The Wisdom of Taittiriya: Layers of Self and Bliss

A Tale from the Taittiriya Upanishad (Bhrigu Valli) In the vast sea of Indian spiritual literature, the Upanishads stand out like beacons, illuminating the path for those seeking truth. The Taittiriya Upanishad provides deep insights into the essence of existence. The Bhrigu Valli is a captivating segment detailing the profound inner journey of a seeker named Bhrigu as he quests for Brahman, the ultimate reality.

ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः ।शं नो भवत्वर्यमा ।शं नो इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः ।शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः ।

नमो ब्रह्मणे ।नमस्ते वायो ।

त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि ।त्वामेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि ।

ॠतं वदिष्यामि ।सत्यं वदिष्यामि ।

तन्मामवतु ।तद्वक्तारमवतु ।अवतु माम् ।अवतु वक्तारम् ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

May Mitra (the Sun) be auspicious to us; may Varuna (the cosmic order) bless us.

May Aryaman (the noble one) bring us welfare.

May Indra (the king of gods) and Brihaspati (the teacher of the gods) be gracious to us.

May Vishnu (the all-pervading one), who strides widely, bless us with peace.

Salutations to Brahman (the Supreme Reality).

Salutations to Vayu (the cosmic energy or life force).

You are indeed the visible form of Brahman.

I will declare you alone as the visible form of Brahman.

I will speak of the eternal truth (cosmic order).

I will speak of the ultimate truth (absolute reality).

May that protect me.

May it protect the speaker.

May it protect me.

May it protect the one who speaks the truth.

Om, peace, peace (at all levels: physical, mental, and spiritual).

What is the Taittiriya Upanishad?

The Taittiriya Upanishad, a part of the Krishna Yajur Veda, provides profound insights into the essence of the layers of self and bliss. The content is divided into Shiksha Valli, Ananda Valli, and Bhrigu Valli. The concluding part underscores self-discovery via exploration and personal experience.

The story begins with a simple, heartfelt plea. Bhrigu, the son of the great sage Varuna, approaches his father and says:

"Respected father, please teach me about Brahman."

Varuna doesn’t answer with a lecture or philosophy. Instead, he offers a guiding question:

“Where do food, breath, mind, hearing, speech, and vision come from? By whose power do they function? And where do they return when life ends? That which is the source, sustainer, and final resting place of all things—that is Brahman.”

With these mysterious words, Varuna sets his son on a path of self-discovery, urging him to seek the truth through contemplation and penance.

The Wisdom of Taittiriya: Layers of Self and Bliss

Discover the wisdom of the Taittiriya Upanishad, explore the layers of the self through the Panch Kosha, and embark on a blissful journey to Brahman.

Realisation 1: Food (Annam) Is Brahman

Bhrigu reflects. He observes how all living beings are born from food, live on food, and return to food when they die. Surely, then, food must be Brahman.

But deep within, he knows this can’t be the whole truth. He returns to his father, seeking more.

Realisation 2: Breath (Prana) Is Brahman

This time, Bhrigu meditates on the breath—the force that animates the body. All life depends on prana, the vital energy. When breath departs, life ends. So perhaps, breath is Brahman.

Still, something feels incomplete. He returns once again.

Realisation 3: Mind (Manas) Is Brahman

Next, Bhrigu contemplates the mind. All desires, thoughts, and intentions arise in the mind. It shapes our reality. Could the mind be the ultimate source?

He senses that he’s closer but not quite there. The search continues.

Realisation 4: Intellect (Buddhi) Is Brahman

Now, Bhrigu focuses on the intellect—the inner light that distinguishes truth from illusion and is the source of understanding. Surely, this refined layer of awareness is closer to the divine. Could intellect be Brahman?

Still, a whisper in his heart says, "Go deeper."

Final Realisation: Bliss (Ananda) Is Brahman

At last, Bhrigu enters the most profound meditation, surrendering completely in penance and self-discipline.

Then it dawns on him—Brahman is Bliss.

“From bliss all beings are born. By bliss they live. And into bliss they return.”

This bliss is not mere pleasure or fleeting happiness. It is Ananda—the unchanging, eternal joy that lies at the core of all existence. With this realisation, Bhrigu is fulfilled. His quest is complete.

