The Thirty-Two Vidya-s

From the Jacket:

The Chandogya, Brhadaranyaka, Taittiriya and other Upanisad-s deal with large number of Vidya-s (secret doctrines) for upasana (meditation) by which on can attain true knowledge of the self and liberation.

Upasana-s can be classified under three heads: karmangavabaddhopasana ' meditation on certain element of rituals in the prescribed manner', ahamgrahopasana 'meditation on Brahman as the self', and Pratikopasana 'meditation on some prescribed objects as Brahman'.

Thirty-two of such Vidya-s are collected and their significance are dealt with by K. Narayanaswami Aiyar in The Thirty-two Vidya-s. Now appears the third reprint of the second edition of the book.

Foreword

The subject of this work is rather a very difficult and abstruse one. Only those that have theoretically at least grasped the principles of the higher Yoga can follow the teachings contained in it, for which purpose, the book I have recently published called Yoga: Lower and Higher will be greatly serviceable. Especially when the higher Yoga therein is grasped, it will be easy to follow the trend of ideas herein.

The word vidya does not signify, as stated at the beginning of this book, mere knowledge but different kinds of meditations which conduce to the getting of knowledge and other results. These Vidya-s are based upon the authority of the major or the twelve Upanisad's amplified in the minor ones. Of them, it is the Gayatri-vidya that is the most important. It forms the key by which we are enabled to unlock the mysteries contained in the other Vidya-s. And it is upon it that the Upanisad-s throw more light. To me, it is the one Vidya that has been of immense benefit.

I do not think that I have done full justice to the subject. Nay it is not possible. Only an occultist who has his Divine Vision opened to the higher states can do justice to it. In the hope that some person here or there who is practicing the lower Yoga may be induced to practice the higher or that one going into the higher Yoga may find herein some practical suggestions, I place this book before the public.