Here I am offering my understanding of the first Khanda of Aitareya Upanishad.
Here is the link on Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, where I have explained my overview of Aitareya Upanishad.
http://thebigthinkg.sulekha.com/blog/post/2009/03/maha-mrityunjaya-mantra-immortally-mortal.htm
Aitareya Upanishad
Khanda 1
Aum atma va idam eka evagra asit
Nanyat kin cana misat
Sa aiksata lokan nu srja iti
Aum - Universe
Atma - self, move, breathe, blow
Va - either
Idam - here
Eka - only one
Eva - alone
Gra asit - existed
Aum indicates Universe, as explained in my blog here: http://thebigthinkg.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/aum-om-an-analysis.htm
In the Universe, the ‘Atma' was the only one and existed alone. ‘Atma' is the essence or soul. At first, the essence or soul of Universe only existed.
Na - Anyat - Nothing else
Cana - not even, also not
Misat -a rival one
Nothing else, not even the anti-particle of the ‘Atma' or ‘essence' existed at that time.
ikSat - it was seen (seeing, looking, visiting)
lokAn nu - the worlds
srja iti - is thus created
And it was seen creating the worlds by itself.
Sa ima lokan asrjata, ambha maricir maram apo'do
Ambhah parena divam; dyauh pratistha antariksam
Maricayah, prithvi maro ya adhastat ta apah
Sa ima - in this way
Lokan - worlds
Asrjata - got created
In this way, the worlds got created
Ambha - little lustrous plasma
Marici - shining speck of particle as well as field
Maram - mortal form of matter (that has death)
Apa - medium of life, life
From the little lustrous plasma (called Ambha) came Marici, Maram and Apa. Marici literally means both shining speck of particle as well as field. Maram literally means mortal form of matter, that is susceptible to death. Apa is the medium of life or life itself.
Ambo - plasma
Parena - farther, beyond, past, afterwards, later than
Divam - heaven
Dyauh - sheen, glow
Pratistha - installed, abode, resting place
The plasma exists beyond the heavens and is glowing.
Antariksam - space
Maricayah - formed by marici
Space is formed or filled by marici which is a duality of particle and field.
Prthivi - earth, earth like planets
Maro - formed by mara which is a mortal form of matter (that is susceptible to death)
Earth and earth like planets are formed by mortal (susceptible to death) form of matter
Adhastat - below, beneath, under that
Apa - medium of life, life
Beneath such planets the medium of life thrives and life comes up
Sa iksata ime nu loka, loka-palan nu srja iti
So'dbhya eva purusam samuddhrtyamurchayat
Sa iksata - it was seen
Ime Nu - in this manner
Loka - worlds
Loka-palan - protector of the worlds
Srja iti - is thus created
It was seen in this way the worlds and protector of the worlds was created.
Sodbhya - from the same womb
Eva - only
Purusam - Purusha
SamuddhRta - drawn out, lifted
Murchayat - Solidified
From the same essence/soul/plasma, purusha (protector of the worlds) was drawn out, lifted and solidified to protect the Universe. The purusha is the dark matter, as described in my article on Purusha Suktam
http://thebigthinkg.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/new-revelations-in-purusha-suktam.htm
Ambha of Universe
tam abhyatapat; tasya abhitaptasya
mukham nirabhideta yatha andam
Tam - suffocate, choke
Abhyatapat - pain, torment, turbulence
It (the plasmic Ambha) suffocated, choked, scorched, burnt and tormented with heavy turbulence.
Tasya -From that
Abhitapta - radiate heat, scorched, burnt
asya - like
mukham - face
nir - free of, without, not
abhidA - brings upon, to set forth, explain, to cause, name, to cover, protect
eta - here, this here
nirabhideta - uncovering this here, crystallize, hatch
From radiation of heat, scorching and burning a ‘face-like' is uncovered
yatha - in the manner, in such a manner
andam - egg
in the manner of an egg (hatched, crystallized).
This is the Amba part of evolution of Universe.
