Trishikhi Brahmanopanishad

Trishikhi Brahmanopanishad is Volume 7 in the Yoga Upanishad series. *A brahmäa goes to aditya-loka, the world of the Sun to ask: "O Lord! What is the body? What is the breath? What is the cause? What is the soul?" The Sun replies that all comes from the form of iva, whose light is Brahman. Then follows explanations of how the world was formed through the five major elements, their qualities, properties and functions, their synthesis and through pañcikräa, the divisions and combinations of the elements. The brahmäa is advised to follow both the eightfold path of yoga leading to jñna and the path of karmayoga or kriyyoga. Renunciation and satsang, company of the wise, are emphasised. Teachings are given of the subtle body, viz. cakras, köas, ns,pras, dhatus, four states of consciousness kualin and tman as well as the agni mäala, the region of fire and its role in awakening the subtle energies, and the nikanda, where the three main ns, i pigal and suumn, unite and separate. The main pryama practices are n odhana and kumbhaka. A peaceful solitary place in nature is recommended for progress in sdhana. Signs of approaching death are described.Practices for meditation with ämukh mudr, hdayñjali mudr or khecar mudr are: the five elements; the deities of the elements; Vsudeva, the Transcendent Self; Viu; and the forms in the Universe.