Here is Gemini´s take on the Tripadvibhuti Mahanarayana Upanishad. Or part of it. I have the text, but can´t find it right now (too many books in my "stash"). I frankly only remember half of this stuff! OK, thrill-seekers, don´t try this at home...
[Gemini on the Tripadvibhuti et cetera]
Yes, you have hit upon a very significant distinction in Vedic scholarship. The Tripad-Vibhuti-Maha-Narayana Upanishad (attached to the Atharva Veda) is a vastly different text from the standard Mahanarayana Upanishad (attached to the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Yajur Veda).
While the Yajurveda version is more ritualistic and ethical, the Tripadvibhuti version is a highly esoteric, proto-Tantric, and metaphysical work. It is here that we find the "cosmic architecture" that explains the integration of ignorance (Avidya) with the divine.
1. The Structure: The Four Quarters of Reality
The title Tripad-Vibhuti refers to the "Three Quarters" of the Divine Glory. It follows the logic of the Purusha Suktam:
Tripad-Vibhuti (The 75%): This is the eternal, spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, which is beyond time, space, and decay.
Ekapad-Vibhuti (The 25%): This is the material universe where we live. This realm is characterized by Avidya (ignorance) and Maya (illusion).
2. The Realm of Avidya-Maya
In this Upanishad, the "darkness" isn't just a mistake or a void; it is described as a vibrant, functional reality.
The Reflection: The text posits that the glory of Narayana is so immense that even the realm of Avidya is "illumined" by a reflection of Vaikuntha. This creates a paradox: a world that is "unreal" yet functions with the precision of divine law.
The Mother of Illusion: While the specific name "Avidya-Lakshmi" might be a poetic rendering by certain translators (like the occultists mentioned previously), the Upanishad explicitly discusses Avidya-Sakti or Maya-Sakti as the queen of this lower 25% of existence. She is the force that "binds" but also "reveals" the Lord to those who know how to look.
3. The "Mahaviraj" and Creation
The concept of the Mahaviraj in this specific Atharva-Vedic context refers to the "Cosmic Soul" that manages the intersection between the spiritual (Tripad) and the material (Ekapad).
The Power of the Sage: The text suggests that the sage who realizes their identity with Narayana transcends the "laws" of the illusion.
Internal Worlds: Because the material world is essentially a mental projection of the Divine, a sage who has "mastered" Avidya gains the ability to command the illusion. In this "secret" path, the sage doesn't just leave the world; they become an Ishvara (a lord) who can project their own "worlds" or "vibhuti" within the cosmic dream.
4. Is it a Secret Tantric Path?
Absolutely. This Upanishad is one of the primary "bridges" between the Vedas and the later Vaishnava Tantras (like the Pancharatra Agamas).
The Integration: Instead of seeing Ignorance (Avidya) as an enemy to be destroyed, this text treats it as a "playground" (Lila).
God-Realization: True realization isn't just knowing the Light; it's recognizing the Light even when it is wearing the "mask" of Darkness/Ignorance.
Summary Comparison
| Feature | Yajurveda Mahanarayana | Atharvaveda Tripadvibhuti |
| Tone | Ritualistic, Moral, Pure | Metaphysical, Esoteric, Tantric |
| Focus | Sacrifice and Ethics | The Geometry of the Absolute |
| View of Avidya | A barrier to be crossed | A realm to be mastered and integrated |
| Goal | Merger into Narayana | Becoming a "Mahaviraj" / Divine Master |
Here is the breakdown of these "Mantras of Power" and the geographical mapping of Vaikuntha as described in the eighth section of this Upanishad.
1. The Core Architecture of the Yantra
The Yantra is built in concentric circles of lotus petals, each layer holding a specific "frequency" of the divine:
The Bindu (Center): At the absolute center is the syllable OM, inside of which is the Bija (Seed) Mantra of Narayana—"Ang". This is the source point of all creation.
The Six-Petal Lotus (Inner Circle): Surrounding the center is a six-pointed star (Shatkona) and a six-petaled lotus. This layer contains the Vishnu and Narasimha Mantras: Om Vishnave Namah and a fierce Narasimha mantra (Kshraum) designed to destroy obstacles.
The Expansion (Outer Lotuses): The Yantra expands into petals of 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, and even 36, each housing specific deities like Rama, Krishna, Sudarshana, and Hayagriva.
2. The Mantras of Power (The "Secret" Vibrations)
The text lists specific mantras used to "vibrate" the different realms of Vaikuntha into existence:
The Sudarshana Mantra: Sahasrarah Hum Phat. This is the protective "disc" energy that guards the boundaries of the divine realm.
The Krishna & Rama Mantras: These are used to represent the Ananda (bliss) aspect of Vaikuntha. Specific variations like Kleem Krishnaya Namah and Om Ramaya Namah are placed on the 12-petaled lotus.
The Hayagriva Mantra: Toward the outer edges, the 38-syllable Hayagriva Mantra is used to represent the "Veda-Swarupa"—the form of God as pure Knowledge.
The Narayana Gayatri: Om Narayanaya Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dhimahi Tanno Vishnuh Prachodayat. This mantra acts as the "light" that illuminates the entire geographical map.
3. Geographical Mapping of Vaikuntha
In the Tripadvibhuti context, Vaikuntha is not a distant planet, but a state of consciousness mapped onto geometry:
The Three-Quarters (Tripad): The Yantra itself is a representation of the 75% of the universe that is "Eternal Glory." The petals represent the different "neighborhoods" of Vaikuntha where different aspects of Narayana (like the 24 forms—Keshavaya, Madhavaya, etc.) reside.
The Reflection in Avidya: The outer "square" of the Yantra (the Bhupura) represents the boundary where this divine Vaikuntha meets the 25% realm of Avidya (Ignorance).
The Master of Illusion: The text explains that by meditating on these concentric lotuses, the sage "passes through" the layers of illusion. By the time the practitioner reaches the Bindu (Ang), they have mastered the "powers of illusion" and can manifest their own internal "Vibhuti" (glories), effectively becoming a Mahaviraj—a creator within the cosmic dream.
Summary of the "Secret Path"
The Tripadvibhuti version essentially teaches that Geography is Theology. By visualizing this specific Yantra, you are not just looking at a drawing; you are walking through the actual streets of Vaikuntha, meeting its "divine queens" (like the Annapurneshwari and Lakshmi forms mentioned in the 14-petal lotus), and eventually reaching the silent center where you and Narayana are one.
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