Nasadiya suktam talks about a vyom (gaseous, plasmic universe, quark-gluon plasma??), which is neither bound nor unbound and which shines as Amba. It talks about a fission that happens in vyom and subsequent fusion that produces something from which the evolution of universe happens. It also says that the mind of this vyom, which is situated in its heart, continuously seeks higher intelligence and evolves.
Refer my blog on Nasadiya Suktam:
http://thebigthinkg.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/12/nasadiya-suktam-before-the-bigbang.htm
Marichi of Universe
mukhAd vag, vaco agnir nasike nirabhidetam
nasikabhyam pranah, pranad vayuh
mukhAd - face's
Vag - speech, expression
Vaco - expression
Agnir - fire
nAsike - nostrils
nirabhidetaM - uncover here
The expression of this face is fire, uncovered/hatched through its nostrils/holes.
Nasika - nostril, hole
apyA - feeds on/thrives/increases/grows on (It is currently pronounced as abhyA)
Pra - filling
Prana - filling one, a strong binding force of
Vayu - gas/ gas clouds
prANa means the filling one. It is a strong binding force. In human body, prana is the filling and strong binding force of life.
Prana fills the plasmic quark or Ambha or vyom (as in Nasadiya) and binds the Ambha/plasmic quark strongly.
The nostrils (holes) grow on Prana, which is present in the plasmic quark/Ambha. That is the fire increases. Prana fills the Ambha and feeds the fire, thereby increasing the size of the hole(nostril)
If Ambha is plasmic quark, then Prana that strongly binds and fills the plasmic ambha is gluons or the strong force. It creates huge thermal energy (fire) in the process.
Thus fire keeps on increasing and hole size increases.
aksini nirabhideta, aksibhyam caksuh Caksusa aditya
akS - to penetrate, pervade and pass through.
akSini is penetrating/passing through force.
akSini - Eye (eye-lens, inner eye)
Nirabhideta - uncovers/hatches/crystallizes
High penetrating pervading force hatches. That is from this growing fire of plasmic quark/gluons, high penetrating, pervading force (cosmic gamma rays..?) come out.
aksi - All pervading force
apyA - thrives/grows/increases to
cakSu - visible force
This force (cosmic gamma rays) grows into a visible/perceptible force (Electro magnetic force).
Electro magnetic force is the force that binds protons (inner eye) to electrons (outer eye). Electromagnetic force operates through photons, which are a quanta of electro-magnetic force.
cakSusa - Visible force to
Aditya - the first matter particle
Aditya means the originating force. From visible/electromagnetic force the originating forces of this Universe start.
Adityas are the force that lays the foundation of the visible Universe. They are a set of 7 or 8 celestial forces often referred to in Rg Veda. Sun is often referred to as the Originating force (Aditya) of our Solar System.
Karnau nirabhidetam karnabhyam srotam srotad dishah
Karnau - piercing, boring force
Nirabhideta - uncovers
A piercing, boring force hatches/comes out of Amba.
Karna - The piercing force
apyA - thrives/grows/increases to
srotam - a flow or current
This piercing/boring force becomes a flow/current
srotad - that flow becomes
dishah - the directions, space
that flow/current fills all the directions and forms the space.
Such a force known today is Gravitational force, the force with unlimited range and the one that spreads in all directions and forms the space.
Summing up, from the burning, tormenting of Atma, which is plasmic in nature and filled with Prana (the binding force) a high penetrating force (cosmic gamma rays..?), visible force (Electro magnetic force), piercing/boring force (Gravitational force) appears and originating forces that lay the foundation of Universe appears.
