Rama Rahasya Upanishad
[This great Upanishad is in Atharvana Veda and is the authoritative source of Lord Rama's worship methods.]
Om ! O evas ma" we hear with our ears what is auspicious# $a" we see with our e"es what is auspicious O "e worth" of worship ! $a" we en%o" the term of &ife a&&otted " the evas (raising them with our od" and &ims stead" ! $a" the g&orious )ndra &ess us !
$a" the a&&*+nowing ,un &ess us ! $a" -aruda the thundero&t for evi& &ess us ! $a" rihaspati grant us we&&*eing ! Om ! Let there e (eace in me ! Let there e (eace in m" environment ! Let there e (eace in the forces that act on me !
) sa&ute that Lord Rama who is the personificati personification on of sa&vation who is a great +ing who is a great man and who destro"s a&& his enemies.
First Chapter
/*0. -reat sages &i+e $udga&a ,andi&"a (ainga&a i+shu ,ana+a and (rah&ada approached Lord 1anuman who was a great devotee of Vishnu and as+ed him
2*3. 45hich is the greatest princip&e among the four Veda*s /6 purana*s /6 ,mriti* s ,astra*s a&& +now&edge and among the great powers ru&ed " the ,un and moon78
9*:. 1e rep&ied 41e" great sages and devotees of Lord Vishnu! (&ease hear m" words which cut of a&& attachments the greatest princip&e among these is the princip&e of rahma Tara+a ;O$<. Rama is (ara*rahma and supreme austerit" and Rama is the ,upreme =ssence and rahma Tara+a.8
>. The" a&& again as+ed Lord 1anuman8(&ease te&& us the angas ;aspects< of Lord Rama.8
Lord 1anuman to&d 4(&ease understand that Lord -anesha -oddess ,araswati -oddess urga a&& the ?shetra (a&a+a*s ,un $oon Lord @ara"ana Lord @arasimha Lord Vasudeva Lord Varaha Lord La+shmana ,hatrughna harata Viheeshana ,ugreeva Angada amavanta and (ranava are the angas of Lord
Rama. 5ithout these angas Lord Rama wi&& not remove a&& road&oc+s. The" again as+ed 41ow wi&& rahmins and househo&ders get the capacit" to recite (ranava78 1e said 4A&& (eop&e ;even if the" are not e&igi&e to chant 4Om8< who chant the siB &etter mantra wou&d get the capacit" to meditate on (ranava. Those who chant si&ent&" the mantra of Rama wou&d get the same effect as repeating the &etter 4Om8. After the name of Rishi evata and meter %apa of the Rama mantra wou&d give the same effect as repetition of (ranava and further he eBp&ained that Rama 1imse&f has said that pranava is a part of Rama mantra.
6. On another occasion answering ViheeshanaCs Duestion 41ow can "our angas e made eas" to worship7 (&ease te&& me an eas" wa".8
Rama rep&ied 4The %apa of m" name 4Rama8 removes a&& sins. ,uppose some one is meditating on m" siB &ettered mantra or reads m" -ita or thin+s of me with devotiona& fervor he wou&d get the same effect. 1e wou&d get rid of the five great sins viE. +i&&ing of father +i&&ing of mother +i&&ing of rothers +i&&ing of teachers +i&&ing of husand or even other we&&*+nown great sins if one repeats m" siB &ettered mantra ten mi&&ion times. 1e a&so wou&d get the immorta& and ever &asting &iss.
Viheeshana again as+ed him 45hat wou&d e the wa" for peop&e who are not capa&e of doing )t.78
Rama rep&ied 4the" can either read m" -ita m" thousand names or meditate on m" Viswa Roopa or m" /F6 names or repeat m" name /FF times or read the +ing of stotras written " sage @arada or read the great pra"er ca&&ed mantra ra%a stavam written " 1anuman or read the pra"er to ,ita or dai&" pra" to me " reciting m" name# the" wi&& dout&ess attain $e.8
1ere ends the Girst Hhapter.
Second Chapter
The great sages &ed " ,ana+a as+ed 1anuman again 4(&ease te&& us the mantra for meditating ;or worshipping< the Tara+a rahma Rama.8
1anuman rep&iedI
/. That +ing of mantra*s is the =+a+shara ;one*s"&&a&ed< which is the store house of fire which is Lord Vishnu who is &"ing down and which is Lord ,hiva who adorned with the crescent moon.
