Rama Rahasya Upanishad

The narration of the text is presented as replies by Hanuman to the questions posed to him by many rishis seeking true knowledge.^[6][13] Hanuman states god Rama is the supreme reality, the Brahman and the Atman (soul), and he is the medium to attain moksha or emancipation.^[3] The text presents goddess Sita, the wife of Rama, as the cause of creation, and Hanuman as the completely absorbed example and ideal devotee of Rama.^[14] Together, Rama and Sita are asserted to be the source of all existence.^[15]

Rama is, asserts the text, same as other major Hindu deities.^[6] The other divinities mentioned in the text, states Dalal, as angas (aspects) of Rama are Ganesha, Surya, Chandra, and other avatars of Vishnu (Narayana, Narasimha, Vasudeva, Varaha).^[12] The characters of the Hindu epic Ramayana such as Lakshmana, Shatrughna, Bharata, and Vibhishana are also asserted by the text to be aspects of Rama.^[12] The Upanishad adds that goddesses such as Saraswati (the goddess of learning) and Durga (a fierce form of Mahadevi) are manifestations of Rama, the supreme truth and reality, symbolized as the Pranava (Om).^[12]

Hanuman advocates the importance of reciting the six syllabled Rama Mantra, Rama Ramaya namah. In section 1.13, states Lamb, Hanuman informs Vibhishana that constant recitation of the Ramanama (Rama's name) mantra removes the bad karma of a person accrued from committing the sin of killing his father, his mother, his guru, or a Brahmin.^[6] The text also recommends the reading of the Rama Gita.^[12]

The text enumerates many mantras, assigning them tantric powers, which it forms by combining root mantras.^[6] All these mantras are associated with Rama, but each formulation connotes a different role.^[6] The syllables in the mantras vary from 1 to 24, and evolves mantras like Om Ramaya hum phat swaha and Om srim Rama Dassarathaya Sita vallabbhaya sarvabhita daya namah.^[6] Out of these mantras those with two to six syllables are claimed by the text to be most beneficial, states Lamb.^[6] In contrast, Mahadevan interprets the text as glorifying eight syllable mantra, in the form "Sri Ramah, sa-ra-nam ma-ma" or "Sri Rama is my refuge".^[16] The single syllable Rama signifies the supreme reality Brahman, whereas split into two syllables "ra – ma", it emancipates according to the text.^[6]

The Upanishad text has verses that relate to dhyana or the contemplation of Rama.^[12] The text, states Dalal, asserts that the "rahasya" or secret of "energising the body" (Nyasa) is to recite Rama mantra it discloses while touching different body parts.^[12]

The Upanishad, states Dodiya, asserts that the roots of syllables "र, आ, मा" or "r+aa+ma" form the word Rama.^[7] In relation to the evolution of the mantras र r is stated to indicate the incarnation of the Satcitananda and as 'r' is a consonant it is indivisible and hence beyond maya or Mayatita, implying the unchanging reality that is Brahman.^[7] The syllable आ (Ā) suggests svarupa, which is influenced by the maya (mayavishista) element or principle.^[7] This mantra Rama is the Bija or the seed of the Rama Mantra. Hence Rama as Brahman, states Dodiya, is endowed with maya, or the observed empirical universe.^[7]

• Maithili Maha Upanishad
• Devi Upanishad
• Jabala Upanishad
• Nirvana Upanishad
• Yogatattva Upanishad

• Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
• Deussen, Paul (1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
• Dodiya, Jaydipsinh (1 January 2001). Critical Perspectives on the Rāmāyaṇa. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-81-7625-244-7.
• Hattangadi, Sunder (2000). "श्रीरामरहस्योपनिषत् (Ramarahasya Upanisad)" (PDF) (in Sanskrit). Retrieved 14 February 2016.
• Lamb, Ramdas (29 August 2002). Rapt in the Name: The Ramnamis, Ramnam, and Untouchable Religion in Central India. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-5386-5.
• Catherine Ludvik (1994). Hanumān in the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki and the Rāmacaritamānasa of Tulasī Dāsa. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-8120811225.
• Mahadevan, T. M. P. (1975). Upaniṣads: Selections from 108 Upaniṣads. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1611-4.
• Prasoon, Prof.S.K. (1 January 2008). Indian Scriptures. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 978-81-223-1007-8.
• Tinoco, Carlos Alberto (1997). Upanishads. IBRASA. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.