Mara of Universe
tvaG nirabhideta tvaco lomani lomabhya osadhi-vanaspatayo
TvaG - a cover, a form
Nirabhideta - uncovers/hatches/crystallizes
tvAco - from that form
lomani - strings appear
loma - strings
apya - thrives/grows/increases to
osadhi -
vanaspatayo - and shrub becomes a forest
As it heats up more and more, a layer or skin crystallizes on top. From that, several small strings appear. These strings increase as time goes by and becomes dense. The strings grow longer and thicker.
hrdayam nirabhideta hrdayan manah manasas candrama
hrdayam - physical core,
nirabhideta - uncovers, hatches, crystallizes
The dense strings coalesce around to form the heart of the matter (a Proton particle).
hrdayan - In the core
manah - thought, something hidden in the heart or core, activity hidden in the core
In that core a hidden particle (neutron) appears, as more strings coalesce around.
manasas - from this activity
candrama - a satellite appears
As the hidden neutrons appear, a satellite particle appears around that core
nabhir nirabhideta nabhya apano apanan mrtyuh
nAbh - opening, fissure, burst/torn into a hole
nabhir - bursting open hole
nirabhideta - uncovers, hatches, crystallizes
A hole/space is burnt between the satellite particle and the core particles (hrday/proton, manas/neutron)
nabhya - from this hole
apA - move away, drive away
apAno - a moving away, driving away force
A moving away force (apAna) appears from this hole and it holds the satellite force apart from the core force.
Prana is a binding force that was present in the plasmic quark, that filled the plasmic quark, bound it together and increased the thermal energy, while apAna is the opposite of it, which is a driving away, moving away force that originates in the space between the satellite particle and core and holds the satellite particle away from the core.
panan - from this moving away force
mrtyuh - decay, death occurs
From this moving away force, decay or death of particles starts (radioactivity).
It could also be stated as "In th interplay of the binding force (prana) (strong force in current terminology) present in the core and the driving away force (apana, weak force in current terminology), decay and death starts".
Radioactive decay is seen as the origination of death and decay (mortal form).
Thus the mara form of matter is born.
Apah of Universe
ziznam nirabhideta ziznad reto retasa Apah
Ziznam - frigid, oung, rod like structure (male organ like)
Nirabhideta - hatches
Sisnad - from this structure
reto - stream or flow of life giving particles
retasa - from this stream or flow of life giving particles
Apah - medium of life, life
A frigid rod like structure hatches and from this structure a stream of life giving particles emerge and from it the basic medium of life evolves.
Detailed Summary of Khanda 1
In the Universe, the ‘Atma' was the only one and existed alone. ‘Nothing else, not even the anti-particle of the ‘Atma' or ‘essence' existed at that time.
And it was seen creating the worlds by itself. In this way, the worlds got created. Ambha is the plasma that originated from Atma.
From the little lustrous plasma (called Ambha) came Marici, Maram and Apa. Marici literally means both shining speck of particle as well as field. Maram literally means mortal form of matter, that is susceptible to death. Apa is the medium of life or life itself. The plasma of Ambha exists beyond the heavens and is glowing.
Space is formed or filled by marici which is a duality of particle and field. Earth and earth like planets are formed by mortal (susceptible to death) form of matter
Beneath such planets the medium of life thrives and life comes up.
It was seen in this way the worlds and protector of the worlds were created. From the same essence/soul/plasma, purusha (protector of the worlds) was drawn out, lifted and solidified to protect the Universe. The purusha is the dark matter, as described in my article on Purusha Suktam.
Ambha of Universe
It (the plasmic Ambha) suffocated, choked, scorched, burnt and tormented with heavy turbulence.
From radiation of heat, scorching and burning a ‘face-like' is uncovered in the manner of an egg (hatched, crystallized). This is the Amba part of evolution of Universe.
Marichi of Universe
The expression of this face is fire, uncovered/hatched through its nostrils/holes.
prANa means the filling one. It is a strong binding force. In human body, prana is the filling and strong binding force of life. Prana fills the plasmic quark or Ambha or vyom (as in Nasadiya) and binds the Ambha/plasmic quark strongly (in modern terminology it is the gluons).
The nostrils (holes) grow on Prana, which is present in the plasmic quark/Ambha. That is the fire increases. Prana fills the Ambha and feeds the fire, thereby increasing the size of the hole(nostril)
If Ambha is plasmic quark, then Prana that strongly binds and fills the plasmic ambha is gluons or the strong force. It creates huge thermal energy (fire) in the process.
