Mandukya Karika Webinar

Mandukya-upanishad is the most precious gem adorning the Atharva-veda and is the source of one of the four Mahavakyas – “ayam atma brahma.”

It is the shortest of the ten principal Upanishads having just 12 mantras but presents the quintessence of our entire teaching of Vedanta.

It analyses the entire range of human consciousness in the three states that are common to all men – waking, dream and deep sleep states. It equivocally asserts that the absolute Reality, which is termed ‘the Fourth (turiya)’, is non-dual and attributeless.

This Upanishad follows a unique method of approach to the Truth. It provides a symbol for meditation in the mono-syllable AUM comprising the three sounds of ‘A’, ‘U’, ‘M’ detailing its philosophical implications. According to the Muktikopanishad, Mandukya-upanishad forms the epitome of all the hundred and eight Upanishads which have been accepted as authentic.

This Upanishad has further been explained through karikas by the revered Sri Gaudapadacharya who is the Guru of the Guru of Sri Adi Sankaracharya.  These karikas are divided into 4 parkaranas or chapters.

The first chapter termed ‘Agama Prakarana’ is an exposition of the presence of Consciousness in the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep.

‘Vaitathya Prakarana’, the second chapter, is devoted to the exposition of the unreality of the world of duality. 

The third chapter ‘Advaita Prakarana’ establishes non-duality of the Self through scriptural and logical means.

The fourth chapter known as ‘Alatashanti Prakarana’ is an enunciation of the theory of non-creation rejecting even the conception of God as its Creator.

In this webinar you can study the Upanishad mantras and Sri Gaudapadacharya’s karikas along with the bhashya (commentary) of Sri Adi Sankaracharya.

Webinar Highlights

• Study Mandukya-upanishad and Gaudapada-karika with the commentary of Sri Adi Sankaracharya

• Nature of Om and analysis of the Mahavakya ‘ayam atma brahma’ 

• Analysis of waking, dream and deep sleep states

• The similarity and falsity of the waking and dream states

• Establishment of non-duality through scriptural and logical means

• Refutation of other contradictory viewpoints

 Webinar format: 

• A series of 75 online sessions (including doubt clarification sessions) 

• The sessions will be streamed LIVE on Zoom.

Dates: 

12 February to 23 Aug 2024
2nd and 3rd week of every month
Monday to Saturday
7 to 8 PM IST 
Facilitator: Br. Ved Chaitanya

Suggested Webinar Fees: ₹ 8500, US$ 240

Age Group

18 and above

 Prerequisite

• Prior exposure to Vedanta and Sanskrit is mandatory. Not for beginners.

• Availability of a computer with audio-video internet conferencing facility etc. is mandatory.

Reference Text

1. Mandukya Upanishad Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda from Chinmaya Mission

The above book covers the text verse by verse, with Sanskrit verses and word to word meaning with explanation of verses.

This book does not have the Shankara Bhashya.

A PDF copy of the text with Sankara Bhasya will be provided to the registered participants.

About the Facilitator

Br. Ved Chaitanya comes from a family steeped in the Chinmaya Mission. An Electronics and Telecommunication engineer from Pune, he withdrew from work in TCS to follow his heart. He received Brahmacharya Diksha in 2013. An impactful orator, cheerful, kind hearted and a scholarly student of Sanskrit and Vedanta, his particular interest lies in the application of Vedanta in daily life.

Contact Details

For further information or clarification

Contact: +91 92077 11511 Email: onlinewebinars@chinfo.org