The Prashna Upanishad is one of the major Upanishads, and it is a part of the Atharva Veda. The Upanishad consists of six questions, which are asked by six students to their teacher, Sage Pippalada. The questions are about the nature of the Self, the nature of reality, and the path to liberation. The Upanishad presents profound philosophical and spiritual teachings through dialogues between the teacher and the students.
The first question asked by the students is about the origin of creation, and the teacher explains that creation came from the universal Self, which is the source of all things. The second question is about the nature of the Self, and the teacher explains that the Self is the same as the universal Self and is eternal and immutable.
The third question is about the three states of consciousness, and the teacher explains that the Self is present in all three states, and the highest state is the state of pure consciousness. The fourth question is about the path to liberation, and the teacher explains that the path is through knowledge of the Self and detachment from the world.
The fifth question is about the nature of prana, the life force, and the teacher explains that prana is the essence of the Self and pervades all living beings. The sixth question is about the nature of the Self after death, and the teacher explains that the Self transcends death and is immortal.
Overall, the Prashna Upanishad explores the nature of the Self, the nature of reality, and the path to liberation through profound philosophical and spiritual teachings.