Maha Vaakyas

Mahavaakyas

Upanishads which contain the essence of the Vedas form the Jnaanakhaanda portion of the Vedas are the very foundation of vedanta philosophy. Upanishadic statements are enigmatic in character. They deal exclusively with the discovery of the fundamental Spiritual Truth. They enshrine the doctrine of

1) the Supreme Brahman

2) the individual Self

3) the ultimate goal of life

4) the way of attaining that ultimate goal of life and

5) the impediments on the way of that attainment.

Every individual soul is only a focus, as it were in one infinite Consciousness, referred to as Brahman in all the Upanishads. Upadhis are the limitations of our souls. They are in simple terms the physical, mental and moral conditions under which we have to work in life. When these upadhis are removed, what we call the individual soul is identical with the universal soul.

The great maxims contained in four Upanishads of the four Vedas describe Brahman as:

1. “Praajnam Brahman”

—Aitreya Upanishad of Rigveda

-meaning “Intelligence or Consciousness is Brahman/Supreme reality"

2. “Aham Brahmaasmi”

—Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad of Yajurveda

— meaning “I am Brahman" or "I in everybody is Brahma‟

3. “Tatvamasi”

—Chandogya upanishad of Saamaveda

— meaning “That thou art”

4. “Ayam aatma Brahman”

—Mandookya Upanishad of Atharvaveda

— meaning “This Self or aatma is Brahman”

5. "Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma"

— Chandogya upanishad of Saamaveda

— meaning "All this is verily Brahman"

6. "So 'Ham"

— Given from - 'Sah + Aham'

— meaning " I, Myself, It is I"

These maxims are called as "Mahaa vaakyas" or "great maxims or mottos" which were direct revelations to the seers. Upanishads do not talk about personal God except Svetasvataropanishad, which mentions Rudra as Brahman. Etymologically the word Rudra in Sanskrit is derived as "rutaat-kashtaat draavyati iti rudraha" meaning the chaser of tribulations, trials and torments of the devotees. According to Vishishtaadvaita, Rudra signifies the supreme Paramaatman and not the well known Rudradeva, Siva. It is therefore proper to conclude that Upanishads dwell on superior and most difficult Jnaana yoga in the pursuit of the Absolute, which is the climax of the spiritual quest. Karma yoga and Bhakti yoga are the other paths of salvation which were not brought to light in Upanishads as such but are dealt at great length in Bhagavadgeeta, which are widely practiced in Kaliyuga and are more suited to the present times. Bhaktimaarga maintains personal relationship with the Supreme in various forms and avataaras(incarnations). The Aranyakas shifted the emphasis from the ritualistic to philosophical thought which work was completed by the Upanishads. The Upanishads also develop the monistic ideas scattered in the Samhitas, as conveyed forcibly in the Mahavakyas. It is interesting to note that criticism directed against ritualism and ceremonialism are not directed against philosophical conception found in the Mantras which are faithfully acknowledged and vividly developed in the Upanishads.

Source - Various Books and Websites.