad'' also dwells on the concept of [[samadhi]]. The consecutive sequence of benefits of [[Vairagya]] (detachment or renunciation) in life leads to ''[[bodha]]'' (spiritual knowledge) to ''[[uparati]]'' (restraint of mind); to ''Shanti'', inner calmness achieved through perfect happiness of the mind. Nivṛṭṭi, the inward contemplation will achieve a unique sense of perfect happiness and spirituality. Illusion's ''[[upadhi]]'' encompasses the universe.<ref name=Sacred/>

This self (soul) is the ultimate in the entire universe and it is constituted of the deities [[Brahma]], Vishnu, [[Indra]] and [[Shiva]].<ref name=Warrier/> Extra sensory perception is embedded in the ''chitta'' (mind) and hence one's focus should be on the mind.<ref name=Warrier/> While the thought process leads to reasoning so is the meaning of a sentence understood by listening.<ref name=Warrier/>

[[Reincarnation]] on account of millions of [[karma]]s (past actions, works and deeds) vanishes with devoted attention which eventually results in moral principles taking roots. This situation is explained by the [[Yogi]]s as “the cloud of virtues”.<ref name=Warrier/> As universal space is always in a detached, so is the sage who is aware of his Reality also remains detached from futures events.<ref name=Warrier/>

The sequence of communication of the teachings of the ''Adhyatma Upanishad'', was from the Sage [[Apantaratama]] (sometimes regarded as the previous birth of [[Vyasa]]) to the god Brahma, Sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]], Sage [[Raikva]] and the god [[Rama]], who propagated it to all.<ref name=Sacred/>

==Commentaries==

Indian spiritual guru [[Rajneesh|Osho]] authored an commentary named ''Finger Pointing to the Moon'' on the ''Adhyatma Upanishad'', which was first published by its original Sanskrit name in [[Hindi]] in 1976.<ref name="Osho2010">{{cite book|author=Osho|title=Finger Pointing To The Moon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TbY_QzunPogC&pg=PP4|date=1 November 2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-306834-1}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last= Prasoon |first=Prof.S.K. |title=Indian Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PvmAwVXPKbQC&pg=PT82|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1007-8}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305024418/http://www.gayathrimanthra.com/contents/documents/Vedic-related/Adhyatma_Upanishad.pdf Adhyatma Upanishad] in Sanskrit

[[Category:Upanishads]]
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]

Adhyatma Upanishad - Revision history

>Citation bot at 08:43, 12 April 2021