Episode 01 - Thaithireeya Upanishad.

THAITIREEYA UPANISHAD

The thaithireeya upaniShad is one of the larger works amongst the ten main Upanishads.  It is actually a compendium of three distinct works - seekSAvalli (Seeksha- is instruction or education, valli is chapter or component); Anandavalli (about principles of human life and definition of pure joy) and brihuvalli (about the Brahman, named after sage Brihu).  

The thaithireeya upaniShad got its name with a story behind it. Among Sage VaiSampAyana's disciples was YAgnya Valkya who was brilliant and tended to form his own interpretations and conclusions from the instructions of his Guru that significantly differed from the Guru's. At some point, the Guru - Sishya relationship reached the end of the tether and YAgnya Valkya was to leave the Gurukula; in a fit of temper, Sage VaiSampAyana told the dissenting disciple to leave his learnings behind if he was entertaining different views and opinions on what was instructed. The legend has it that YAgnya Valkya threw up and out came all his learnings; and other disciples took the form of "Thithiri" birds ( black patridges) and swallowed the thrown up collection and assimilated it. Hence is the name thaithireeya UpaniShad. For the same reason, the version of Yajur Veda which was reportedly collected in this manner is called  kriShna yajur veda. (YAgnya Valkya is then reported to have vowed not to get instructed by any human and did penance to propitiate Surya (the Sun) who revealed to him that version of Yajur Veda – known widely as Shukla (white) Yajur Veda.)

This Upanishad is also, perhaps, the most recited amongst the Upanishads - in the Veda Paaraayanas during Temple festivals, auspicious ceremonies at home like marriages, abdha poorthis, etc. 

Its lyrical lilt would engulf and draw even sanskrit-illiterate listeners like good music does. The scientific truths and the codes of conduct enshrined in them are impeccable and applicable universally and at all times.  Samples: 

seekSAvalli:

The concept of lightning explained 

(Devanagari)

agnih poorva roopam; Adithyarutthara roopam; Apah sandhih; vaidyuthassanthAnam; ithyadhijyothisham;  

The concept of education explained 

AchAryah poorva roopam, anthEvAsyutthara roopam; vidhyA sandhih; pravachanam santhAnam; Ithyadhividhyam; 

The concept of procreation /progeny explained 

mAthA poorva roopam; pithOtthara roopam; prajA sandhih; prajananam santhAnam; ithyadhiprajam