The four Mahavakyas

The philosophy of ‘advaita ’ plays an important part in the schools of Vedanta which forms an originating base of Indian philosophy. Umapati Shivam says in his work Shivaprakasham that he begins to expound Shaiva Siddhanta and in the end, he concludes that he has expounded the essence of the teaching of Vedas .

The Vedas offer the highest propositions through the Vedanta comprising the four ‘mahavakyas ’.

1. ‘Prajnanam Brahma’—‘Intelligence is Brahma ’ of Aitareya Upanishad of the Riq Veda .

2. ‘Aham Brahmasmi’—‘I am Brahman ’ of Brahadaranyaka Upanishad of the Yajur Veda .

3. ‘Tattvam Asi’—‘That you are’ of the Chandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda

4. ‘Ayam Atma Brahma’—‘This self is Brahman ’ of the Atharva Veda .

These mahavakyas indicate finality and the means to attain this finality. The last three mahavakyas indicate the definite existence of two principles and also the connecting relation between these principles. Brahadaranyaka-Upanishad indicates the existence of ‘I—the ever present’ by the word ‘Aham’ and ‘ever-full cum perfect primal being’ by the word Brahman . This relation of the two beings was interpreted in different ways by different Acharyas—great scholars teaching the seekers of eternal truth. Shri Shankara, for example, has taken it as one of identity. The different schools of metaphysics give different meanings to the word advaita . Umapati Shivam interprets these mahavakyas as explained by his predecessors. He says that the individual self and God are one in union just like the body and the self are together.To make this interpretation explicit, it is necessary to explore the various other interpretations of advaita and the relevant words normally used to denote advaita.