The Four Great Declarations of Vedas.

Four great declarations are supreme truth from four Vedas. These four great declaration; 'mahavakyas' are found in one each in each Vedas. These 'mahavakyas' are:- 

1. Pragnanam Brahama - Consciousness is Brahmam
2. Tat Tavam Asi - That Thou Art 
3. Ayam Atma brahma  - This Self is Brahman
4. Aham Braham Asmi  - I am Brahman

 Pragnanam Braham – First Mahavakya

This mahavakya appears in the ‘Aitareya’ Upanishad of the ‘Rig Veda’. It declares that the ‘Atman (consciousness) which is pulsating in every individual and which is giving sentiency to the matter layer is the same as the supreme reality behind the all universe; Brahaman. It reveals the truth that both microcosm and macrocosm are founded on the same consciousness. The consciousness in each individual is the supreme consciousness. This great statement; mahavakya, is the indication to all seekers that if any one of them should experience the consciousness within; self realized, they will at once be experiencing the infinite Brahaman; the total Consciousness.

After constant practice of meditation indicated in the third great statement, the seeker realizes the Self in one to be the all-pervading Reality. This is the highest experience of a seeker when one’s individuality merges with the infinite truth.

Tat Tavam Asi – Second Mahavakya

This mahavakya ‘Tat Tavam Asi – That Thou Art’ is appears in Chhandogya Upanishad of Sama Veda. It declares that the infinite all pervading truth is the Consciousness in you – ‘That Thou Art’. Here ‘That’ refers to the supreme consciousness; Brahaman and ‘Thou’ refer to the pure self or the consciousness.

It is called as the ‘Updeha Vakya’; a spiritual advice to a spiritual seeker, because it contains spiritual instructions addressed to a seeker that Brahman; the spiritual reality is the self within.

For example, the total gold available in the world and the gold in any particular ornament is one and the same metal.

Ayam Atma brahma – Third Mahavakya

This mahavakya ‘Ayam Atma Brahma – This self is Brahman’ is appears in Mandukya Upanishad of Atharva Veda. In this vakya ‘Ayam’ means – this, ‘atma’ means – self, ‘Brahma’ means – the supreme self. Another word for ‘ayam atma’ in Veda is ‘pratyagatman’ which means the ‘inner self’, the indwelling conscious principle. This consciousness lies deep within oneself with all five material layers; from physical body; food sheath to the bliss sheath are mere external coverings. So, the inner self who is giving sentiency to all external covering is identical with the supreme reality.

This great statement ‘ayam atma brahm’ is a practical formula for the seeker to practice so as to gradually discover the identity between one’s Self and the ultimate Reality. It is called ‘abhyasa-vakya’, which means that it is a statement meant for practice.

Here ‘ayam’ which means this is used instead of that to denote something which is close to oneself as opposed to that which indicates something farther away. This mahavakya develops a sense of confidence in a spiritual seeker that the only thing which is close to the supreme realty is the pure self; the atman. It is really a great indication to a spiritual indication.

Aham Brahma Asmi - Forth Mahavakya

Aham Brahma Asmi – I am a Brahaman; this mahavakya appears in Brhadaryaka Upanishad of Yajur Veda. It declares the conscious principle in oneself is nothing other than the total consciousness. Aham means ‘I’, asmi means ‘is’ and brahma means all pervading ‘supreme reality’. It means ‘I’; the inner self is not limited one but is the same as the all-pervading, all-supporting Brahman, the Reality.

‘Asmi’ - means ‘is’ indicates the oneness of the ‘witness consciousness’ (I) and the pure infinite Consciousness, Brahman.

It is a self experience of a spiritual seeker; ‘Sadhaka’; I am a Brahama is an experience which is certified our spiritual scientists that they discovered in transcendental state. Hence it is called as ‘Anubhava Vakya’; the statement which is already experience by so many spiritual scientists. This is a mile stone for who is on path of spirituality. After constant practice of meditation indicated in the third great statement, the seeker realizes the Self in one to be the all-pervading Reality. This is the highest experience of a seeker when one’s individuality merges with the infinite truth.

All four great statements; the mahavakya are to guide to spiritual seekers on path of divinity. They are discovered and experienced by ancient Indian spiritual scientists through their transcendental states. These mahavakya are now the milestone for the all spiritual seekers. It is actually a declared spiritual path. These are four stages of evolution of a seeker on path of spirituality.

Actually these four great declarations from Vedas are a process of transcending of human soul.

Pragnanam Braham - Consciousness is Brahmam – First Stage

Tat Tavam Asi – Second Stage

Ayam Atma brahma – Third Stage

 

Aham Brahma Asmi - Forth Stage