0. )ts sage is rahma meter is -a"atri eit" is Lord Rama its anga is waBing ha&f* $oon and its mind is the sou& of fire
2. )ts root is the ee%a ,ha+ti and it has to e chanted for fu&fi&&ment of desires. [The pra"er ;dh"ana s&o+a< for the mantra isI*] 1e who sits on the &otus f&ower on the shores of river ,ara"u
3. 1e who is &ac+ seated on the throne of heroes who shines in the nana*$udra that he shows whose &eft side is adorned " ,ita and La+shmana
9. 1e who shines as their sou& to those sou&s who pra" to him who is &i+e the c&ear cr"sta& who is the on&" source to those who wish for sa&vation
:. 1e who is the (aramatma to those thin+ers who shines &i+e the mi&&ions of ,uns who is &i+e @ara"ana residing in the nadi*s who is digestive fire.
>. The +ing of mantras with two s"&&a&es ;Rama< wou&d &ead to fu&fi&&ment of a&& desires and a&ong with the suffiB of one &etter it ecomes siB different mantras [the" are Om 1rim ,rim ?&im Aim and Ram.]
6. These +ing of mantras consisting of three s"&&a&es a&so wi&& fu&fi&& a&& desires.
J. The two four &ettered mantras are Ramachandra and Ramahadra.
/F. These can e chanted with the rishi and others as to&d efore# Viswamithra is its Rishi the meter is pan+ti evatha is Ramahadra The hee%a is ,ha+thi.
//. This mantra shou&d e invo+ed menta&&" in the midd&e of the e"e rows head nave& thighs and feet.
/0. One shou&d go to the midd&e of the forest and sit under the ?a&pa*Vri+sha ;wish* fu&fi&&ing or eterna& tree< and assume the posture of 4(ushpa&ata8 ;f&owering creeper p&ant< do the anga n"asa and chant the mantras
/2. 5ith La+shmana having arranged proper&" the arrow and the Lord eing fanned " ,ita.
/3. h"ana mantraI* ) sa&ute that Rama who has &ustrous matted hair who is &uish in co&our who is surrounded " sages who is eing fanned " ana+i who is protected " La+shmana ho&ding an umre&&a
/9. The one who +i&&ed Ravana who is eBtreme&" peacefu& and efore whom stand ,ugreeva and Vieeshana. Gor achieving victor" one shou&d chant this s&o+a ten mi&&ion times.
/:. The five &ettered mantra*s are formed " adding the root &etters for $anmatha urga ,araswati and La+shmi at the eginning of the four &ettered mantra [adding O$ to ma+e it siB*s"&&a&ed] and &ead to the rea&iEation of the four (urushartha*s.
/>. 5hen each of the fift" m"stic s"&&a&es of the ,ans+rit a&phaet ;nasa&iEed< as we&& as the root &etters of La+shmi ,araswati $anmatha and O$ are added as the first s"&&a&e severa& varieties of siB &ettered mantras are formed.
/6. Hhanting the four &etter mantras " adding the root &etters of ,ri $a"a and $anmatha as prefiB and suffiB of the four and siB &etter mantras grants a&& ones
wishes.
/J. Adding svaha or hum phat or namah at the end in various cominations ma+e up the /6*&ettered mantra*s.
0F. )n these mantra*s rahma as sammohana sha+ti a+shinamurt" Agast"a and ,hiva are said to e the ascetics in that order.
0/. The meter ;chanda< is -a"atri and the eit" is ,hri Rama. Or ?ama*i%a at the eginning and Vishvamitra the Rishi.
00. The meter -a"atri of different deities and Ramahadra the KdevataC. The sha+ti* i%a is invo+ed as efore as with the :*&ettered mantra.
02. Touching on the top of the head in the midd&e etween the e"e*rows heart thighs and feet the mantras are recited with i%a*s and anga*n"asa.
03. h"anaI
) worship ,ri Rama 5hose od" shines with various ornaments 5ho is as ri&&iant as &ightning 5ho assumes the Virasana posture 5ho shows %nana $udra " one hand 5ho +eeps the other hand on his thigh And who wears the crown.
09. Then one shou&d with prostrations recite 4Ramachandra"a and Ramahadra"a
@amah8 and the +ing of seven &ettered mantras and the fu&fi&&er of a&& wishes.
