WHAT IS A MAHAVAKYA?

Any sentence that reveals the identity between jiva, the individual, and Ishvara, the Lord, is considered a Mahavakya(s), the great saying(s).

Mahavakya is a compound of words mahat, meaning "great", and vakya, the form of the root vac, "to speak". Mahavakya compound means "that which is great and which is a sentence", a major sentence that is great because of its important subject content.

1. Mahavakya "Tat Tvam Asi", That thou are (ChU 6.08.07 in Samaveda)

In the Mahavakya "tat tvam asi", the immediate meaning of the word tvam is "you", the jiva I take myself to be. The meaning of the word tat is "that", Ishvara. That I, the jiva, am separate from Ishvara is experientially true. As a created being, I find myself bound and limited, and Ishvara is the creator of the whole cosmos. To say that this limited jiva is that omniscient Ishvara leads to confusion. The immediate meaning of Mahavakya tattvamasi "that thou art" appears to be contradictory, implying that it is not an ordinary sentence.

Through an understanding of the implied meaning, contradiction is negated and commonality is proved. Creating the proper context, the rishis and gurus wield the words with grace to reveal the common factor between tvam and tat, jiva and Ishvara, which is Brahman. Brahman viewed as total creation is Ishvara; viewed as individual, Brahman is jiva. In the implied meaning of tvam and tat, there is no difference-Brahman is the truth of both. The verb of being reveals this identity: That Ishvara thou art.

A Mahavakya is a great equation. If one can see that all that is created-in spite of differences-is ONE Brahman, then all the differences are resolved.

2. Mahavakya “Ayam Atma Brahma" (MaU 02 in Atharvaveda)

Ayam Atma word refers to this "I" the Awareness. A simple word like "speaker" means the one who speaks and also the thinker is one who thinks. Similarly "Awarer" reveals an "I", an individual with reference to a function. What is the function here? I am aware of something; hence I am called an "Awarer". The awarer is aware of all objects around him or her. If the objects are removed, the content of "awarer" will remain. When objects come, I become an awarer. When objects are gone, I am the content of the awarer "Awareness". In awareness all objects and thought exist. Even when thoughts are gone, awareness remains.

The space is in awareness. The space is, awareness is. Space is not-as we are not aware of space in our sleep, where there is no space-awareness is. Similarly time is, awareness is, time is not, awareness is. Does awareness have form? The awareness has no form. All forms are objects of awareness. Awareness itself has no form. Awareness is formless, it is spatially limitless. Space is, awareness is. Therefore star is, awareness is. The limitless awareness is, space is. Space is, the limitless awareness is. Now between limitless awareness and the space, what is the distance? And also, between space and stars what is the distance? There is no distance. Between space and the moon, what is the distance? There is no distance. The moon is in awareness because I am aware of the moon. Between awareness, you and the moon in awareness, what is the distance? There is no distance. Between I the awareness and the moon in awareness, if there is any distance what should it be? Space. And where is the space? In awareness. Between awareness and space there is no distance. Therefore, in awareness is the space, in the space is the moon, in space is the sun, in space are the stars, in space are all the planets. The whole physical universe is in the awareness. Therefore between awareness and any object in the world, what is the distance? There is no distance between awareness and this physical world.

The Limitless Brahman
This physical body is in space. In the awareness is space; in space is this body, in space all bodies exist. All the bodies exist in space and space itself is in awareness. And therefore, between awareness and this body or any other body that exist, there is no distance. Therefore where am I? There is no location for I. Awareness is not located. The body is located in space and space itself is located in awareness. And where is awareness located? The question does not arise. The awareness is not located anywhere. In awareness is located space. With reference to space we say 'here' and 'there', and so on. And therefore in awareness is space; in space is this body and everything else. So where is awareness? Where the Akasha (space) is. Where Akasha shines, there the awareness is. Awareness is not located in space. In awareness is space. Therefore awareness is called all pervasive.
There is only one limitless awareness. There is no second limitless awareness. Therefore awareness is rightly called Brahman. Aham Atma Brahma. Atma, the self is Brahman.

Nature of Awareness
Awareness is not subject to time, nor does it have a beginning or an end. It exists at all time and is referred to as Sat in Vedanta; and the same awareness is also called the Cit, consciousness.

Note: This article is based on Swami Dayananda Saraswati's ( Arsha Vidya Pitham, Saylorsburg, PA) book "Who am I?"

The basic teachings of the Upanishads are summed up in six great sayings (Mahavakyas). These are:

"I am Brahman" (Aham Brahmasmi). This states the identity of the inmost consciousness of the individual with that of the supreme Divine. The ultimate truth of Vedic knowledge is not that some great savior is God or the Lord or that such and such a God or name and form of God is the supreme. It is not the worship of a person, book, image or idea. It is not even the worship of God. The Upanishads say that whatever we worship as truth apart from ourselves destroys us. They teach that our own Self is the true Divinity, that it is the presence of the absolute within our heart and all the universe.

"The Self is Brahman" (Ayam Atma Brahma). This also states the identity of the soul with the Absolute but in a more objective and less direct manner. Not only is our Self the Divine. It is the same Self in all beings that is the same Absolute truth.

"That thou art" (Tat tvam asi). Whatever we see or think about we are that. Not only is the I That, the You is also That. We are that ultimate I and Thou in all. The consciousness in the other is also the Divine.

"Intelligence is Brahman" (Prajnanam Brahma). Our discernment of truth is the truth itself. It indicates that the Divine intelligence is present within us and has the power to return us to the Divine. Our inmost intelligence is that supreme intelligence through which we can merge into the Absolute.

"The Universe is Brahman" (Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma). The entire universe is the Divine, which includes our self. The Divine is not only the consciousness principle in you and I, it is also the being principle in all things. It is the ultimate object as well as the inmost subject in all beings. It is one and all and all in one.

"He am I" (So'ham). This shows the identity of the self with the Divine Lord inherent within the natural movement of our breath. "So" is the natural sound of inhalation, "ham" of exhalation.

These are statements of the identity of the individual consciousness with the Absolute or Divine reality. They all derive from and merge into Om (AUM), the Divine Word of "I am all".

Be Blissful.

S.SEKAR

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