Taittiriya Upanishad - Shiksha Valli
Taittriya in Sanskrit means “From Tittiri”. The word ‘Tittiri’ is being interpreted in two ways: 1. It refers to Sage Tittiri who was the student of Yaska. 2. It refers to mythical students who became “Partridges” (birds – Kouthari in Tamil) in order to gain knowledge. Each Chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad is called a Valli which literally means a medicinal vine – like climbing plant that grows indpependently yet is attached to a main tree. The Taittiriya Upanishad has three chapters: the Siksha Valli , the Ananda Valli and the Bhrigu Valli . The first chapter Siksha Valli contains twelve Anuvaka (lessons). The second chapter Ananda Valli , sometimes called Brahmananda Valli contains nine verses. The third chapter Bhrigu Valli contains ten verses. Hence Taittiriya Upanishads’ total Anuvaka (Lessons) is 31 verses. But, we are here confined...