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Mahavakyas (महावाक्यानि) (view source)
Revision as of 16:49, 16 January 2018
, 16:49, 16 January 2018Added details of First Mahavakya
'''Mahavakyas''' (''sing.:'' mahāvākyam, महावाक्यम्; ''plural:'' mahāvākyāni, महावाक्यानि) are "The Great Sayings" of the [[Upanishads]], as characterized by the [[Advaita]] school of [[Vedanta]]. They are:
'''Mahavakyas''' (''sing.:'' mahāvākyam, महावाक्यम्; ''plural:'' mahāvākyāni, महावाक्यानि) are "The Great Sayings" of the [[Upanishads]], as characterized by the [[Advaita]] school of [[Vedanta]]. They are<ref name=":0">Swami Krishnananda, The Philosophy of the Panchdasi, "Chapter V: Discrimination of Mahavakyas"</ref>:
# ''Aham Brahmasmi (''अहं ब्रह्मास्मि) ([[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्)|Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]], 1:4:10, [[Yajurveda]])
# ''Aham Brahmasmi (''अहं ब्रह्मास्मि) ([[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्)|Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]], 1:4:10, [[Yajurveda]])
# ''Ayam atma Brahma (''अयं आत्माब्रह्म) ([[Mandukya Upanishad]], 1:2, [[Atharvaveda]])
# ''Ayam atma Brahma (''अयं आत्माब्रह्म) ([[Mandukya Upanishad]], 1:2, [[Atharvaveda]])
# ''Prajnanam Brahma (''प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म) ([[Aitareya Upanishad]], 3:3, [[Rigveda]])
# ''Prajnanam Brahma (''प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म) ([[Aitareya Upanishad]], 3:3, [[Rigveda]])
==The four principal Mahavakyas==
==Mahavakyas - Detailed Discussion==
Though there are many Mahavakyas, four of them, one from each of the four [[Vedas]], are often mentioned as "the Mahavakyas".{{sfn|Saraswati|1995|p=4}} According to the Vedanta-tradition, the subject matter and the essence of all Upanishads is the same, and all the Upanishadic Mahavakyas express this one universal message in the form of terse and concise statements.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} In later Sanskrit usage, the term ''mahāvākya'' came to mean "discourse", and specifically, discourse on a philosophically lofty topic.<ref group=web>[http://www.lisindia.net/Sanskrit/Sanskrit_struct.html Sanskrit Structure]</ref>
=== ''Aham Brahmasmi (''अहं ब्रह्मास्मि)<ref name=":0" /> ===
([[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्)|Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]], 1:4:10, [[Yajurveda]])
Literal Meaning: I am Brahman.
In the sentence (Aham Brahma asmi) or I am Brahman, the 'I' is that which is the One Witnessing Consciousness, standing apart from even the intellect, different from the ego-principle, and shining through every act of thinking, feeling, etc. This Witness-Consciousness, being the same in all, is universal, and cannot be distinguished from Brahman, which is the Absolute. Hence 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. The copula 'am' or (asmi) does not signify any empirical relation between two entities, but affirms the non-duality of essence<ref name=":0" />.
Though there are many Mahavakyas, four of them, one from each of the four [[Vedas]], are often mentioned as "the Mahavakyas".{{sfn|Saraswati|1995|p=4}} According to the Vedanta-tradition, the subject matter and the essence of all Upanishads is the same, and all the Upanishadic Mahavakyas express this one universal message in the form of terse and concise statements.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} In later Sanskrit usage, the term ''mahāvākya'' came to mean "discourse", and specifically, discourse on a philosophically lofty topic.<ref group="web">[http://www.lisindia.net/Sanskrit/Sanskrit_struct.html Sanskrit Structure]</ref>
According to the [[Advaita Vedanta]] tradition the four Upanishadic statements indicate the ultimate [[unio mystica|unity]] of the individual ([[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]]) with Supreme ([[Brahman]]).{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
According to the [[Advaita Vedanta]] tradition the four Upanishadic statements indicate the ultimate [[unio mystica|unity]] of the individual ([[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]]) with Supreme ([[Brahman]]).{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}