In Hinduism, Dahara Vidya is the knowledge of Brahman
residing in the heart. Dahara Vidya perceives the human body as Brahmapura (the
dwelling place of Brahman). There is a lotus called dahara. The indweller of
this lotus in the heart is to be found by contemplation on the dahara akasha
(space). The indweller is Parabrahman (the Supreme Brahman).
Dahara Vidya In Chandogya Upanishad
The first part of the eight chapter of Chandogya Upanishad
and dahara adhikarana in Brahma Sutras deal exclusively with this vidya (art). The
Purusha contemplated in dahara akasha has the following eight characteristics (popularly
known as gunasataka present in Parabrahman) according to Prajapati Vakya:
- Apahata papam (sings and virtues do not bind him0
- Vijara (no old age)
- Vimrityu (no death)
- Vishoka (no sorrow)
- Vjigitsa (free from hunger)
- Apipasa (no thirst)
- Satyakama (desires truth)
- Satya Sankalpa (achieves everything that is desired)
These characteristics are not found in the bhuta akasha
(sky) which is one of the five elements (pancha bhutas).
An individual contemplating the indweller of dahara akasha
achieves satya sankalpa.
Everyone visits this dahara akasha in sushupti (deep sleep),
and it is then called as Brahmaloka (world of Brahman). This is a routine,
unconsciously experienced. A conscious experience requires his Kripa (mercy).
This is declared in other Upanishads also.
The indweller is also referred to as Paramatma, who bears
the world. He is also referred to as angustha matra (equivalent to the size of
a thumb).
Guru upadesha (initiation by a preceptor) is a must for the
efficacy, utility, and success of this vidya.
Vedanta Desika, the Vaishnava acharya (teacher) picturesquely
describes this vidya in Tatparya Chandrika (a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita).
He compares our body with a city where the five senses are the citizens.
Parabrahma is the sarvabhauma (emperor). Atmans (individual souls) are
servants.
There are navadwaras (nine doors, i.e., two eyes, two
nostrils, two ears, mouth, excreting organ and reproductive organ.) It is by
closing these nine doors that Paramatma is contemplated in dhara akasha.
According to Chandogya Upanishad (8.2), an individual who
has mastered this vidya by His grace can go to any of the seven lokas (worlds).