The Chhandogya Upanishad

by Swami Krishnananda

This is of the most prominent among the major group of philosophical and mystical texts constituting one of the threefold foundations of India's spiritual lore, the tripod of Indian culture, being consituted of the Upanishads, the Brahmasutras and the Bhagavadgita.

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Swami Krishnananda was a highly respected writer, especially on philosophy, metaphysics, yoga, meditation, psychology and sociology. Swamiji's books are known the world over as excellent presentations of answers to the daily questions that arise in the day-to-day confrontations of a human being. Swami Krishnananda was the General Secretary of The Divine Life Society from 1961 until 2001.

Swamiji was a direct disciple of His Holiness Swami Sivananda, founder of this Institution. Swamiji attained Mahasamadhi in 2001.

Reviews

[Abhinav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read my share of spiritual books, but this was a revelation. It tells the functioning of memory, will power, thought and how these affect and are affected by our gross body, the food we eat and the water we drink and much much more. I don't think contemporary literature stands anywhere near this book as far as the profundity and logic with which the subject at hand is dealt with.

[Venkat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a wonderful glimpse into the oneness of all beings.

Upanishads are records of inward revelations of the ancient sages. They provide a groundwork in whose light, every branch of knowledge and learning may be studied.

Among the ten major Upanishads, the Chhandogya and the Brihadaranyaka stand above others in their grand stature and majesty. The Chhandogya tries to be realistic in its rather matter-of-fact consideration of the issues of life and of the visible forms of experience.

This exposition of the Chhandogya Upanishad is the most in-depth and insightful study ever made of its philosophical and spiritual message, and of Upanishadic meditations. This book contains four chapters and two appendixes.

The first chapter constitutes a brilliant study of Panchagni-Vidya and Vaishvanara-Vidya. It is a classical presentation of a grand theme for the cosmical meditations characteristic of the Upanishads in general. This is the most lucid elucidation of Upanishadic meditations.

The second chapter constitutes the instruction of Sage Uddalaka to his son Svetaketu on That, by knowing which, everything is known, the unheard becomes heard, and the unthought becomes thought. The third chapter deals with the majestic Bhuma-Vidya, being the teaching of Sage Sanatkumara to Narada. The fourth chapter contains a brilliant analysis of the nature of the self. The Sandilya-Vidya and the Samvarga-Vidya are included as appendixes as pieces of stimulating meditation of absorbing interest.

It is difficult to get such complex content presented in such a simple manner. Anyone interested in easily understanding this huge Upanishad must study this book seriously.
https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/chhand/Chhandogya_Upanishad.pdf