The Taittiriya-Upanisad is so called because of the recension (sakha) of the Krishna Yajurveda to which it is appended. It is the most popular and the best-known of all the Upanisads in this part of the country, where the majority of the Brahmins study the Taittiriya recension of the Yajurveda, and it is also one of the very few Upanisads which are still recited with the regulated accent and intonation which the solemnity of the subject therein treated naturally engenders. The Upanisad itself has been translated by several scholars including Prof. Max Muller; and the latest translation by Messrs. Mead and J.C. Chattopadhyaya, of the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society, London, is the most 'soulful' of all, and at the same time the cheapest. A few words, therefore, are needed to explain the object of the present undertaking.Sankaracharya and Suresvaracharya are writers of highest authority belonging to what has been now-a days marked off as the Advaita school of the Vedanta. Every student of the Vedanta knows that the former has written commentaries on the classical Upanisads, on the Bhagavad-Gita, and on the Brahma sutras, besides a number of manuals and tracts treating of the Vedanta Philosophy, while among the works of the latter, which have but recently seen the light.

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The Upanishads, the earliest of which were composed in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 bce by sages and poets, form part of the Vedas - the sacred and ancient scriptures that are the basis of the Hindu religion. Each Upanishad, or lesson, takes up a theme ranging from the attainment of spiritual bliss to karma and rebirth, and collectively they are meditations on life, death and immortality. The essence of their teachings is that truth can by reached by faith rather than by thought, and that the spirit of God is within each of us - we need not fear death as we carry within us the promise of eternal life. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The seekers of Truth were well-read and committed to the spiritual path in spite of their worldly involvements. They included all age-groups from teenage to ton age! Their commitment and intense longing for the Truth - that inspired me! The scheme of thought presentation had been to devote first few minutes for the recapitulation followed by the next topic in the Upanishad for loud thinking. I felt this as a necessity for every seeker to be reminded of the subjective approach during the study and avoid objectification of the Self. This will be evident when repetition will be observed by the reader every now and then. This is called as abhyasa in technical terms. I was extremely thrilled while editing the pages as if it was a new revelation to me! All the non-English words and names are in Italics for easy comprehension. The equivalent of the Sanskrit words in English is given initially when the word is first introduced. We have followed the commentary of Bhagawan Shankaracharya in letter and spirit to understand the secrets revealed in the text. Modern day examples were found suitable to indicate and emphasise the point made by the great Master. Although we have followed His commentary, the book is presented in the form of talks and not as a word to word meaning and commentary. Hence the title - Contemplation on Taittiriya Upanishad. The thought-wise mantras and translations are appended at the end of the book. The untiring labor and efforts put by Chaity Biswas and Savita Nagananda deserve Self-realization!

The Upanishads include some of the most beloved and illuminating stories from the vast literature of India's Vedic tradition. Adapted from the original text, this collection of tales tells the story of enlightenment. It talks about: a teacher and his student in a secluded forest ashram, a great seer meditating in a Himalayan retreat, and more.

Composed in Sanskrit between 900 and 600 BC, the Upanishads are man's oldest works of philosophy. The translations presented here are the oldest and most important of those that exist.