Overview of the Prashna Upanishad
Introduction
The Prashna Upanishad, belonging to the Brahmana portion of the Atharva Veda and the Pippalada Sakha, is one of the most structured and illuminating Upanishads. It contains 67 mantras spread over six chapters, with each chapter presenting one profound question posed by a sincere student to Rishi Pippalada.
The teaching style is remarkable:
From the known to the unknown,
from the manifest to the unmanifest,
from the material to the supremely subtle,
leading finally to Pure Consciousness, the ultimate Reality.
The Upanishad unfolds as a narrative of six earnest seekers who, after a year of discipline and austerity, approach the sage with deep questions about creation, prana, mind, dream, cosmic elements, and liberation through Om. Their dialogue reveals timeless truths that continue to inspire seekers across ages.
This overview presents a clean, complete map of all six Prashnas and interlinks them with your detailed AMCA articles and relevant Upanishadic references.
⭐ 1. First Question — Origin of Creation (Rayi and Prana)
The first seeker asks:
“From what are all beings born?”
The Rishi explains creation through two fundamental principles:
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Rayi (matter, form)
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Prana (energy, life force)
All beings arise from their interaction and are sustained by them.
Related Upanishads
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Taittiriya — Manifestation of elements
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ChAndogya — “From Sat alone all this was born”
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Aitareya — Emergence of the cosmic person
🔗 Detailed analysis:
https://arunsingha.in/2021/10/25/essence-of-prashna-upanishad-first-question/
⭐ 2. Second Question — The Nature of Prana
The second seeker asks:
“From where does Prana arise?”
The sage explains Prana as emerging from the Self and functioning through its five expressions: Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana.
Related Upanishads
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Brihadaranyaka — Prana is chief
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Taittiriya — Pranamaya Kosha
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ChAndogya — Prana as cosmic fire
🔗 Detailed analysis:
https://arunsingha.in/2021/11/08/essence-of-prashna-upanishad-second-question/
⭐ 3. Third Question — Journey of Prana and Its Link with the Mind
The third seeker asks:
“How does Prana enter the body? How does it relate to the mind?”
The sage describes Prana’s entry at birth, its movement in the body, and its intimate connection with the mind.
Related Upanishads
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Brihadaranyaka — Entry and departure of prana
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Katha — Prana as universal movement
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ChAndogya — Mind and prana interdependence
🔗 Detailed analysis:
https://arunsingha.in/2021/06/16/essence-of-prashna-upanishad-the-third-question/
⭐ 4. Fourth Question — Waking, Dreaming, Deep Sleep
The fourth seeker asks:
“What happens in dream and deep sleep?”
The Rishi explains the withdrawal of senses, the activity of prana in sleep, and the impressions that form dreams.
This becomes a bridge to the Mandukya Upanishad, which gives the definitive exposition of the three states and Turiya.
🔗 Detailed analysis:
https://arunsingha.in/2025/11/15/essence-of-prashna-upanishad-fourth-question/
Related Upanishads
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Mandukya — 12 mantras explaining waking, dream, deep sleep, and Turiya
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Brihadaranyaka — Early teachings on dream
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ChAndogya — Mind projecting dream worlds
🔗 Mandukya Upanishad — Part 1:
https://arunsingha.in/2025/05/23/mandukya-upanishad-the-nature-of-om-part1/
🔗 Mandukya Upanishad — Part 2:
https://arunsingha.in/2025/05/23/mandukya-upanishad-and-the-nature-of-om-part-2/
⭐ 5. Fifth Question — Cosmic Elements and the Individual
The fifth seeker asks:
“How do the cosmic elements support life?”
The sage explains how earth, water, fire, air, and space form the body and sustain life.
Food becomes mind.
Water becomes prana.
Fire becomes speech.
Related Upanishads
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Taittiriya — Pancha Kosha
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ChAndogya — Food–water–fire transformation
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Aitareya — Manifestation of cosmic person
🔗 Detailed analysis:
(https://arunsingha.in/2025/11/16/essence-of-prashna-upanishad-fifth-question/)
🔗 Pancha Kosha explanation:
https://arunsingha.in/2023/12/07/understanding-the-pancha-kosha-model-a-journey-to-the-self/
⭐ 6. Sixth Question — Meditation on Om and Liberation
The final seeker asks the most profound question:
“What is the result of meditating on Om?”