0:. =ight &ettered mantraI Adding O$ at the eginning to the two seven &ettered mantras gives rise to two eight &ettered mantras. O$ added to the four &ettered 4Rama"a8 and 41um (hat svaha8 is another 6 &ettered mantra.
0>. The Rishis and other ad%uncts for the 6*&ettered mantra are the same as for the :*&ettered ones. Again the 6*&ettered mantra a&so has Rama as the Rishi.
06. The meter is -a"atri the eit" is Rama O$ the pair of ,hri i%a*s and ,ha+ti i%a and others are a&so ;added<.
0J. Thereafter one recites the mantra*s with the :*&imed n"asa and recites Rama"a @amah with O$ and a pair of ,hri*i%a*s.
2F. ,hiva Rama $antraI -&aum O$ $a"a*i%a ;heart*aiding< Rama"a @amah is recited again. ,hiva Om Rama mantra is the giver of a&& eBce&&ence.
2/. ,adashiva is spo+en of as the Rishi -a"atri as the meter and ,hiva*O$* Ramachandra as the eit".
h"anamI ) worship that Rama 5ho has three e"es 5ho wears the crescent 5ho ho&ds the trident 5ho is anointed a&& over " ash And who is with matted hair.
20. ) worship the three e"ed one 5ho is Ahirama the pinnac&e of eaut" 5ho wears the crescent as ear ring And who ho&ds the noose the goad the ow and the arrow
23. Thus meditating devoted who&&" to recitation and o&ations one sha&& chant mantra*s one*hundred thousand times offering i&va &eaves fruits f&owers gingi&i seeds and &otuses.
29. Rama rahma -a"atriI =ven the treasures and powers wished for " the ce&estia&s come " themse&ves when the 6*&ettered Raghava rahma*ga"atri ;is chanted<.
2:. The Rishis +nowing ,hri*i%a as m" ,ha+ti chant the mantra*s with the &ims as vini"oga for its adoration.
2>. h"anamI ) worship that &ue comp&eBioned Rama 5ho wears the race&et on upper arm and ang&e 5hich are studded with shining gems 5ho has the ro"a& umre&&a he&d over his head 5ho shines &i+e mi&&ions of waBing moons 5ho sits in the ha&& of one thousand siBteen go&den pi&&ars And who is surrounded " harata and others.
26. Rama ,harana $antraI The chanting of 4Ramam sharanam mama8 ;i.e. Rama is m" refuge< achieves much more than man" other mantras which &ead with difficu&t"
to mere ephemera& gains and productive of the miser" of samsara due to the greed for the transient fruits. This mantra gives the fruits of a&& of them without the taint of greed and other defects. There is a&so the 6*&ettered mantra which is we&&*+nown in seven*fo&d wa"s. )t is Om added to the seven &ettered mantra.
2J. Other mantras with more &ettersI The 6*s"&&a&ed mantra is ;chanted< seven*fo&d wa"s. O$ is added at the eginning and end of the seven &ettered ;mantra<.
3F. @ine &ettered mantraI This J*&ettered mantra is offered &i+e the :*&ettered one to ,ita in the eginning and to the consort of ana+i at the end.
3/. Ten &ettered mantraI The /F*&ettered mantra gives a&& that is desira&e wished* for fruits. The great Vasishtha is the Rishi of this /F*&ettered mantra# the meter is Virat
30. The eit" is Rama ho&ding ,itaCs hand# The eginning i%a Visarga is the sha+ti. 5ith the anga*n"asa for the wishes
32. The /F &ettered mantra is offered menta&&" to the head forehead midd&e of the e"e*rows pa&ate ears heart nave& thighs +nees and feet.
33. h"anamI ) thin+ of that Rama 5ho is in the cit" of A"odh"a 5ho is decorated " various gems 5ho sits under a go&den canop" 5hose doorwa"s are decorated " mandara f&owers
39. 5ho is seated on a throne
,urrounded " ce&estia& vehic&es
3:. 5ho is praised " sages with reverence 5ho is adorned on the &eft " ,ita 5ho is eing served " La+shmana
3>. 5ho is &ue comp&eBioned 5ho has a tranDui& face And who is adorned " ornaments. This mantra shou&d e recited a hundred*thousand times with eBc&usive devotion.
