A Brief overview of

Ishavasyopanishad
Ishavasyopanishad
A highly revered Upanishad from Yajur Veda

Ishavasya Upanishad is an Upanishad found in the mantra section of Yajur Veda.

Being in the mantra section it is highly revered by one & all, including those who take only
the mantra section as the real Veda. This is one of the smallest Upanishads but on which
highest number of commentaries have been written. Everyone has been drawing great
inspiration from it. It has only 18 mantras and has a very fine & famous commentary
written on it by Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankaracharya.

The Upanishad starts with the famous invocation of 'Purnamadah purnamidam',

which has in itself the entire message of the Upanishad. It reveals that all 'this' what is
perceived is that infinite reality, 'that' cause from which all this has manifested is also that.
If we negate the roles of effect & cause of 'this' & 'that', then all that which remains is one
non-dual reality alone.

In the first section of the Upanishad there are three mantras. The first mantra
reveals the truth of life to a person who has a predominantly sattwic mind. It thunders that
one should realize that there is only one divinity which exists & pervades all that is.
Awakening to that realm is possible by letting go all that we hold on. This is facilitated by
realizing that nothing is really our's. The second mantra addresses itself to a rajasic person.
It says that live an active, dynamic & selfless life. Never get attached & dependent on
anything, yet work & serve on. Let no selfish motivations creep in. Living thus such a man
also takes to the road of divinity & fulfillment. The third mantra addresses a man who is
predominantly tamasic. It says that a person who insists on taking oneself to be that, which
he or she is not, condemns himself to a life of pain & despair. They will helplessly suffer.

In the second section (4th to 8th mantra) the 'nature of atma' and the 'fruits of true
knowledge' are revealed. Atma is revealed as the transcendental & also the immanent
reality - that which pervades all, yet is untouched by all. Grief and pain are transcended
only by the true knowledge of Self. For an awakened one there is no occasion or question of
any delusion.

In the third and fourth section (comprising the next six mantras) the Upanishad talks
about the necessity of intelligent combination of karma & upasana in our sadhana, for the
process of making the mind pure & sattwic. One should neither ignore action nor
meditation. In meditation also one should intelligently include turning ones attention on the
part & whole. One who does not follow this balanced approach faces drastic negative
consequences.

In the fifth and the last section, the Upanishad reveals some beautiful & positive
prayers. The prayers aim at invoking God's grace to help eliminate the ignorance of Self
and awaken to the limitless divinity within. The death of the finite & the awakening to the
infinite. As is the case with all Upanishads this one too should be studied from a right
teacher (one who is Shrotriya & Brahma-nishtha) with the help of the bhashya written by
Sri Sankara, so as to understand the right implication of each word and suggestion. Given
such a chance the vision expounded in the Upanishad will be a turning point in life. It will
indeed be the greatest treat we can ever imagine.