Turiyatita Upanishad, one of the 108
Upanishads of Hindu Philosophy is a minor Upanishad belonging to
Shukla Yajurveda.
Lord Brahma approaches Lord Vishnu and asks about the path of an Avadhuta (fully realized human), after he has reached turiyatita (beyond the 'turiya,' or the fourth state of consciousness) stage. The Turiyatita Upanishad is Vishnu's elaborate answer to this question. The monk, having been first a hut-dwelling ascetic (Kutichaka), reaches the stage of a mendicant monk (Bahudaka); the mendicant monk attains the stage of a Hamsa ascetic; the Hamsa ascetic becomes the highest kind of ascetic (Paramahamsa). By this time he realizes the entire world as non-different from his Self; and he renounces all personal possessions. The Avadhuta ascetic becomes completely absorbed in non-duality (of the
Atman) and finally gives up his body as he has become one with Om (the
Pranava).