36. The form of Rama ho&ding the ow in his hands and ,ita within. rahma is the Rishi of the /F*&ettered mantra. The meter is Virat
3J. The eit" is Rama the s&a"er of demons. Rest of the worship is simi&ar to the previous one. One shou&d rememer Rama ho&ding the ow and arrow.
9F. =&even &ettered mantraI 5ith the siB*fo&d addition of O$*$a"a*Rama*?ama*Vac* sva* i%a*s and recite the /F*&ettered mantra for Rudra.
9/. The remainder ;ritua&< is the same as for the :*&ettered mantra as regards n"asa and dh"ana according to the wise. Of the /0*&ettered mantra ,ri Rama is the Rishi#
90. The meter is %agati and ,ri Rama the eit"# the pranava is said to e the i%a +&iim is ,ha+ti and hrim is +i&a+a.
92. Reciting the mantra*s with the anga*n"asa the rest is performed as previous&". A&so to e added are O$ +iim and a&so haratagra%a.
93. Twe&ve &ettered mantraI This /0*&ettered mantra ends with Rama +&iim and svaha. O$ 1rridhagavate Ramachandrahadra"a#
99. As efore the Rishi and dh"ana and [arna meter ;/0*feet< or the /0 sur"as77]# agati meter and the mantra*s with anga*n"asa.
9:. Reciting the name ,ri Rama and a"arama thereafter the wise one sa"s %a"a %a"a twice Rama who sheds %o" on the mind.
9>. Thirteen &ettered mantraI The /2*&ettered mantra has the same Rishi and other ad%uncts as efore the fu&fi&&er of a&& wishes. Repeating the phrase twice with the anga*s and dh"ana as efore.
96. Gourteen &ettered mantraI 5hen Om is added the mantra is /3*&ettered. After chanting the /2*&ettered one adds ;the name< Rama#
9J. Gifteen &ettered mantraI This is the /9*&ettered wish*fu&fi&&ing tree ;+a&pa * huruhah<. Add namah to ,itapata"e Rama"a hana hana#
:F. ,iBteen &ettered mantraI Thereafter the /:*&ettered ends with the +avacha and asthra. Of this Agast"a is the Rishi rihati is the meter and Rama is the eit".
:/. Ram is the i%a astra is sha+ti and hum the +i&a+a. The /F*/9 &ettered mantra*a are offered in seDuence with the anga*n"asa*s.
:0. ,eventeen &ettered mantraI Adding O$ the mantra is />*&ettered. O$ namo hagavata Ram at the end there*after.
:2. =ighteen &ettered mantraI Adding purusha"a at the end gives the /6*&ettered mantra with Vishvamitra as the Rishi and ga"atri meter and the eit" as Rama.
:3. @ineteen &ettered mantraI 5ith the ?ama i%a the mantra is /J*&ettered. O$ namo hagavate Rama"a is to e recited.
:9. Twent" &ettered mantraI After uttering a&& the mantra*s one as+s for a&& auspiciousness. 5hen svaha is added the mantra is 0F*&ettered.
::. O$ namo hagavate Rama"a is to e recited. Then svaha for protection from dangers.
:>. Twent" one &ettered mantraI The 0/*&ettered mantra fu&fi&&s a&& oneCs wishes. O$ Rama svai%aa asharatha"a thereafter.
:6. Twent" two &ettered mantraI Then one chants the a&&*auspicious sitava&&aha"a ;to ,itaCs consort<. Then this 00*&ettered mantra.
:J. Twent" three &ettered mantraI O$ namo hagavate virarama"a is chanted. Then soft&" hana hana svaha is recited.
>F. The 02*&ettered mantra is the s&a"er of a&& enemies. Vishvamitra is the Rishi and -a"atri is the meter.
>/. The eit" is Vira Rama i%a*s and other ;ad%uncts< are as efore. The wise one after doing the anga*n"asa of the mu&a*mantra in parts
>0. si&ent&" meditates on Rama who has put the arrow on the ow and facing Ravana is ho&ding the thundero&t in his hand and has ascended the chariot.
>2. One recites O$ namo hagavate ,hri Rama"a and having said O$ rahmane adds the words mam tara"a ;protect me<.
>3. Twent" four &ettered mantraI 5ith nama O$ added the mantra is 03*&ettered. The i%a*s and other ad%uncts are as efore.
