Ruth Perini
Trishikhi Brahmanopanishad is Volume 7 in the Yoga Upanishad series. *A brahmaṇa 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 Śiva, 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 pañcikāraṇa, the divisions and combinations of the elements. The brahmaṇa is advised to follow both the eightfold path of yoga leading to jñāna and the path of karmayoga or kriyāyoga. Renunciation and satsang, company of the wise, are emphasised. Teachings are given of the subtle body, viz. cakras, koṣas, nāḍīs,prāṇas, dhatus, four states of consciousness kuṇḍalinī and ātman as well as the agni maṇḍala, the region of fire and its role in awakening the subtle energies, and the nāḍikanda, where the three main nāḍīs, iḍā piṅgalā and suṣumnā, unite and separate. The main prāṇāyama practices are nāḍī śodhana and kumbhaka. A peaceful solitary place in nature is recommended for progress in sādhana. Signs of approaching death are described.Practices for meditation with ṣaṇmukhī mudrā, hṛdayāñjali mudrā or khecarī mudrā are: the five elements; the deities of the elements; Vāsudeva, the Transcendent Self; Viṣṇu; and the forms in the Universe.
