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Mahvkyas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mahavakyas (sing.: mahvkya, ; plural:mahvkyni, ) are "The Great Sayings" of the Upanishads, as characterized by the Advaitaschool of Vedanta.
Contents [hide] 1 The four principal Mahavakyas 1.1 Other Mahavakyas 1.2 Prajnam Brahma 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 Sources 5.1 Published sources 5.2 Web-sources 6 External links

The four principal Mahavakyas

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Though there are many Mahavakyas, four of them, one from each of the four Vedas, are often mentioned as "the Mahavakyas".[1] 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] In later Sanskrit usage, the term mahvk ya came to mean "discourse", and specifically, discourse on a philosophically lofty topic.[w eb 1] According to the Advaita Vedanta tradition the four Upanishadic statements indicate the ultimate unity of the individual (Atman) with Supreme (Brahman).[citation needed] The Mahavakyas are: 1. prajnam brahma - "Praja[note 1] is Brahman"[note 2], or "Brahman is Praja"[w eb 3] (Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda) 2. ayam tm brahma - "I am this Self (Atman) that is is Brahman" (Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of the Atharva Veda) 3. tat tvam asi - "Thou art That" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama Veda) 4. aham brahmsmi - "I am Brahman", or "I am Divine"[5] (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad1.4.10 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".[6]

Other Mahavakyas

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Brahma satyam jagan mithya - Brahman is real; the world is unreal - Vivekachudamani Ekam evadvitiyam brahma - Brahman is one, without a second - Chndogya Upaniad Soham - You are the same as I am - Soham (Sanskrit) Sarvam khalvidam brahma - All of this is brahman - Brahman

Prajnam Brahma
See also: Prajna

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Several translations, and word-orders of these translations, are possible: Prajnam : j can be translated as "consciousness", "knowledge", or "understanding."[7]
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Mahvkyas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pra is an intensifier which could be translated as "higher", "greater", "supreme" or "premium",[8] or "being born or springing up"[9], referring to a spontaneous type of knowing.[9][note 3] Prajnam as a whole means: , "prajJAna",[w eb 7] Adjective: prudent, easily known, wise[w eb 7] Noun: discrimination, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence. Also: distinctive mark, monument, token of recognition, any mark or sign or characteristic, memorial[w eb 7] "Consciousness"[2][w eb 2] "Intelligence"[3][4] "Wisdom"[w eb 3] Related terms are jnana, prajna and prajnam, "pure consciousness".[10] Although the common translation of jnanam[10] is "consciousness", the term has a broader meaning of "knowing"; "becoming acquainted with",[w eb 8] "knowledge about anything",[w eb 8]"awareness",[w eb 8] "higher knowledge".[w eb 8] Brahman: "The Absolute"[2][w eb 2] "Infinite"[w eb 2] "The Highest truth"[w eb 2] Most interpretations state: "Prajnam (noun) is Brahman (adjective)". Some translations give a reverse order, stating "Brahman is Prajnam",[w eb 3] specifically "Brahman (noun) is Prajnam (adjective)": "The Ultimate Reality is wisdom (or consciousness)".[w eb 3] Sahu explains: 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 Brahmanhood itself; thus, testifying to the Vedic Maha Vak ya (great saying or words of wisdom):Prajnanam iti Brahman.[11] And according to David Loy, The knowledge of Brahman [...] is not intuition of Brahman but itself is Brahman.[12]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahvkyas

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