Siksavalli.

Śikṣāvallī is not simply a collection of quotations. It is almost a complete philosophy of education—from learning correctly, to understanding relationships, to developing inner discipline, and finally to entering life as a responsible human being.

The Taittirīya Upaniṣad belongs to the Kṛṣṇa Yajur Veda, and Śikṣāvallī is its first Valli, consisting of 12 Anuvākas. 

Taittirīya Upaniṣad — Śikṣāvallī

The Upanishad's lessons for a student

1. The opening prayer — May teacher and student be protected

It begins with an invocation to Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Indra, Bṛhaspati and Viṣṇu, followed by:

“Tvameva pratyakṣaṃ brahmāsi”

You indeed are the directly perceptible Brahman.

The student then makes a remarkable commitment:

“Ṛtaṃ vadiṣyāmi. Satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi.”

I shall speak what is right. I shall speak the truth.

And the prayer is for both teacher and student to be protected. 

Lesson: Education begins with humility, truth and a sacred relationship between teacher and student.

2. What is Śikṣā?

The Upanishad says:

“Śikṣāṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ — varṇaḥ, svaraḥ, mātrā, balam, sāma, santānaḥ.”

Śikṣā concerns:

Varṇa — the sound/letter

Svara — accent and intonation

Mātrā — duration

Bala — effort

Sāma — modulation

Santāna — continuity/combination of sounds

In other words, knowledge must be transmitted accurately. 

Lesson: Precision matters. What we learn must be learnt correctly before it can be passed on.

3. Everything is connected

The third Anuvāka introduces Saṃhitā, the joining or connection of things.

The Upanishad looks at five kinds of relationships:

Adhiloka — the worlds

Adhijyotiṣa — the lights/celestial forces

Adhividyā — knowledge

Adhipraja — beings/progeny

Adhyātma — the individual/self. 

For example, earth and heaven are seen as related, with space forming the connection.

Lesson: Nothing exists in isolation. The universe is a web of relationships.

4. Learning should make us radiant

The student prays:

“Saha nau yaśaḥ

Saha nau brahmavarcasam.”

May glory be ours together.

May spiritual radiance born of knowledge be ours together.

Again, together is important.

The teacher does not merely transfer information to a student. Both participate in the pursuit of knowledge.

Lesson: True education should produce wisdom and inner radiance, not merely qualifications.

5. The cosmic dimensions of knowledge

The succeeding teaching takes the student through different correspondences between the outer world and the inner world.

The Upanishadic method is fascinating: it trains the student to see patterns, relationships and unity rather than isolated facts.

Lesson: Education should expand the mind—from individual facts to an understanding of the whole.

6. Meditation on the individual and the cosmos

Śikṣāvallī then turns increasingly inward. The student is encouraged to contemplate the relationship between the cosmos, the body, speech, mind and consciousness.

The message is subtle:

The world outside and the world within are not unrelated.

Lesson: Education is incomplete if we understand the world but never understand ourselves.

7. The four Vyāhṛtis — Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, Suvaḥ, Mahaḥ

The Upanishad expands the familiar three sacred utterances:

Bhūḥ — Bhuvaḥ — Suvaḥ

and introduces:

Mahaḥ

It gives several layers of meaning to them—cosmic, physiological and spiritual. 

Lesson: A single sacred expression can contain layers of meaning. Learning is not merely memorising words; it is discovering what lies behind them.

8. The inner Self

The teaching moves towards the inner space of the heart.

The Upanishad describes the person within that inner space as manomaya, connected with mind, and hiraṇmaya, radiant or golden.

The movement is now unmistakable:

outer universe → body → mind → inner Self.

Lesson: The greatest journey of education is ultimately inward.

9. Tapas — discipline

The Upanishad declares:

“Tad dhi tapaḥ.”

That indeed is tapas.

Here tapas should not be understood merely as physical austerity. It is disciplined effort, concentration and the willingness to refine oneself.

Lesson: Nothing worthwhile is achieved without discipline.

10. The declaration of Triśaṅku

This is a striking passage:

“Ahaṃ vṛkṣasya rerivā

Kīrtiḥ pṛṣṭhaṃ girer iva…”

Triśaṅku makes a powerful declaration of his identity, strength, purity, fame and immortality. The passage is traditionally called Triśaṅkor vedānuvacanam. 

