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Mahavakyas (महावाक्यानि) (view source)
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'''Mahavakyas''' (''sing.:'' mahāvākyam, महावाक्यम्; ''plural:'' mahāvākyāni, महावाक्यानि) are "The Great Sayings" of the [[Upanishads]], as characterized by the [[Advaita]] school of [[Vedanta]].
Most commonly, ''Mahavakyas'' are considered four in number,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=1441|title=Meditation on Mahavakyas|website=www.sivanandaonline.org|access-date=2016-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swamij.com/mahavakyas.htm|title=Mahavakyas: Great Contemplations of Advaita Vedanta|website=www.swamij.com|access-date=2016-12-02}}</ref>
# ''Prajnanam Brahma (प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म)''
# [[Aham Brahmasmi|''Aham Brahma Asmi'']] ''(अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि)''
# ''[[Tat Tvam Asi]]'' ''(तत् त्वम् असि)''
# ''Ayam Atma Brahma (अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म)''
==The four principal Mahavakyas==
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}}
The Mahavakyas are:
#'''prajñānam brahma''' - "Prajñāna{{refn|group=note|"Consciousness",{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu">[http://www.jiddu-krishnamurti.net/en/1969/1969-07-26-jiddu-krishnamurti-can-one-experience-the-infinite Jiddu Krishnamurti, ''Saanen 2nd Conversation with Swami Venkatesananda 26th July 1969'']</ref> "intelligence",{{sfn|Sivaraman|1973|p=146}}{{sfn|Braue|1984|p=80}} "wisdom"<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" />}} is Brahman"{{refn|group=note|"The Absolute",{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu" /> "infinite",<ref group=web name="Jiddu" /> "the Highest truth"<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />}}, or "Brahman is [[Prajna (Vedic)|Prajñāna]]"<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy">[http://hinduism.enacademic.com/479/mahavakyas Encyclopedy of Hinduism, ''Mahavakyas'']</ref> ([[Aitareya Upanishad]] 3.3 of the [[Rig Veda]])
#'''ayam ātmā brahma''' - "This Self (Atman) is Brahman" ([[Mandukya Upanishad]] 1.2 of the [[Atharva Veda]])
#'''[[Tat Tvam Asi|tat tvam asi]]''' - "Thou art That" ([[Chandogya Upanishad]] 6.8.7 of the [[Sama Veda]])
#'''[[Aham Brahman Asmi|aham brahmāsmi]]''' - "I am Brahman", or "I am Divine"{{sfn|Baue|1984|p=80}} ([[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] 1.4.10 of the [[Yajur Veda]])
People who are initiated into [[sannyasa]] in [[Advaita Vedanta]] are being taught the four [principal] mahavakyas as four mantras, "to attain this highest of states in which the individual self dissolves inseparably in [[Brahman]]".<ref>[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap30.htm kamakoti.org, ''The Upanisads'']</ref>
===Other Mahavakyas===
* '''brahma satyam jagan mithyā''' - Brahman is real; the world is unreal - [[Vivekachudamani]]
* '''ekam evadvitiyam brahma''' - Brahman is one, without a second - [[Chāndogya Upaniṣad]]
* '''[[Soham (Sanskrit)|so 'ham]]''' - He am I - [[Isha Upanishad]]
* '''sarvam khalvidam brahma''' - All of this is brahman - [[Chāndogya Upaniṣad]] 3.14.1
===Prajñānam Brahma===
{{See also|Prajna (Vedic){{!}}Prajna}}
Several translations, and word-orders of these translations, are possible:
'''Prajñānam''':
* ''jñā'' can be translated as "consciousness", "knowledge", or "understanding."<ref>See, e.g., Monier-Williams (1899), "jña," p. 425 (retrieved 14 Aug. 2012 from "Cologne U." at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0425-jehila.pdf).</ref>
* ''Pra'' is an intensifier which could be translated as "higher", "greater", "supreme" or "premium",<ref>See, e.g., Monier-Williams (1899), "prā," p. 652 (retrieved 14 Aug. 2012 from "Cologne U." at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0659-prajalpana.jpg)</ref> or "being born or springing up",{{sfn|Loy|1997|p=136}} referring to a spontaneous type of knowing.{{sfn|Loy|1997|p=136}}{{refn|group=note|Compare Radhakrishnan's notion of "intuition". See <ref group=web>[http://www.iep.utm.edu/radhakri/#SH2bi Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, ''Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888—1975)'']</ref><ref group=web>[http://www.unipune.ac.in/snc/cssh/ipq/english/IPQ/21-25%20volumes/24%2001/PDF/24-1-1.pdf Ashok Vora, ''Radhakrishna's notion of intuitive knowledge: a critique]</ref><ref group=web>[DR. SIR S. RADHAKRISHNAN, ''Intellect and Intuition in Sankara's Philosophy'']</ref>}}
''Prajñānam'' as a whole means:
* प्रज्ञान, "prajñāna",<ref group=web name="SanskritDict">[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=+prajnanam&trans=Translate&direction=AU Sanskrit Dictionary, ''prajnanam'']</ref>
