mahavakyas

Mahavakyas are a subset of Sanskrit aphorisms, traditionally rendered as “great sayings,” that express the core non-dual teaching of Advaita Vedanta. They present the idea that ultimate reality, Brahman, and the individual self, Atman, are identical. The Mahavakyas function as concise statements used for contemplation and scriptural interpretation, drawn from the Upanishads.

The most commonly cited formulations are: Tat Tvam Asi (That Thou Art), indicating the unity of the individual with the universal; Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman), asserting the self’s identification with Brahman; Prajnanam Brahma (Consciousness is Brahman), equating ultimate consciousness with Brahman; and Ayam Atma Brahma (This Atman is Brahman), linking the inner self to the absolute. Some traditions also include a fifth, such as Purnam Brahma (Brahman is complete) or Purnam Idam (This is complete), drawn from other Upanishads, to emphasize fullness or plenitude as an aspect of Brahman.

Across different schools, the exact list and interpretation can vary, but the common aim remains—to guide inquiry (jnana) toward non-dual realization and to serve as a foundational reference point for Vedantic analysis. The Mahavakyas are often discussed in commentaries and taught as humbling reminders that individual experience is ultimately woven into the broader, indivisible nature of reality.

Usage and emphasis: In Advaita, these statements are not simple propositions but presuppose directed inquiry into the nature of self, world, and consciousness. They have been central to traditional exegetical works and to the practice of meditative reflection aimed at realizing the oneness of Atman and Brahman.