It is almost a declaration of self-confidence born from knowledge.

Lesson: Education should not make a person timid. True knowledge gives inner strength and dignity.

11. The famous Convocation Address

And now we reach the passage that makes Śikṣāvallī extraordinarily relevant to a university convocation.

The teacher, having taught the Veda, turns to the departing student:

“Satyam vada.”

Speak the truth.

“Dharmam cara.”

Practise righteousness.

“Svādhyāyān mā pramadaḥ.”

Do not neglect self-study.

Then:

“Mātṛdevo bhava.”

Regard your mother as worthy of the highest reverence.

“Pitṛdevo bhava.”

Regard your father likewise.

“Ācāryadevo bhava.”

Regard your teacher with reverence.

“Atithidevo bhava.”

Regard your guest with reverence.

But it does not stop there.

The student is told:

Do not neglect truth.

Do not neglect dharma.

Do not neglect welfare and excellence.

Do not neglect learning and teaching.

Do not neglect one's duties towards the devas and ancestors.

When in doubt about conduct, observe the behaviour of people known for good judgment and integrity. 

This is not merely advice to pass an examination.

It is a blueprint for living.

12. The closing prayer

The twelfth Anuvāka returns to the opening prayer:

“Śaṃ no Mitraḥ, śaṃ Varuṇaḥ…”

and ends with:

“Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.”

Thus Śikṣāvallī comes full circle—from the prayer for the teacher and student at the beginning to the same prayer at the end. 

Sacred Texts of Hinduism

And that circularity is beautiful:

Learning begins with reverence and ends with gratitude.

What makes Śikṣāvallī so extraordinary?

If we reduce the twelve Anuvākas to twelve simple ideas:

1. Begin with humility.

2. Learn correctly.

3. Understand connections.

4. Learn together.

5. Let knowledge expand the mind.

6. Know yourself.

7. See the deeper unity of life.

8. Turn inward.

9. Practise discipline.

10. Develop confidence and inner strength.

11. Live by truth and dharma.

12. End in peace.

The Delhi University convocation choice particularly meaningful. Thousands of years ago, the Upanishad already had a “graduation speech.”

And its message was not:

“You have completed your education.”

It was:

“Now that you have been educated, go and live rightly.”

“The Oldest Graduation Speech in the World — Śikṣāvallī.”

School series lake 32

 Lakes of India — 10

Kolleru — The Lake Between Two Great Rivers

In Andhra Pradesh lies Kolleru Lake, one of India's largest freshwater lakes.

What makes its location remarkable is that it lies between the Krishna and Godavari river deltas.

It is a natural freshwater lake, fed by several streams and seasonal channels, and acts as an important flood-balancing system for the surrounding region.

But Kolleru's greatest spectacle arrives with the birds.

During the winter months, thousands of migratory and resident birds gather here. Pelicans, painted storks, herons, egrets and many other waterbirds make the wetlands their seasonal home.

For centuries, the lake and its surrounding wetlands have also supported fishing and agriculture, making it important to the lives of local communities.

Kolleru therefore sits at a fascinating geographical crossroads:

Krishna on one side.

Godavari on the other.

A great freshwater lake between them.

And thousands of birds above it.

It is a reminder that wetlands are not empty spaces between rivers.

They are living ecosystems—storing water, supporting wildlife and sustaining people.

Kolleru: a lake between two rivers, but a world of its own.

I have selected just a hand full from 1000s of lakes of India. 

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 Lakes of India — 9

Roopkund — The Mysterious Skeleton Lake

High in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres, lies a tiny, frozen lake with a haunting secret.

Roopkund is popularly called the “Skeleton Lake.”

When the snow and ice melt, human skeletal remains can sometimes be seen around its edges. The discovery created a mystery that puzzled scientists for decades.

Who were these people?

For a long time, one popular explanation was that an entire group of pilgrims had been caught in a sudden hailstorm, and the injuries caused by the enormous hailstones killed them.

But modern scientific investigations, including DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, have revealed a much more complicated story.

The remains belonged to different groups of people who died at different times, separated by centuries. Some individuals had South Asian ancestry, while others had ancestry linked to the eastern Mediterranean region.

So Roopkund's mystery has become even more fascinating.

It is not simply the story of one unfortunate group.

Different people.

Different centuries.

One remote Himalayan lake.

And a mystery that nature preserved in ice.

