Udgīthā Vidyā

Udg…th€ is a Sanskrit word referring to the chanting of the S€ma Veda by the Brahmin (Sk. br€hmaŠa) priest known as the Udg€t and, by extension, especially when the word vidy€ (“science” or “wisdom”) is added, to the science of chanting or of resonant sounds. A well-known Sanskrit Mantra found in the Udg…tha section of the Bhad€raŠyaka Upaniad (3rd Br€hmaŠa, 1st Adhy€ya) and frequently used by theosophists is: Asa˜om€ sa gamaya, From the unreal, lead me to the real, µamasom€ jyo˜ir gamaya, From darkness, lead me to light, Mtyor m€md gamaya. From death, lead me to immortality.

This mantra is usually prefaced by the sacred syllable “om” and completed with “om, anti, anti, anti.”

The philosophy of the udg…tha, as found in that Upaniad, teaches the law of harmony in music by which the Devas that are enmeshed in matter become liberated. By practicing this chant, the Upaniad says, humans can themselves become liberated. It is possible that the reference to devas is symbolical and the hidden meaning in this context might be to those divine tendencies, symbolized by light (which the word “deva,” from the root div, “shine”, implies), which are inherent in human beings.

R.W.B.

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