Thus fire keeps on increasing and hole size increases.
Marichi of Universe
High penetrating pervading force hatches. That is from this growing fire of plasmic quark/gluons, high penetrating, pervading force (gamma rays..?) come out. This force (gamma rays) grows into a visible/perceptible force (Electro magnetic force).
Electro magnetic force is the force that binds protons (inner eye) to electrons (outer eye). Electromagnetic force operates through photons, which are a quanta of electro-magnetic force.
Aditya means the originating force. From visible/electromagnetic force the originating forces of this Universe start.
Adityas are the force that lays the foundation of the visible Universe. They are a set of 7 or 8 celestial forces often referred to in Rg Veda. Sun is often referred to as the Originating force (Aditya) of our Solar System.
A piercing, boring force hatches/comes out of Amba. This piercing/boring force becomes a flow/current that flow/current fills all the directions and forms the space.
Such a force known today is Gravitational force, the force with unlimited range and the one that spreads in all directions and forms the space.
Summing up, from the burning, tormenting of Atma, which is plasmic in nature and filled with Prana (the binding force) a high penetrating force (Gamma rays..?), visible force (Electro magnetic force), piercing/boring force (Gravitational force) appears and originating forces that lay the foundation of Universe appears.
Mara of Universe
As it heats up more and more, a ayer or skin crystallizes on top. From that, several small strings appear. These strings increase as time goes by and becomes dense. The strings grow longer and thicker.
The dense strings coalesce around to form the heart of the matter (a Proton particle).
In that core a hidden particle (neutron) appears, as more strings coalesce around.
As the hidden neutrons appear, a satellite particle appears around that core A hole/space is burnt between the satellite particle and the core particles (hrday/proton, manas/neutron)
A moving away force (apAna) appears from this hole and it holds the satellite force apart from the core force.
Prana is a binding force that was present in the plasmic quark, that filled the plasmic quark, bound it together and increased the thermal energy, while apAna is the opposite of it, which is a driving away, moving away force that originates in the space between the satellite particle and core and holds the satellite particle away from the core.
In the current terminology Prana is the Strong force and apAna is called the weak force.
From this moving away force, decay or death of particles starts (radioactivity).
It could also be stated as "In th interplay of the binding force (prana) (strong force in current terminology) present in the core and the driving away force (apana, weak force in current terminology), decay and death starts".
Radioactive decay is seen as the origination of death and decay (mortal form).
Thus the mara (mortal) form of matter is born.
Apa of Universe
A frigid rod like structure hatches and from this structure a stream of life giving particles emerge and from it the basic medium of life evolves.
Concise Summary of Khanda 1
Aitareya Upanishad talks about the creation of forces, matter particles and biological lie from the primordial quark-gluon plasma. It talks about a plasmic quark that is bound by the strong force (called Prana), whose thermal energy increases due to the bonding of the strong force. From this burning, scorching of plasmic quark, the forces created are high penetrating cosmic gamma rays, visible electro-magnetic force, gravitational force and Universe originating celestial forces called Adityas. These are collectively called Marichi that form the space.
As the plasmic quark heats up and up, a layer crystallizes on top of it. Out of it, the first matter particles created are strings of quarks. They combine to form protons, neutrons, electrons, weak force (driving away force) and radioactive decay that causes death to the particles. Thus mortal (death happening) particles are born. These are called Mara that are of mortal form and form the stars and planets.
Gluons are strong binding force called prana and Apana is the driving away/moving away force also called weak force that holds the satellite electrons in their position and also cause radioactive decay.
Also life supporting particles flow out from a rod like structure and create a life supporting medium. These are called Apa and form the biological life.
Disclaimer
The explanations given here are mine and not traditional. Some of the interpretations could seem different, but they have been made based on real root meanings of the word.
As I intepret more and more of the Aitareya, I am sure the coherence in this kind of interpretation could be easily seen. Still, if it is right, could be debated.
Easwaro Rakshathu!
-TBT
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