Mahāvākyas

A Mahavakya ( Sanskrit: महावाक्य Mahavakya n " guiding principle" ) is a great saying in the Vedic literature or a seer. Among them especially four Mahavakyas be emphasized that with the One ( Brahman ) emphasize the oneness of the self.

The Four Mahavakyas

The four Mahavakyas are from four Upanishads, each referring to one of the four Vedas:

  • Prajnanam brahman ( प्रज्ञानम ब्रह्म Prajnanam brahma ) " Consciousness is Brahman " from the Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda.
  • Ayam atma brahma ( अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म ayam ātmā brahma ) "This Brahman " is self from the Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of Atharvaveda.
  • Aham brahmasmi ( अहं ब्रह्मास्मि aham Brahmasmi ) "I am Brahman " from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda.
  • Tat tvam asi ( tat tvam asi तत्त्वमसि ) "That you are " from the Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of Samaveda.

Other Mahavakyas

  • Ekam advitiyam "One without a second ," meaning: There is nothing but the One Absolute.
  • Neti neti ( neti neti नेति नेति ) "Not so, not so! " from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad ( II.4.2 ). This Mahavakya states that the Brahman can not be described.
  • " All life is Yoga " This motto Sri Aurobindo is sometimes referred to as a Mahavakya.
  • Hinduism
Outline of self Brahman (disambiguation) Brihadaranyaka-Upanishad
540141
de