>9. ?&iim O$ and namah and hagavate Ramachandra"a thereafter one sa"s the word Ka&&C.
>:. Twent" five &ettered mantraI %anavash"a+ara"a ;conDuering peop&e< svaha and +iim are to e recited menta&&". The 09*&ettered mantra is to inc&ude sarvavash"a+ara ;conDuering a&&<.
>>. Twent" siB and twent" seven &ettered mantraI 5ith O$ added at the eginning the mantra has 0: &etters. Adding O$ at the end ma+es it 0>*&ettered.
>6. O$ namo hagavate ra+shoghnavishada"a ;oeisance to hagavan s&a"er of demons< sarvavighat nivara"a ;protect from a&& ostac&e< to e repeated twice#
>J. Twent" eight and twent" nine &ettered mantraI Adding svaha at the end ma+es this +ing of mantra*s 06*&ettered. 5hen %oined with O$ it ecomes 0J*&ettered.
6F. Thirt" and Thirt"*one &ettered mantraI eginning with sva*i%a is the 2F* &ettered. 5ith O$ at the end it has 2/ &etters.
6/. O Ramahadra the great archer! O Raghuvira the est of +ings and s&a"er of Ravana! -rant me wea&th!
60. The Rishi is Rama meter is anushtuh Ram i%a "am sha+ti are recited for the )shta deit".
62. @"asa of the mantra is done in the heart on the head with the 9*&ettered on the shi+ha and of the 2*&ettered +avacha.
63. Gor the e"es with the 9*&ettered mantra ca&&ed the astra. 1o&ding the ow and arrow &ue*comp&eBioned accompanied " ,ugriva and Vihishana.
69. After s&a"ing Ravana coming for the protection of the three wor&ds# meditating on Rama in the heart one chants ;the mantra< menta&&" a mi&&ion times#
6:. Then one utters the rama ga"atri given " Kdashratha"a vidmaheC fo&&owed " Ksita*va&&aha"a dhimahi
6>. tanno Ramah prachoda"atC. [$a" we +now the son of asharatha# we meditate on ,itaCs consort# ma" Rama en&ighten our inte&&ect.]
66. Gor enchanting the earth and attain eBpertise in &ove add 4madana8 ;cupid< to the 4,ri Rama4 a&ong with the hi%a of $a"a.
6J. 5ith /9*&ettered and /0*&ettered ;mantra*s< and a&so for the /:*&ettered mantra one has to perform anga*n"asa.
JF. 5hi&e chanting the i%a*s meditation etc. for these the same seDuence as for the :*&ettered mantra has to e adhered. O$ namo hagavate raghunandana"a.
J/. Li+ewise thereafter one recites Kto ra+shoghnavishadC and KmadhuraC ;sweet<# KprasannavadanamC ;tranDui&*faced< Kamita*te%aseo ;to one of immeasura&e rightness<.
J0. Thereafter sa" namah ;oeisance< to a&arama and Vishnu and recite menta&&"
the 3> &etters.
J2. Rishi is rahma meter is anushtuh and deit" is Raghava. ,even time /> with : Rudra*s and the : &ims#
J3. 5hi&e $editating on the /F*&ettered mantra one chants it /FFFFF times. )t starts with 4,hri"am ,ita8 fo&&owed " the siB &ettered mantra and ending with 4,waha8.
J9. The Rishi of this mantra is ana+a meter is -a"atri deit" is ,ita hagavati shrim is i%a and namah is the sha+ti.
J:. ,ita is +i&a+a vini"oga is done for the )shta. Reciting with pro&onged accents at the eginning the :*&im n"asa is done.
J>. One shou&d meditate on Rama at the center of the heBagon ;"antra< thin+ing in the mind him with his od" shining &i+e go&d ho&ding a &otusand then &oo+ at Rama as the fina& refuge.
J6. Gor the La+shmana mantra utter the sound &am and ow to La+shmana. Gor this ;mantra< Agast"a is the Rishi meter is -a"atri
JJ. eit" is La+shmana &am is the i%a and sha+ti is namah# the 3 purushartha*s are the vini"oga.
