Mahavakya

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Mahavakya ( Sanskrit महावाक्य mahāvākya n. "Great saying") is a tenet in Vedic literature or a seer. Four mahavakyas are particularly emphasized, emphasizing the oneness of the self with the one ( brahman ).

The four Mahavakyas

The four Mahavakyas come from four Upanishads , each of which relates to one of the four Vedas :

  • prajnanam brahman (प्रज्ञानम ब्रह्म prajñānam brahman) "Consciousness is Brahman" from the Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rigveda .
  • ayam atma brahman (अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म ayam ātmā brahman) "This self is Brahman" from the Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 for the Atharvaveda .
  • aham brahmasmi (अहं ब्रह्मास्मि aham brahmāsmi) "I am Brahman" from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 for Yajurveda .
  • tat tvam asi (तत्त्वमसि tat tvam asi) "That is you" from the Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 on the Samaveda .

Other Mahavakyas

  • ekam advitiyam "One without a second" Meaning: There is nothing but the One Absolute.
  • neti neti (नेति नेति neti neti) "Not this, not that!" from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (II.4.2). This Mahavakya says that the Brahman cannot be described.
  • "All life is yoga" This principle of Sri Aurobindo is sometimes referred to as a Mahavakya.