Lord Brahman (The Cosmic Consciousness)

anna sūktam

(Anna Suktam in English (IAST))

From Taittiriya Upanishad (Yajurveda)

Also known as ahamasmi prathamaja rtasya

The Anna Suktam is a profound Vedic hymn found in the Taittiriya Upanishad that explores the philosophy of food as the fundamental essence of existence and the sustenance of all life. It identifies food not merely as material sustenance but as a manifestation of the Divine Brahman. By chanting this hymn, devotees acknowledge the interconnectedness of the cosmos and the cycle of energy. It is believed to bestow prosperity, alleviate hunger, ensure the availability of food, and foster a deep sense of gratitude for the life-sustaining nourishment provided by the universe.

ahama̭smi prathamajā ṛtasya̭ |
pūrva̭-ndevebhyo̭ amṛta̭sya nābhiḥ̭ |
yo mā dadā̭ti sa ideva mā-''vāḥ |
ahamannamanna̭madanta̭madmi |
pūrva̭magnerapi̭ dahatyannam |
yattau hā̭-''sāte ahamuttareṣṷ |
vyātta̭masya paśavaḥ̭ sujambham |
paśya̭nti dhīrāḥ praca̭ranti pākāḥ |
jahāmyanya-nna ja̭hāmyanyam |
ahamannaṃ-va~śamicca̭rāmi || 1
samānamartha-mparyḙmi bhuñjat |
ko māmanna̭-mmanuṣyo̭ dayeta |
parā̭ke anna-nnihi̭taṃ-lo~ka etat |
viśvairdevaiḥ pitṛbhi̭rguptamannam |
yadadyatḙ lupyate yatpa̭ropyate |
śatatamī sā tanūrmḙ babhūva |
mahāntaṷ carū sa̭kṛddugdhena̭ paprau |
diva̭-ñca pṛśni̭ pṛthivī-ñca̭ sākam |
tatsaṃpiba̭nto na mi̭nanti vedhasaḥ̭ |
naitadbhūyo bhava̭ti no kanī̭yaḥ || 2
anna̭-mprāṇamanna̭mapānamā̭huḥ |
anna̭-mmṛtyu-ntamṷ jīvātṷmāhuḥ |
anna̭-mbrahmāṇo̭ jarasaṃ̭-va~danti |
anna̭māhuḥ prajana̭na-mprajānām |
moghamannaṃ̭-vi~ndate apra̭cetāḥ |
satya-mbra̭vīmi vadha itsa tasya̭ |
nāryamaṇa-mpuṣya̭ti no sakhā̭yam |
keva̭lāgho bhavati kevalādī |
aha-mmegha-sstanayanvarṣa̭nnasmi |
māma̭dantyahama̭dmyanyān || 3
[ahagṃ sadamṛto̭ bhavāmi |
madā̭dityā adhi sarvḙ tapanti |]

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