The Message of Bhrigu Valli: A Spiritual Blueprint

Bhrigu’s path is not just a story—it’s a spiritual template for all seekers:

1. Start with observation—the physical world (food) is your first teacher.

2. Go inward—observe the breath, mind, and intellect.

3. Beyond all layers lies Ananda—pure, undisturbed bliss, your true Self.

This gradual unfolding is also described as the journey through the Panchakosha—the five sheaths of the self. As we peel back each layer, we get closer to the core of our being.

The Panch Kosha Framework

Understanding the Five Sheaths

The Panch Kosha framework, also known as the five sheaths, offers a profound roadmap to self-discovery. It guides seekers from the tangible physical body to the intangible, eternal soul, revealing the layers that compose human existence. This structure encourages us to delve inward, peeling back each sheath to uncover the essence of being.

The first layer, Annamaya Kosha, is the physical body formed and sustained by food. It represents the most external aspect of the self, where Bhrigu’s exploration begins. Moving inward, the Pranamaya Kosha houses the life force or breath, animating the physical body and connecting it to the subtler layers. Beyond breath lies the Manomaya Kosha, the mental sheath where thoughts, emotions, and perceptions reside, influencing how we interact with the world.

The journey progresses to the Vijnanamaya Kosha, the sheath of wisdom and discernment. This layer enables understanding and self-reflection, helping us distinguish between transient and eternal truths. Finally, the Anandamaya Kosha, the bliss body, is the ultimate layer before union with Brahman. It is the realm of pure joy and spiritual fulfilment, untainted by the external world.

Bhrigu’s quest, as detailed in the Bhrigu Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad, mirrors this journey. He begins with food, the outermost layer, and advances through breath, mind, and knowledge, culminating in the realisation of bliss. This progression exemplifies the Panch Kosha's guidance, leading from the material to the spiritual, from the finite to the infinite.

The Panch Kosha (Five Sheaths) help us explore ourselves—from the outermost body to the innermost soul.

Who was Bhrigu?

Bhrigu was not just a sage; he symbolised every curious soul longing to understand the essence of existence. His father, Varuna, didn’t simply hand over answers—he pointed Bhrigu inward, saying, “Meditate. Reflect. Discover.”

The Guidance of Varuna

Rather than preaching, Varuna encouraged exploration. He knew the truth couldn't be spoon-fed—it had to be experienced, step by step, layer by layer.

The Essence of Bhrigu Valli

In this final section of Bhrigu Valli, Bhrigu uncovers the most profound truths about food, life, interconnectedness, and the Supreme Reality—Brahman. Each layer of discovery is a step toward ultimate realisation.

The Reverence for Food

Food as Brahman

Consider this: all living beings consume food. Food is the essence of life, fueling our journey from the start and sustaining us throughout. The Upanishad confidently proclaims that food transcends mere sustenance; it embodies Brahman. To honour food is to celebrate life. To show disrespect is to undermine the essence of our existence. Have you ever ridiculed or squandered food? The Upanishad indicates that this is a spiritual misstep. Food should be met with appreciation, not criticism.

The Cycle of Food

The Taittiriya Upanishad honours the divine cycle of food, emphasising its significance in the creation, sustenance, and ultimate return of all existence. Food nourishes the body, centres the mind, and invigorates the spirit, embodying the essence of life itself. Honouring food opens the door to abundance, prosperity, knowledge, family, and recognition as the universe bestows blessings upon those who cherish this sacred offering. Providing nourishment to others is a profound expression of purpose, connecting the tangible and the spiritual while promoting unity with the divine.

This cycle highlights the dynamic relationship between elements: water nurtures plants, which harness sunlight, illustrating how light transforms water and water, in turn, reflects light. The earth and ether are intricately connected, supporting each other in a harmonious cosmic equilibrium. This interdependence underscores the unity of existence, serving as a poignant reminder that everything is interconnected and holds sacred significance.