** Adjective: prudent, easily known, wise<ref group=web name="SanskritDict" />
** Noun: discrimination, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence. Also: distinctive mark, monument, token of recognition, any mark or sign or characteristic, memorial<ref group=web name="SanskritDict" />
* "Consciousness"{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
* "Intelligence"{{sfn|Sivaraman|1973|p=146}}{{sfn|Braue|1984|p=80}}
* "Wisdom"<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" />
Related terms are ''[[jnana|jñāna]]'', ''prajñā'' and ''prajñam'', "pure consciousness".{{sfn|Raṅganāthānanda|1991|p=109}} Although the common translation of ''jñānam''{{sfn|Raṅganāthānanda|1991|p=109}} is "consciousness", the term has a broader meaning of "knowing"; "becoming acquainted with",<ref group=web name="SDjnanam">[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=+jnanam&trans=Translate&direction=AU Sanskrit Dictionary, ''jnanam'']</ref> "knowledge about anything",<ref group=web name="SDjnanam" /> "awareness",<ref group=web name="SDjnanam" /> "higher knowledge".<ref group=web name="SDjnanam" />
'''Brahman''':
* "The Absolute"{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
* "Infinite"<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
* "The Highest truth"<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
Most interpretations state: "Prajñānam (noun) is Brahman (adjective)". Some translations give a reverse order, stating "Brahman is Prajñānam",<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" /> specifically "Brahman (noun) is Prajñānam (adjective)": "The Ultimate Reality is wisdom (or consciousness)".<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" />
Sahu explains:
{{quote|''Prajnanam iti Brahman'' - wisdom is the soul/spirit. ''Prajnanam'' refers to the intuitive truth which can be verified/tested by reason. It is a higher function of the intellect that ascertains the ''Sat'' or Truth in the ''Sat-Chit-Ananda'' or truth-consciousness-bliss, i.e. the ''Brahman/Atman/Self''/person [...] A truly wise person [...] is known as ''Prajna'' - who has attained ''Brahman''hood itself; thus, testifying to the ''Vedic'' ''Maha Vakya'' (great saying or words of wisdom): ''Prajnanam iti Brahman''.{{sfn|Sahu|2004|p=41}}}}
And according to David Loy,
{{quote|The knowledge of Brahman [...] is not intuition ''of'' Brahman but itself ''is'' Brahman.{{sfn|Loy|1997|p=62}}}}
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
Most commonly, ''Mahavakyas'' are considered four in number,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=1441|title=Meditation on Mahavakyas|website=www.sivanandaonline.org|access-date=2016-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swamij.com/mahavakyas.htm|title=Mahavakyas: Great Contemplations of Advaita Vedanta|website=www.swamij.com|access-date=2016-12-02}}</ref>
# ''Prajnanam Brahma (प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म)''
# [[Aham Brahmasmi|''Aham Brahma Asmi'']] ''(अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि)''
# ''[[Tat Tvam Asi]]'' ''(तत् त्वम् असि)''
# ''Ayam Atma Brahma (अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म)''
==The four principal Mahavakyas==
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}}
The Mahavakyas are:
#'''prajñānam brahma''' - "Prajñāna{{refn|group=note|"Consciousness",{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu">[http://www.jiddu-krishnamurti.net/en/1969/1969-07-26-jiddu-krishnamurti-can-one-experience-the-infinite Jiddu Krishnamurti, ''Saanen 2nd Conversation with Swami Venkatesananda 26th July 1969'']</ref> "intelligence",{{sfn|Sivaraman|1973|p=146}}{{sfn|Braue|1984|p=80}} "wisdom"<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" />}} is Brahman"{{refn|group=note|"The Absolute",{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu" /> "infinite",<ref group=web name="Jiddu" /> "the Highest truth"<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />}}, or "Brahman is [[Prajna (Vedic)|Prajñāna]]"<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy">[http://hinduism.enacademic.com/479/mahavakyas Encyclopedy of Hinduism, ''Mahavakyas'']</ref> ([[Aitareya Upanishad]] 3.3 of the [[Rig Veda]])
#'''ayam ātmā brahma''' - "This Self (Atman) is Brahman" ([[Mandukya Upanishad]] 1.2 of the [[Atharva Veda]])
#'''[[Tat Tvam Asi|tat tvam asi]]''' - "Thou art That" ([[Chandogya Upanishad]] 6.8.7 of the [[Sama Veda]])
#'''[[Aham Brahman Asmi|aham brahmāsmi]]''' - "I am Brahman", or "I am Divine"{{sfn|Baue|1984|p=80}} ([[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] 1.4.10 of the [[Yajur Veda]])
