History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.293

v7.c95.293

Chān. Up I. 8 narrates that there were (in some part of India not mentioned) three persons well versed in (the esoteric meaning of Udgītha i. e. Om), viz. Śilaka Śālāvatya, Caikitāyana Dālbhya and Pravāhaṇa Jaivali. They sat down for a discussion on Udgītha The first two (who were brāhmaṇas) first put questions to each other and answered. Then Pravāhaṇa Jaivali told them that they were giving replies about matters that were not permanent Then Pravāhaṇa Jaivali told them that Ākāśa was the origin of this world, that beings owe their origin to Ākāśa and will return into it, that Ākāśa is Udgītha, greater than the great and without end &c. Deussen relies on this passage also for supporting his theory. Udgīthavidyā is only one of several Upāsanās in the Upaniṣads. Therefore, what would follow is that Pravāhaṇa Jaivali knew it and two brāhmaṇas of some place not mentioned did not know it. It is not possible to see how this story lends any support to Deussen's sweeping thesis of all brāhmaṇas being originally excluded from the central doctrine of identity. In the same context (Chān. Up. I. 9. 3) Pravāhaṇa mentions that one Atidhanvan Śaunaka²⁵⁶² taught Udgītha-vidyā to Udaraśāṇḍilya.