Now, the Taitariya Upanishad says about the Sacredness of Hospitality-

The Taittiriya Upanishad emphasises the profound importance of hospitality, illustrating that guests are to be regarded as divine blessings and must never be turned away, for doing so is to turn away from grace itself. Genuine generosity is found in the act of giving with love and humility. When we offer our gifts with true devotion, the returns are abundant—not only in material ways but also as a surge of positive energy that elevates the giver. Food is the essence of life, meant to be gathered not for hoarding but for sharing. In sharing, we truly preserve and multiply its blessings, while hoarding leads only to loss.

The Omnipresence of Brahman 

He who knows this Supreme Self understands that the Divine resides within. Brahman is present in speech and the inward and outward breath. Brahman has the power of grasping and protecting in the hands, the ability to walk and move in the feet, and the capacity to eliminate waste through excretion. These are human manifestations of the Supreme.

In the realm of the divine, Brahman is satisfied in the rain, power in the thunder, fame in cattle, and light in the stars and constellations. Brahman resides in reproduction, in the reproductive organs, as joy and immortality. In the vastness of space, Brahman is the all-encompassing omnipotence. Everything is the manifestation of the Supreme Brahman.

Whatever support a person contemplates and meditates upon, they attain that support and become their master. If one regards that support as great and reflects upon it, they become great. If one contemplates it as the mind, they become aware and conscious of it.

If one regards that support as worthy of worship and meditates upon it, their desires begin to worship them, and all their wishes are fulfilled. If one contemplates that support as the ultimate, then the ultimate comes to them—they attain the ultimate.

And if one regards that support as the destructive representative of Brahman and meditates upon it, all their enemies, whom they despise, are destroyed, along with those who are unpleasant to them.

The Supreme Being residing here within humans and in the Sun is the same. After departing from this life, whoever realises this truth transcends the mortal world and reaches the ultimate self.

Those connected to the essence of food reach the self associated with food. Those who align with breath or life force reach the self of breath. Those attuned to the mind reach the self of the mind. Those who embody knowledge or wisdom reach the self of understanding. Those who are aligned with bliss reach the self of pure joy.

Thereafter, such a realised being enjoys life as they desire and assumes forms as they will. Moving freely across all realms, they exist in a state of equilibrium. Having attained this state, they navigate the worlds above and below as they wish.

They partake in the food they choose and assume any form or shape they desire. With the illumination of light and knowledge, they achieve oneness with all, unite with Brahman, and ultimately merge into Brahman itself.

The Path to Realisation

Illuminated by light and wisdom, they unite with all, achieving oneness with Brahman. They merge with Brahman and become one with the Supreme. This realisation leads them to declare with joy:

"I am food. I am the consumer," the one who links all creation. I was born first in this chain of existence. I existed even before the devta. I am immortality, the essence of nectar. He who gives me sustenance truly protects me. I have become one with Hiranyagarbha (the golden womb). I am God, I am Divine, one with the Supreme Brahman. I have conquered the world. I am radiant like the sun."

He who understands this profound truth attains the state of Brahman. Such is the secret doctrine. Thus ends the sacred teaching of Brahma Vidya.

Bhrigu Valli, Part III, is not just philosophy—it’s an invitation. To see food as sacred. To honour the elements. To welcome the Guest. To meditate inward until the walls fall away and all that’s left is Brahman—limitless, eternal, and full of bliss.

As the Upanishad closes with the peaceful chant "Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," let that peace echo within you. Bhrigu’s journey reminds us that actual knowledge is not intellectual but experiential. It is not taught—it is discovered. Once discovered, it brings not just information but liberation.

“He who knows this becomes established in the highest. He becomes one with Brahman.”

May all beings experience that bliss. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.

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FAQs

1. What is the central teaching of Bhrigu Valli?

It teaches that the ultimate reality, Brahman, can be discovered through deep contemplation of everyday things, such as food, breath, and joy.

2. Why is food considered divine in this Upanishad?

Because food is the source of life and a manifestation of Brahman, it nourishes all beings and sustains the cycle of life.

3. What is the Panch Kosha, and how does it relate?

The Panch Kosha are the five layers of human existence. Bhrigu’s journey reflects peeling each layer to reach the core of bliss and truth.

4. Who can meditate on Brahman?

Anyone who seeks truth is willing to go inward with sincerity, patience, and humility.

5. Is the message of the Upanishads still relevant today?

Absolutely. The Upanishads remind us of the inner richness that we often overlook in a world consumed by material things.