Roopkund reminds us that sometimes the Earth keeps its history hidden—and reveals it only when the ice melts.

School series lake 30

 Lakes of India — 8

Vembanad — Where Water Becomes a Way of Life

In Kerala lies Vembanad Lake, the longest lake in India and the heart of Kerala's famous backwaters.

But Vembanad is more than a beautiful stretch of water.

Here, water shapes the way people live.

Houseboats glide through the backwaters. Fishing boats move between villages. Coconut palms line the waterways, and narrow canals connect homes and fields.

And then comes one of its most remarkable features.

Around Vembanad lies Kuttanad, a farming region famous for cultivating rice in land that in places lies below sea level.

Think about that:

A farmer growing rice below the level of the sea!

The lake is also the setting for Kerala's spectacular snake-boat races, where long traditional boats carrying dozens of rowers cut through the water in perfect rhythm.

So Vembanad is not merely a lake.

It is a road.

It is a workplace.

It is a source of food.

It is a sporting arena.

It is part of people's everyday lives.

Perhaps that is the magic of Kerala's backwaters:

Here, water is not something that separates people.

Water connects them.

School series lake 29

 Lakes of India — 7

Wular — The Lake That Helps Control a River

In the Kashmir Valley lies Wular Lake, one of India's great freshwater lakes.

But Wular has a job that makes it special.

It acts as a natural flood reservoir for the Jhelum River. When heavy rains or snowmelt send large quantities of water downstream, Wular can absorb and store some of that excess water, helping reduce the severity of floods in the valley.

It is also one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in India and is an important wetland for many species of birds and fish.

The lake has another interesting connection with Kashmir's geography. It was formed in a tectonic depression, created by movements of the Earth's crust, and the Jhelum flows through it.

So Wular is not simply sitting quietly in the valley.

A river enters.

The lake receives it.

The lake stores its excess.

The river continues its journey.

In a sense, Wular is nature's own water-management system—a giant reservoir created without a dam.

And perhaps that is its most beautiful lesson:

Sometimes nature builds the infrastructure long before humans learn that it is needed.

School series lake 28

 Lakes of India — 6

Dal — The Lake That Has a Life of Its Own

In the heart of Srinagar lies Dal Lake, perhaps one of India's most familiar lakes. Yet there is much more to it than its famous shikaras and houseboats.

Dal is almost a world of its own.

People live on the lake in houseboats. Shikaras serve as boats, taxis and even floating shops. Early in the morning, the lake comes alive with the floating vegetable market, where farmers bring their produce by boat. We did spend one evening and night in the boat house during our trip to Srinagar in 2018_ 19. It's an amazing experience.

There are also floating gardens, where vegetables are cultivated on specially prepared masses of vegetation and soil.

And then there is the reflection.

The surrounding mountains, sky, trees and houseboats are mirrored in the still waters, making the lake appear to become part of the landscape itself.

In winter, the character of the lake changes again. Mist settles over the water, the mountains become hazy and the famous Kashmir atmosphere takes on an almost dreamlike quality.

Perhaps that is what makes Dal different.

It is not merely a lake to look at.

It is a lake to live on.

Boats move, vegetables are sold, gardens float, people travel and life goes on—all upon the water.

One lake. A floating neighbourhood. A floating market. A floating way of life.

School series lake 27

 Lakes of India — 5

Sambhar — The Lake That Makes Salt

In the dry landscape of Rajasthan lies Sambhar Lake, India's largest inland salt lake.

At first glance, it may look like an enormous sheet of water. But Sambhar has a remarkable secret:

It makes salt.

Several seasonal streams bring water into the lake. The intense heat of Rajasthan causes much of the water to evaporate, leaving behind the salt. For centuries, people have harvested this natural salt.

The lake also becomes a spectacular destination for migratory birds. Flamingos and many other waterbirds arrive here, turning the stark landscape into a scene full of life.

And there is something fascinating about its appearance.

The lake does not always look like a conventional lake. During the dry season, vast salt pans and glistening white surfaces can stretch across the landscape.

So Sambhar is not simply a lake holding water.

Water enters.

The sun takes the water away.

Salt remains.

Birds arrive.

People harvest.

Nature has created, right in the middle of Rajasthan's arid landscape, a giant natural salt-making factory.

One lake. One sun. One extraordinary natural process.