The Maha Vakyas or Supreme Aphorisms

There are four Mahavakyas or supreme aphorisms contained in the Upanishads (Vedanta). Every knowledgeable Hindu knows these. These four facts form the building blocks of the Hindu philosophy.


1. Prajnanam Brahma or Brahman is pure consciousness. (Aitareya Upanishad 3.3)

The Upanishad says Brahman is Full. When fullness is taken out of Fullness, Fullness remains. Fullness refers to Brahman and fullness refers to the jagat or the manifested universe. What is consciousness? The word consciousness is one of the most misunderstood. Consciousness is the subtlest of the substance one can think of. It is subtler than the mind. It is subtler than the thoughts. It is subtler than the space. It is subtler than time. In fact it is beyond space and time. Consciousness it its purest form (non-transferred form) is unchangeable. Something that has no change essentially is beyond space-time modifications. It has permeated the entire unmanifested and manifested worlds. It is that substance that forms the substratum of the entire creation. It is that substance on which the Primordial Nature or Adi Shakti projects its sportive lila. It is the screen on which the Primordial Nature projects its movies on. It is pure existence. It is the absolute Truth or without modification or Sat. Its state is Blissful or Anand or beyond duality. Upanishads declare that Bramhan is Sat-Chit-Ananda or Satchidananda. From Consciousness has evolved everything and every being.

2. Ayam Atma Brahma or This Atman is Brahman. (Mandukya Upanishad 1.2)

This aphorism declares that the Atman or Self or the individual consciousness is same as the universal consciousness. The singular atman is representative of the totality, meaning, the realization with the singular atman is the same realization as that with the Brahman. The nature of both are same. Metaphorically speaking, the electric energy in essence is the same within the fan and the light and displays all its fundamental properties. Knowing the Self is same as knowing the Brahman or the Super Self. There is no further knowledge about the Brahman is obtained beyond what is obtained about the Self. That is why the yogis strive to know the Self.

3. Tat Tvam Asi or Thou art That (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7)

This is where the seer is declaring to the disciple, "You are That which is Sat-Chit-Anand, That which is One without a second, One beyond the mind, intellect, and ego, you are pure existence, pure consciousness, and pure bliss". This is later declared by Jesus Christ as "You are made in the image of God". As discussed under Maha Vakya 1, everything is consciousness but the one which is in the innermost recesses of you is in the purest form of consciousness and that is the image of God that Lord Jesus refers to.

4. Aham Brahmasmi or I am Brahman (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10)

This is essentially same as the Mahavakya 3. Here the "I" refers to the Self or the higher ego. This declares that which is the witness within me of all the thoughts and sensory activities is essentially Brahman or pure Consciousness. The Consciousness is there everywhere and everything is made of Consciousness under the influence of the Primordial Nature of the Brahman or Adi Prakriti. An analogy would be to think of iron getting transformed into a hammer, a nail, a knife, etc under the influence of external energy. So Consciousness is transformed into the multiplicity under the influence of Adi Prakriti or Maha Maya. In this transformation process, some (consciousness is immeasurable but the word some is used in attempt to explain) of the consciousness stays in its purest form even from just like in the material world, primordial hydrogen is still present although some hydrogen was transformed into other matter. This is the knowledge (realization) that yogis are after, knowing which there is nothing further remains to be known.

5. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma or All this is Brahman (Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.1)

This is not treated as a Mahavakya since the earlier four Mahavakyas cover the Truth in its entirety. Basically this aphorism declares that the entire manifested and unmanifested substance is Brahman including thoughts, speech, matter, energy, intellect, emotions, etc. etc. No further explanation is necessary.

6. Neha Nanasti Kinchana or There is nothing else anywhere. (Chandogya Upanishad)

This is not one of the Maha Vakyas but is relevant to include here. It indirectly declares that Brahman is a continuum of Consciousness, without any void. Brahman is the superset whose complementary is null. There is nothing but Brahman everywhere. The multiplicity including matter, energy, and thoughts are mere transformation or projection of Chit or Consciousness. Rajjwa bhujangama eva pratibhasitam vai. The world is merely a notion projected on the Brahman similar to the projection of an idea of a snake on a rope. Brahmarpanam Brahma havir Brahmagnau Brhmanahutam. Brahmaiva tena gantavyam Brahma karma samadhina (Bhagavad Gita). This shloka in Gita clearly indicates that matter, energy, and thoughts are all Brahman.

A commentary on Sun worship

People wonder why in this day and age some people in the world including the Hindus still worship the Sun. I say, why not? It makes perfect sense. If you are a student of science like me, then you most likely believe in the Big Bang and evolution. There was this Big Bang! Some of the energy-matter continuum became our Sun. Some of the Sun became our earth as the gaseous mass cooled. The primordial hydrogen through fusion turned finally into a variety of substances like oxygen, calcium, iron, etc. etc. Some of that gaseous matter evolved into water. Unicellular and then multi-cellular organisms appeared from the same substance. Plant life and animal life evolved from more basic forms of existence. More complex life forms evolved. Finally, you and I sitting on both ends of the Internet, are communicating across the Internet and calling the very substance dumb, from which we originated. How can that substance be dumb from which we have evolved? The same consciousness, which is within us has to be present in the Sun and in all universe. The Upanishad says "Prajnanam Brahma" meaning "Brahman is pure consciousness". Then it also says "Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma" meaning "All this is consciousness". We are conscious. We are part of the earth. Earth is conscious. Sun is conscious. Our life on earth depends on the Sun. I see nothing wrong in expressing our obeisances to the Sun. We are quick to show our gratitude to a person who saved our life. Why cannot we express our gratitude to the Sun, who selflessly making our life possible?

The Sun has occupied the place amongst the five great divine powers (pancha devas) for the Hindus and justifiably so. In fact Hindus see Brahman (existence-consciousness-bliss) or loosely speaking God in all existence. Next time you see the Sun, try to ponder on its supreme blilliance, its enermous power and majesty. Lord Krishna in Gita says, "I am the brilliance (tejas) in the Sun (Aditya)." Can you think of a better way for the earthlings to perceive the power and existence of God other than through the Sun?

A popular Hindu prayer to the Sun is "....Oh remover of darkness (ignorance), I bow to you."