People who are initiated into [[sannyasa]] in [[Advaita Vedanta]] are being taught the four [principal] mahavakyas as four mantras, "to attain this highest of states in which the individual self dissolves inseparably in [[Brahman]]".<ref>[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap30.htm kamakoti.org, ''The Upanisads'']</ref>
===Other Mahavakyas===
* '''brahma satyam jagan mithyā''' - Brahman is real; the world is unreal - [[Vivekachudamani]]
* '''ekam evadvitiyam brahma''' - Brahman is one, without a second - [[Chāndogya Upaniṣad]]
* '''[[Soham (Sanskrit)|so 'ham]]''' - He am I - [[Isha Upanishad]]
* '''sarvam khalvidam brahma''' - All of this is brahman - [[Chāndogya Upaniṣad]] 3.14.1
===Prajñānam Brahma===
{{See also|Prajna (Vedic){{!}}Prajna}}
Several translations, and word-orders of these translations, are possible:
'''Prajñānam''':
* ''jñā'' can be translated as "consciousness", "knowledge", or "understanding."<ref>See, e.g., Monier-Williams (1899), "jña," p. 425 (retrieved 14 Aug. 2012 from "Cologne U." at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0425-jehila.pdf).</ref>
* ''Pra'' is an intensifier which could be translated as "higher", "greater", "supreme" or "premium",<ref>See, e.g., Monier-Williams (1899), "prā," p. 652 (retrieved 14 Aug. 2012 from "Cologne U." at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0659-prajalpana.jpg)</ref> or "being born or springing up",{{sfn|Loy|1997|p=136}} referring to a spontaneous type of knowing.{{sfn|Loy|1997|p=136}}{{refn|group=note|Compare Radhakrishnan's notion of "intuition". See <ref group=web>[http://www.iep.utm.edu/radhakri/#SH2bi Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, ''Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888—1975)'']</ref><ref group=web>[http://www.unipune.ac.in/snc/cssh/ipq/english/IPQ/21-25%20volumes/24%2001/PDF/24-1-1.pdf Ashok Vora, ''Radhakrishna's notion of intuitive knowledge: a critique]</ref><ref group=web>[DR. SIR S. RADHAKRISHNAN, ''Intellect and Intuition in Sankara's Philosophy'']</ref>}}
''Prajñānam'' as a whole means:
* प्रज्ञान, "prajñāna",<ref group=web name="SanskritDict">[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=+prajnanam&trans=Translate&direction=AU Sanskrit Dictionary, ''prajnanam'']</ref>
** Adjective: prudent, easily known, wise<ref group=web name="SanskritDict" />
** Noun: discrimination, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence. Also: distinctive mark, monument, token of recognition, any mark or sign or characteristic, memorial<ref group=web name="SanskritDict" />
* "Consciousness"{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
* "Intelligence"{{sfn|Sivaraman|1973|p=146}}{{sfn|Braue|1984|p=80}}
* "Wisdom"<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" />
Related terms are ''[[jnana|jñāna]]'', ''prajñā'' and ''prajñam'', "pure consciousness".{{sfn|Raṅganāthānanda|1991|p=109}} Although the common translation of ''jñānam''{{sfn|Raṅganāthānanda|1991|p=109}} is "consciousness", the term has a broader meaning of "knowing"; "becoming acquainted with",<ref group=web name="SDjnanam">[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=+jnanam&trans=Translate&direction=AU Sanskrit Dictionary, ''jnanam'']</ref> "knowledge about anything",<ref group=web name="SDjnanam" /> "awareness",<ref group=web name="SDjnanam" /> "higher knowledge".<ref group=web name="SDjnanam" />
'''Brahman''':
* "The Absolute"{{sfn|Grimes|1996|p=234}}<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
* "Infinite"<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
* "The Highest truth"<ref group=web name="Jiddu" />
Most interpretations state: "Prajñānam (noun) is Brahman (adjective)". Some translations give a reverse order, stating "Brahman is Prajñānam",<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" /> specifically "Brahman (noun) is Prajñānam (adjective)": "The Ultimate Reality is wisdom (or consciousness)".<ref group=web name="Encyclopedy" />
Sahu explains:
{{quote|''Prajnanam iti Brahman'' - wisdom is the soul/spirit. ''Prajnanam'' refers to the intuitive truth which can be verified/tested by reason. It is a higher function of the intellect that ascertains the ''Sat'' or Truth in the ''Sat-Chit-Ananda'' or truth-consciousness-bliss, i.e. the ''Brahman/Atman/Self''/person [...] A truly wise person [...] is known as ''Prajna'' - who has attained ''Brahman''hood itself; thus, testifying to the ''Vedic'' ''Maha Vakya'' (great saying or words of wisdom): ''Prajnanam iti Brahman''.{{sfn|Sahu|2004|p=41}}}}
And according to David Loy,
{{quote|The knowledge of Brahman [...] is not intuition ''of'' Brahman but itself ''is'' Brahman.{{sfn|Loy|1997|p=62}}}}
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]