Aitareya Upanishad

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Vedas Rigveda · Yajurveda Samaveda · Atharvaveda Divisions Samhita · Brahmana Aranyaka · Upanishad

Upanishad Aitareya · Brihadaranyaka Isha · Taittiriya · Chandogya Kena · Mundaka · Mandukya Katha · Prashna · Shvetashvatara

Vedanga Shiksha · Chandas · Vyakarana Nirukta · Jyotisha · Kalpa

Mahakavya (epics) Mahabharata · Ramayana

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The Aitareya Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is a Mukhya Upanishad, associated with the Rigveda. It figures as number 8 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads.

The Aitareya Upanishad is a short prose text in three chapters and contains 33 verses in total. It comprises the fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the second book of the older vedic text, Aitareya Aranyaka.

The Rishi of the Aitereya Aranyaka and the Aitereya Brahmana is Aitereya Mahidasa. In Chhandogya Upanishad, Aitereya Mahidasa is said to have lived 116 years(Chhandogya 3.16.7).

In the first chapter of the text, Atman, the inner self, is portrayed as a divine creator. In the second chapter, the three births of the Atman are described.

The third chapter deals with the qualities of the Self or Brahman. It contains one of the most famous expressions of the Vedanta, "Prajnanam Brahma", which is one of the Mahāvākyas.

[edit] External links

• Aitareya Upanishad
• Aitareya Upanishad
• Sri Aurobindo, The Upanishads [1]. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. 1972.