The sage teaches that Om is the direct symbol of Brahman.
Meditation on Om in its threefold form leads the seeker gradually to immortality.
Related Upanishads
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Mandukya — Om as the Self and Brahman
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Katha — Om as the supreme support
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Chandgoya — Om as the essence of Vedas
🔗 Sixth Question (will be added after publication)
⭐ Special Insight — Prashna Upanishad and Modern Science
The Prashna Upanishad’s teaching on Rayi (matter) and Prana (energy) naturally resonates with the parallels of E = mc², where matter and energy are interchangeable.
The observer principle in quantum mechanics — the collapse of the wave function — offers a modern analogy for Prajapati’s conscious projection of the universe.
These reflections are optional but inspire serious readers to see how ancient insights and modern science both explore the unity behind appearance.
Conclusion
The Prashna Upanishad is not merely a collection of six questions.
It is a complete spiritual map:
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Creation
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Prana
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Mind
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Consciousness
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Elements
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Om
Each Prashna opens a doorway to deeper understanding, and each resonates with the broader Upanishadic tradition.
This overview connects all six teachings and provides the AMCA reader a clear and structured path to explore the Upanishad in depth.
Furthermore, the six questions of the Prashna Upanishad are arranged in a deliberate progression so that the student moves from the physical world toward the subtle. Consequently, the enquiry begins with creation and ends with Om, the symbol of the highest truth. Moreover, each chapter connects seamlessly with the next, allowing the reader to understand the unity of life. In addition, the Upanishad repeatedly demonstrates how matter, energy, mind, and consciousness are interrelated. Therefore, sincere seekers benefit by studying all six questions as one integrated teaching.
A Look : In the perspective of Modern Science:
SELECTED VERSES FROM ATMA BODHA
Recommended readings:
- Back to the Truth: 5000 years of ADVAITA by Dennis Waite.**
- THE TEN PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS: Translated by Shree Purohit** Swami and W.B.Yeats
- Brahma Sutra Bhasya of Sankaracharya: Translated by Swami Gambhirananda.**
- Commentary of Prashna Upanishad: By Swami Krishnananda.
- Prashna Upanishad By Swami GuruBhaktananda.
- EIGHT UPANISADS -VOL-1 with commentary of Sankaracharya, Translated by SWAMI GAMBHIRANANDA.
- THE TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD: SHIKSHAVALLI-ANANDAVALLI-BHRIGUVALLI with Sri Shankara’s Commentary By Sri Swami Satchidanandera Saraswati.
- Information available on internet.
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Sir, Adding further to your points Prana leaves body on death, Aatma is Chaitanyam (conscious) lends existence to all Anatma. It is part of Sukshma Shareeram and controls various functions as mentioned in this article. But it is referred as breath and sometimes as life. According to the context understanding differs. Prana is the life energy of all living beings which appears inert. As Pranadah, he is the giver of Prana, the strength, the life energy to all living beings. Thank you for these intellectual posts and happy to reflect and learn.
Thank you so much for your inputs.
Prana referred as breath and sometimes as life. Indeed it is true, but prana has greater role in sustainability of this Universe.
In different Upanishads, prana is projected in different ways.
We may consider this as Vital Energy which is keeping live, this universe. That is what it has been described in prashna Upanishad prashna-1.
I understand this way that integrated life force is prana for which living things Exists, whether plant kingdom or animal kingdom or any other that we don’t know. But there is a relationship between Rayi (matter) and Prana(energy).
Thank you so much for your comments which add value to these articles.
Together we can gain more knowledge and sharing is learning.
Best wishes 😊🙏
Life originates from life
To consider whole universe as one’s body as it is made of Same matter is of higher order of yoga , this very line of your post is driving me into a different thought process
Great information excellent compiled 👌👌♥️
Thank you so much Reena. You liked it and you have taken this thought process in Deep.
Happy to know. Thanks again for your comments ☺️.
Best wishes
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