Today’s story is of Satyakama and Upkosala Kaamalaayana. Friends in episode 2 of this podcast series we heard the tale of Satyakāma the seeker of truth. He was a young pupil then. In today’s story, we will take you on a forward journey where Satyakāma is a great scholar and a teacher of the sacred text.  This story is also featured as part of Chaandogya Upanishad which is a part of Sama Veda. Satyakāama after attaining sacred knowledge became a respected teacher. He tutored many pupils throughout his career. Upakosala Kāmalāyana was his student. He was under his revered tutelage for the past twelve years and had performed all sacrificial rituals as per the traditions and instructions in the sacred texts. It was customary in the hermitage that after graduating, the students were allowed to leave for their homes and seek other professions. Upakosala really wanted to see his parents after twelve long years of studying in the hermitage. However, on the day when all students were leaving the hermitage, Satyakāma refrained Upakosala Kāmalāyana from going home which made him very sad and heartbroken. Satyakāma’s wife was very kind-hearted and felt bad for the student. She asked him the reason as she was unable to understand why the young student was detained in the hermitage. She had observed him for twelve long years and knew that he had performed brilliantly as a student and attained sacred knowledge. She tried to convince Satyakaama to let Upakosala go home, but in vain, rather, Satyakaama himself left the hermitage and went on a journey.  Upakosala Kāmalāyana was left alone in the hermitage along with his gurumata (Satyakaama’s wife). The heartbroken student was so sad that he left food. Satyakāma’s wife affectionately tried to feed him but all in vain. She asked him –“Upakosala, why don’t you eat? You may fall ill. Please eat my child. Don’t brood!” On hearing this, teary-eyed and weakened Upakosala said –“O revered Guru Ma, my heart is broken and unhappy. I cannot eat anything.” While Satyakāma was on his journey, he thought about Upakosala. He knew that he still needed to learn the sacrificial steps and sacred texts and was not ready to lead a life of a householder as per dharma. Meanwhile, Upakosala too realized that his mind was strayed and was not focused on the sole objective of learning. He told his Gurumata –“O mother, my mind is impure with desires. These are not negative or foolish but rather pull me in different directions, whirling around and don’t allow me to concentrate. It weans me from my life energy. Just a step back from the story, as per Shatapatha Brahamana, which is another sacred text from the wealth of Indian Philosophy, mentions that there are three types of fires or Tretagni, which must be lit during a Yagna or fire sacrifice. They are namely - Graahapatyagni which belongs to the master of the household and must be kept lit in the Graahapatyagni mound which is circular in shape. No Aahutis or sacrifices is done in Graahapatyagni. The fire from this is taken to lit the other fire mounds namely,  A-havaniyaagni or the eastern sacrificial fire and Dakshinaagni which is the southern sacrificial fire. Especially in India, we are very much accustomed to the word “Havan” which is actually derived from the word - “A-havaniyaagni” I derailed purposely just to tell you all about some of the specific Sanskrit terms which will come up in this story. So now coming back to the story -Upakosala sat down to meditate and concentrate in front of a sacrificial fire or Yagna. After days of fasting and meditating, tretagni or the sacrificial fires said among themselves –“The student of sacred knowledge has performed his penance well. He has tended us well. We must teach him about Brahman!”Then one day all three fires or TretaAgni appeared in front of Upakosala. They said –“Upakosala!” Upakosala opened his eyes and with folded hands said -“Lord!