/FF. Long ending sound with Ram as the i%a is recited with the :*&imed n"asa. ;Rama< with 0 arms personif"ing his od" as of go&den hue and resem&ing a &otus
/F/. Gor the harata mantra he ho&ding the ow and arrow who&&" devoted to Rama as the ,upreme one shou&d utter the sound ha and ow to harata.
/F0. Rishi is Agast"a rest is done as efore to harata the &ue*hued one who is tranDui& and serving Rama who&e*hearted&".
/F2. Gor the mantra of ,hatrughna recite 4) worship ?ai+e"iCs rave son ho&ding the ow and arrow8# utter the i%a 4sham8 and ending with Kshatrughna"a namahC the Rishi*s and other ad%uncts as efore and the vini"oga for the contro& over enemies.
/F3. Two*armed go&den*right devoted to the service of Rama s&a"er of Lavanasura ) worship the son of ,umitra.
/F9. The mantra of 1anuman 4hrum hanumate8 is the +ing of mantra*s of which Ramachandra is the Rishi and the other ritua&s to e done as previous&". /F:. One shou&d meditate on the two*armed one who is shining &i+e go&d who is devoted to RamaCs service wearing the gird&e of mun%a*grass and is the servant of Rama.
Thus ends ,econd Hhapter of Rama*rahas"a Upanishad.
Third Chapter
,ana+a and other ascetics as+ed 1anumanI 4O might" son of An%ana! Te&& us aout the a&tar ;"antra< for the worship " the aforesaid mantra*s.8
1anuman rep&iedI 4To egin with the a&tar is siB*sided ;heBagona&< and in the center is written the seed*&etter ;i%a+shara< of Rama ;Ram< with shrim.
e&ow that in the second corner is the ,adh"a ;food offering<. Aove it on the siBth corner is the ,adha+am ;Honstant devotion<. On the surrounding sides are the seed &etters of iva*(rana*,ha+ti. =ncirc&ing a&& these is O$.
)n the ,outh*=ast @orth*=ast @orth*5est ,outh*5est on the front corners are +ept the coo+ed rice.
Then seDuentia&&" the 1eart mantra*s viE Ram rim rum raim raum rah i%a* a+shara*s the heart Kastra mantrasC are to e recited.
ehind the corners are the i%a*a+shara of Rama and $a"a on the corners varaham hum# over this is the ?ama*i%a ;Ram< and surrounding it is the Vac ;+iim<.
Thereafter are three circ&es of eight &eaves. On the &eaves gar&ands of s"&&a&es in eight groups of siB*&ettered mantras are inscried.
=nding with five*&ettered mantra.
On the face of each &eaf the eight*&ettered ;mantras<.
Again the 6*peta&&ed &otus.
On the peta&s the 6*&ettered @ara"ana mantra. O$ namo @ara"ana"a
On the face of each peta& shri i%a.
Then the first round.
Then the /0*peta&&ed. On them the /0*&ettered Vasudeva mantra. ;O$ namo hagavate vasudeva"a< As we&& as on their fronts in a&& directions. )n a circu&ar manner. On the peta&s hum phat with the /0*&ettered Rama mantra M ;O$ namo hagavate ramachandra"a .< On the front of the peta& $a"a i%a ;+ii$<. On the front of each in two circ&es M hram sram hram ram hramam shrum %ram. Then in a circ&e.
Thereafter the 20*peta&&ed. On them the +ing of mantra*s M @risimha anushtuh. On front of these the 6 vasu*s // rudra*s /0 adit"a mantra*s a&ong with O$ and namo in seDuence in dative case. Outside and surrounding is vashat.
Then the hupura of three &ines. )n /0 directions adorned with the rashi*s ;Nodiac signs<. Aiding there the 6 naga*s ;serpents<. )n the 3 directions the @arasimha i%a. )n the intermediate directions the Varaha i%a.
This a&&*encompassing "antra fu&fi&&s a&& wishes and grants &ieration.
eginning with the /M&ettered and ending with the J*&ettered ;mantra*s< this is the "antra and the tenth ecomes the avarana ;covering for it<.
One shou&d worship Raghava with Kanga*n"asaC in the center of the heBagon.
)n the first round the anga*n"asa is done at a&& the corners.
At the root of the 6 peta&s the initia& cover of onese&f.
Then the covering " Vasudeva and others.
At the ase of the second 6*peta&s the Kcow coveringC.
Then covers of 1anuman and other.
Gor the /0*peta&&ed Vasishtha covering.
