4 MahaVakyas of the Upanishads | Transcendental Wisdom
The Upanishads are like a treasure chest full of deep thoughts and ideas in Indian philosophy and spirituality. Among them, there are four special sayings (vākya), one from each Veda, that are considered super important. They’re called the Four Mahāvākya-s, and they basically sum up the most crucial teachings of the Upanishads. This article delight explores the essence of the 4 MahaVakyas of the Upanishads unlocking the doors to a deeper understanding of existence and transcending the boundaries of conventional thought.
What Are The 4 MahaVakyas of the Upanishads
The 4 MahaVakyas of the Upanishads
प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म (prajñānam brahma) – “Consciousness is Brahman” from the Aitareya Upanishad of the Rig Veda
अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म (ayam ātmā brahma) – “This Self (Atmā) is Brahman” from the Mandukya Upanishad of the Atharva Veda
तत् त्वम् असि (tat tvam asi) – “You are That” from the Chandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda
अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि (aham brahmāsmi) – “I am Brahma” from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad of the Yajur Veda
Deeper Meaning of 4 MahaVakyas
प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म | Prajnanam Brahma
The first Mahāvākya states that our consciousness, the faculty by which we know we exist and other things exist, is itself the absolute reality. In essence, “the stuff that the world is made of” is consciousness. This statement gives the first definition of Truth. And it declares about Consciousness, the spiritual core that lives in each of us. And it is the same all-pervading consciousness in all beings and things.
अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म | Ayam Atma Brahma
While with prajñānam brahma, we recognise absolute as consciousness that is spread everywhere, that is omnipresent, ayam ātmā brahma, talks about our personal experience of the absolute. When we ask, how do we reach the absolute, how do we experience the ultimate truth, the answer is that it resides within us as our soul.
तत् त्वम् असि | Tat Tvam Asi
The Upanishadic seers, however, exhort us to witness and experience the absolute within ourselves by saying tat-tvam-asi–you are that, you are the transcendental reality you seek, you are not separate from the eternal truth, you are that truth.
अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि | Aham Brahma
This Mahāvākya sums up the experience of the ultimate within oneself and can be looked as the final destination of all spiritual seekers. The essential ‘I’ which is full, super-rational and resplendent, should be the same as Brahman. This is not the identification of the limited individual ‘I’ with Brahman, but it is the Universal Substratum of individuality that is asserted to be what it is.
Four Peeth Of Four Mahavakyas
It is believed that Four MahaVakyas were chosen by Acharya Adi Sankara, and he attached 4 Mantras to 4 “Matha”s (Pitha)” in the four corners of India.
” prajnAnaM brahma “:Consciousness is Infinite is connected to Govardhana Pitha
” tat-tvam-asi”: That-Thou-Art Connected to Dwarka Pitha
” ayamAtma brahma”: This Self is the Truth is Connected to Jyotirmath Pitha.
” aham brahmAsmi”:- I am the Infinite Reality is connected with Sringeri Sharada Pitha
Final Takeaway | The 4 MahaVakyas of the Upanishads
Through four Mahavakyas, the Vedas guide us to discover our true self-identity. It reveals that our essence is immortal and beyond the limitations of time and space. Realizing this profound truth leads to liberation and the experience of ultimate bliss and unity with the universe.
For further insights: Read “The Essence of Advaita: A Dialogue on Mahavakyas” https://amzn.eu/d/h54tQVU
Read also : What Happens During Brahma Muhurta | The Secret Potential Of Brahma Muhurta https://thebrightdelights.com/what-happens-during-brahma-muhurta-the-secret-potential-of-brahma-muhurta/