The Yajur-Vedaconsists of several stories and is also a vast storehouse of information. The Brahmavidya had been taught by maharishi Varuna to his son Brigu. This Brahmavidyais described in the Briguvalli, which is the third Upanishad.
On one occasion, Brigu entertained a desire to know about and attain the Lord Paramatma. He approached his father to fulfil this desire.
His father had an extensive knowledge of the Vedas and was aware of the secrets in the Vedas. Brigu exclaimed, “Father! I want to know about the brahmatatwa, so please teach it to me.” Varuna said that there are several factors that lead an individual to the knowledge of the brahmatatwa, such as annama, pranama, netrama, shrothram, manas, and vakku. These are considered to be the means to achieve the brahmatatwa.
These elements are physical entities, from which place did they into existence? What makes them exist? Where do they go at the end of the world? The answer to all these questions is the parabrahma tatwa.
Annam Brahma
Brigu performed very extensive tapas to achieve brahmajnana. He realised through his tapas that annamis brahmam. He found that all the characters of brahmawere suited to annam.
All creatures are dependent on annam. They are born due to the life-force of annam and survive by consuming annam. After death, all the creatures mergewith the earth. After knowing this, Brigu approached his father and informed him of his new found knowledge. Varuna undertook silent contemplation and realised that his son had witnessed only the macroscopic form of Parabrahma, and that he was unaware of the true tatwa. It was obvious that his son would have to perform tapas for some more time, in order to gain complete knowledge. As such, Varuna remained silent.
Brigu said “Father! If the knowledge I have gained is incorrect, please teach me the actual brahmatatwa.”
Varuna said “Son! Do some more tapas. You will know about brahmatatwa only through tapas. The tapas itself is brahmam.”
Brigu resumed tapas.
Prano Brahma
After a considerable amount of tapas, Brigu understood that the prana is brahmam. He was satisfied that all the characteristics told to him by his father were inherent in the prana. All creatures are born with life, live due to pranaand merge into the prana after death. Pranais absent in acarcass. Since this can be witnessed directly, Brigu confirmed that pranam is brahma. He again accosted his father and informed the latter of his new finding. The latter maintained a studious silence.
Brigu thought that the prana has the qualities of birth and death. These qualities make prana an inert material, whereas brahmam is active. As such, he decided that the prana could not be brahmam. In order to eliminate his confusion, he beseeched his father to provide information about brahmam. His father asked him to perform tapas to know the brahmatatwa. The father declared that tapaswas the sole means of realising the brahmatatwa.
As advised by the father, Brigu continued with his tapas. This time he came to know that manas is brahmam. He also thought that the qualities of brahmatatwas as told to him by his father suited the manas.
The creatures are born out of the impulses of the mind. They survive, because of the manas. The body and its organs cease to exist after the death. These merge into the manasat the time of death. Hence, he was convinced that manaswas brahma. He went to his father and informed about his realisation. Varuna remained silent, and upon his repeated requests, advised Brigu to perform some more tapas.
Brigu did so and understood that the jeevatma is brahma. The characteristics described by Varuna were best suited to vijnana the embodiment of jeevatma. The creatures live by virtue of the vijnana. In the absence of vijnana, the mind, organs, and life cease to exist, and cannot perform any work. The mind and other organs merge into the vijnana after death. A corpse is devoid of mind, organs or life. Therefore, vijnana is brahma.
Brigu informed his father about this experience, and Varuna thought that Brigu was nearing the concept of brahma. Brigu was unaware of the difference between inertia and conscience. However, this knowledge was also not brahmajnana. He had to perform tapas. Consequently, Varuna did not reply to Brigu.
Brigu asked his father to teach him and Varuna replied that knowledge of the brahmatatwawas possible only through tapas. Brigu repaired to perform tapas for the fifth time and realised that anandam is parabrahmam. Lord Paramatma is the form of ananda. He dwells in all things on earth. The annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, and vijnanamaya are all the forms of paramatma. These invoke and represent Brahma.
All creatures are born due to the wish of Lord Paramatma who is of the ananda form. The creatures are part of such anandamayaparamatma. No creature lives with suffering. Lord Paramatma is omnipresent and His power enables creatures to perform their activities. At the time of dissolution the entire creation merges into the Lord Paramatma.
This realisation made Brigu witness the truth, and he gained true knowledge. Subsequent to this incident, Brigu had no other desire. He wrote the Brugavalli based on his experiences with truth. The brahmavidya is established in the cosmic form of Lord Parabrahma.
Lord Paramatma is the basis for the brahmavidya. If anyone performs tapas like Maharishi Brigu, he is certain to know about the character of Parabrahma, and attains the Brahma sthithi, the ultimate happiness.
The Vedas teach about the results of brahmavidya and encourage all to gain this education. They describe the distinguishing characteristics of abrahmajnani and his views about his body and mind. For instance, such a person will be affluent in all aspects, self-sufficient, a provider of service to others, and his senses and mind will be under control. Moreover, he will become a brahmarshi, be endowed with great radiance, and his desires will be fulfilled.
Jaya Guru Datta