Gor the /:*peta&&ed the &ue &otus covering.
Gor the 20*peta&&ed hruva covering.
)n the hupura )ndra covering.
Outside this is the va%ra covering.
Offering thus one shou&d si&ent&" chant.
@ow the a&tar is descried for the mantras starting with /F s"&&a&es and ending with 20 s"&&a&es.
Girst the heBagon.
)n its center the name of the KishtaC. Thus surrounded " ?ama i%a. The remaining nine surround this.
At the siB corners the :*fo&d anga*n"asa in the front and ac+ of the intermediate directions ;,*= @*= @*5 ,*5<. On the face the ,hri*$a"a ;i%a< )n the corners +rodha.
Then the first round.
Then the 6*peta&s# on the peta&s gar&ands of s"&&a&es in mu&tip&es of :. )n a circu&ar manner. ,urrounding this in a&& directions. Outside this the hupura with 6 spear*points.
)n a&& directions @arasimha and Varaha. This is the -reat antra.
Adhara*sha+ti ;asic power< is the seat of VishnuCs worship.
The first round is of anga*n"asa.
)n the center Rama. On the &eft ,ita. )n their front the ow and the arrow.
At the ase of the 6 peta&s two avarana*s of 1anuman.
The third avarana of cow.
Gourth of )ndra.
Gifth of Va%ra.
Thus worshipping the "antra with devotion one shou&d recite the /F*&ettered and other mantra*s.
Thus ends the Third Hhapter of Rama*Rahas"a Upanishad.
Fourth Chapter
,ana+a and other ascetics as+ed 1anumanI 8escrie the ritua& for recitation of Rama mantras.4 1anuman rep&ied 4The one who intends to recite this mantra shou&d fo&&ow the fo&&owing proceduresI
/. 1e shou&d athe thrice a da".
0. 1e shou&d ta+e on&" sathvic foods &i+e mi&+ roots fruits or naived"a ;rice pudding
offered to the -od<
2. 1e shou&d fo&&ow the prescried ?armas of the stage of his &ife ;rahmachari -rahastha Vanaprastha or ,an"asi<
3. 1e shou&d give up the siB negative emotions &i+e anger %ea&ous" etc.
9. 1e shou&d oserve purit" and practice dispassionate speech.
:. 1e shou&d a&so oserve dispassionate action and show respect to a&& women.
>. 1e shou&d oserve ce&iac" and s&eep on the are ground.
6. 1e shou&d not have an" desires.
J. 1e shou&d e devoted to his teacher.
/F. 1e shou&d scrupu&ous&" oserve ath worship recitation meditation and o&ation to the fire.
//. 1e shou&d meditate with utmost concentration on Rama as instructed " his teacher.
/0. 1e shou&d invo+e the sun moon Teacher & cow rahmin etc.
/2. The ascetic doing this %apa shou&d sit on a tiger s+in and adopt postures
prescried &i+e the ,wasthi+asana in rotating seDuence.
/3. 1e shou&d seat himse&f e&ow p&ants &i+e Thu&asi or trees &i+e (ari%ata i&wa etc.
/9. 1e shou&d count using a rosar" whose eads are either made of thu&asi p&ant or use rudra+sha.
/:. The counting shou&d e done menta&&" using the eads and shou&d e one hundred thousand times at the a&tar of $aha Vishnu.
/>. Tharpana shou&d e offered after ever" ten tota& count. After ten counts offer rice pudding pour over it c&arified utter made from cowCs mi&+ and eat what remains after the neBt tenth portion.
/6. After this a&ong with chanting f&owers have to e offered a&ong with the chanting of moo&a mantra.
The ascetic who does this %apa ecomes &ierated in &ife and the supernatura& powers fo&&ow him &i+e a ride fo&&ows her groom.
This Rama*mantra is not on&" a means to &ieration ut if "ou rememer me who am RamaCs servant it wi&& ensure success in these wor&d&" affairs too.
To the one who for ever rememers Rama with tota& devotion as the fina& refuge of the mind ) am empowered to fu&fi&& a&& their chosen wishes.
Towards the tas+ of fu&fi&&ment of the wishes of the devotees of Rama ) M as an eBpert in carr"ing out RamaCs commands * am a&wa"s who&&" a&ert.
