Friday, November 29, 2019

The Mahavakyas from Vedas

Each Veda contains one Mahavakya that highlights the real truth about Brahman, which is beyond reason.

Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of Rig Veda, Prajnanam Brahma - describe the absolute reality as pure consciousness or jnana agni or cosmic jnana. Atman is eternal (Nitya). It is unchanging (Nirvikara). It is knowledge. It is imperishable (Akshara). This is conveyed in Upanishads as "Satyasya Satyam" or "the Truth of truth" (Brihadaranyaka Up., 2.1.20). Brahman can be known only through jnana, when the clouds of ignorance are moved away.

Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of Sama Veda, Tat Tvam Asi. This is proclamation statement that the Universal Spirit is the only Ultimate Reality and that there is no separation between individual soul and Brahman. Any apparent separation is illusion. All this including you is Brahman (Sarvam khalvidam brahma — Chandogya Up. 3.14.1). According to Shankaracharya, the sole purpose of the Upanishads is to prove the reality of Brahman and the unreality of the universe of names and forms, and to establish the absolute oneness of the embodied soul and Brahman.

Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of Atharva Veda, Ayam Atma Brahma is a meditative statement which means this self is Brahman. Here we meditate and direct our effort to understand self (soul). Laya or dissolving with absolute reality is the our goal. That from which this world has come out, that in which this world exists, that in which it gets dissolved is Brahman.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of Yajur Veda, Aham Brahmasmi means I am brahman. This is statement of experience. It is unknown to those who consider Brahman as a subject of study like other objects. Those who understand that atman, the pure spirit is timeless, spaceless, placeless and endless may be able to realize the truth ( Kena Up., II. 3).

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