Unlock Your Inner Universe: Ancient Secrets of Consciousness Through Mahavakyas

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The Mahavakyas are “The Great Sayings” found in the Upanishads, which are the foundation of Vedanta. Although there are many Mahavakyas, four of them, one from each of the four Vedas, are often considered the primary ones. These Mahavakyas express profound truths about the nature of reality and the relationship between the individual self (Jivatman) and the universal consciousness (Brahman).

The Mahavakyas were written in the scripture Panchadasi, a 15 chapter manual of Advaita Vedanta. The Panchadasi was written by Swami Vidyaranya in the fourteenth century A.D. (1386-1391).

The Chapter 5 of the Panchadashi delves into the Mahavakyas, revealing their significance. These Mahavakyas emphasize the oneness of the jeevatma (individual soul) and the paramatma (universal soul). Even the Bhagavad Gita contains several Mahavakayas, such as “Aham atma guda keshaha.” Understanding and accepting these truths can be challenging, and realization is even more profound.

Regardless of our beliefs, truth remains constant. It transcends personal perspectives. The Mahavakyas invite us to explore this timeless truth beyond mere intellectual understanding.

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Pragyanam Brahma:

○ This statement translates to “Consciousness is Brahman.” Found in the Taittiriya Upanishad of the Rig Veda.
○ It points to the idea that our fundamental awareness, the very essence of our being, is interconnected with the universal consciousness (Brahman). It invites us to recognize the divine within ourselves and in all things.
○ The ability to see is not limited to the physical eyes; it involves both the gross and subtle bodies.
○ Just as electricity manifests as light in a bulb, consciousness manifests through the medium of the subtle body.
○ Acknowledging our connection to pure consciousness (pragyanam brahma) is liberating. We are infinite, part of the universal whole.

Aham Brahmasmi:

○ This Mahavakya means “I am Brahman.”
○ Brahman signifies the ultimate reality, often described as infinite, all-encompassing consciousness.
○ It emphasizes the non-dual nature of reality. When we realize our true self, we recognize that our individual existence is an expression of the universal consciousness. We are not separate from Brahman; we are Brahman.
○ Imagine it like this: If you say “big,” it implies a limit (like a big elephant). However, when we say “Brahman,” there is no inherent limit – it represents infinite consciousness.

Tatvamasi:

○ Translated as “That Thou Art.” “Tatvamasi” means “You are that.”
○ Tat refers to Brahman, the ultimate cause. Twam means “I,” and Asi means “is.”
○ Found in the Chandogya Upanishad in the Sama Veda.
○ The cause of the world cannot be nameless, timeless, formless, or objectless. It exists everywhere.
○ This Mahavakya highlights the unity of the individual soul (Atman) and the cosmic reality (Brahman). It invites us to recognize our essential nature as part of the greater whole.
○ Just as a mango tree exists in the form of a tree, our existence is in the form of our individual entity.

Ayam Atma Brahma:

○ This statement means “This Self is Brahman.”
○ It appears in the Mandukya Upanishad of the Atharva Veda.
○ By contemplating our innermost self, we realize that it is not separate from the ultimate reality (Brahman). Our true nature transcends the limitations of the physical body and mind.
○ It is also known as the Anusandhana Vakya or sentence that keeps us connected to the larger reality.
Remember, these Mahavakyas serve as signposts to guide us towards the ultimate goal of self-realization. They encourage us to explore the profound truths beyond our mere intellectual knowledge.