Thus ends the Gourth Hhapter of Rama*rahas"a Upanishad.
Fifth Chapter [Conclusion]
,ana+a and other ascetics as+ed 1anumanI 4 Te&& us the meaning of ,ri Rama mantra8.
1anuman rep&iedI 4Among the Rama mantras the :*&ettered is the +ing among them a&&# though as mentioned ear&ier the" eBist as one* or two* or three or four or five s"&&a&es or even as siB* or seven* or eight or even as man" more s"&&a&es. Lord ,hiva +nows in essence the g&or" of the siB*s"&&a&es ;mantra<# [ shri Ramah sharanam mama! ].
The true meaning of the +ing among the Rama mantras as we&& as of the eight* &ettered @ara"ana and five*&ettered ,hiva mantras is spo+en of as thusI
5here "ogi*s reve& in the 0 s"&&a&e mantra viE. KRa maC where the ra s"&&a&e denotes fire wherein aides i&&umination.
)ts nature as =Bistence*Honsciousness*&iss is regarded as the supreme meaning the consonant denoting the unchanging rahman and the s"&&a&e the energ" of manifestation.
?now that Honsonants %oined to ,"&&a&es are used in reathing# the sound KrC of the nature of &ight is therefore used in action.
The sound KmaC is +nown as Kma"aC indicating prosperit"# eing itse&f the seed* &etter ;i%a+shara< is a&so eDua& to rahman itse&f.
5ith the KinduC ;anusvara< the (urusha ta+es on the form of ,hiva*,un*$oon the
f&ame as the crest and the sound as the (ra+riti.
oth (urusha and (ra+riti %oint&" are considered as rahman# the indu sound and the indwe&&ing seed*&etter as Gire and digits of the $oon.
Gire and O$ " their ver" nature aide in the seed*s"&&a&es of Rama %ust as the great tree in the mundane &ife is contained in its seed.
,imi&ar&" in the seed*s"&&a&es Rama is contained this who&e moving and unmoving wor&d. The name Rama is thus regarded as the seed with oth these meanings.
5hen freed of the $a"a*seed ;+iim< the ,upreme ,pirit is said to eBist ;a&one<. This grants &ieration to aspirants and the KmaC sound is regarded as the &ierator.
Gorm&ess KmaC in Rama is the grantor of en%o"ment and &ieration.The first &etter KraC stands for the term KtatC ;That< and KmaC stands for the term KtvamC ;ou<. The wise +nower of Truth dec&are that the conf&uence of the aove two terms end in the meaning KasiC ;Are<. The word KnamahC has the meaning of tvam ;"ou< and tat is denoted " the word Rama.
5hen used in the dative case ;Rama"a< the meaning asi ;are< is indicated in the mantra. 5herefore the sentence KtattvamasiC grants the unitive sa&vation.
Therefore this ;mantra< giver of en%o"ment and &ieration surpasses the afore*said sentence ;tattvamasi<. A&& emodied human eings are Dua&ified for this mantra.
Gor those desiring &ieration the dispassionate ones as we&& as house*ho&ders and in a&& stages of &ife constant meditation of O$ and especia&&" for ascetics is en%oined# for the +nower of the meaning of Rama*mantra dout&ess ecome &ierated whi&e a&ive.
One who studies this Upanishad ecomes sanctified " fire purified " air is freed from the sin of consuming intoBicants or of theft of go&d or of the s&a"ing of a rahmin.
One who recites the Rama*mantra repeated&" merges in Ramachandra himse&f.
Therefore this sacred h"mnI Those whoever sa" 4) am Rama in essence8 wi&& not fee& an" want in this &ife and without a dout is Rama 1imse&f8.
This is the Truth. This is the Upanishad.
Om ! O evas ma" we hear with our ears what is auspicious# $a" we see with our e"es what is auspicious O "e worth" of worship ! $a" we en%o" the term of &ife a&&otted " the evas (raising them with our od" and &ims stead" ! $a" the g&orious )ndra &ess us ! $a" the a&&*+nowing ,un &ess us ! $a" -aruda the thundero&t for evi& &ess us ! $a" rihaspati grant us we&&*eing ! Om ! Let there e (eace in me ! Let there e (eace in m" environment ! Let there e (eace in the forces that act on me !
1ere ends the Rama*Rahas"opanishad as contained in the Atharva*Veda.
