THE MAITRI OR MAITRAYANIYA UPANISHAD WITH THE COMMENTARY OF RAMATIRTHA

The Maitri or Maitrayaniya Upanishad belongs to the Maitrayaniya Sakha of the Black yajur Veda. It appears to have originally formed a part of a lost Brahmana belonging to that Sakha, just as the Brihad Aranyaka comes at the end of the Satapatha Brahmana. The preceding karma kanda, according to the Commentator, consisted of four parts which described the various ceremonial rites; and the Upanishad was the fitting conclusion by which the initiated devotee is led from ceremonial to spiritual worship. Its main subject is a dialogue said to have been held between king Brihadratha and the sage Sakayanya, who relates the divine science of Brahman as it had been delivered to him by the sage Maitri or Maitreya, the son Mitra.