The Mahavakyas are the Great Sentences of Advaita Vedanta and Jnana Yoga, and are contained in the Upanishads. Maha is Great, and Vakyas are sentences, or utterances for contemplation. The contemplations on the Mahavakyas also blend well with the practices of yoga meditation, prayer, and mantra… To truly understand the meaning of the mahavakyas it is necessary to practice contemplation and meditation in your own inner laboratory of stillness and silence.
The four Vedas have given four Mahavakyas (great utterances) to the world. They are:
Prajnanam Brahma (Consciousness is Brahman),
Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman),
Tat Twam Asi (That Thou Art),
Ayam Atma Brahma (This Self is Brahman).
These represent the essence of the Vedas.
Similar strophes illuminate those on the journey to moksha:
Manasyeka Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanam – those whose thoughts, words and deeds are in complete harmony are noble ones.
Sarvam khalvidam Brahma – All this verily is Brahman.
Ishwar Sarva Bhootanam – All this is the body of the Divine.
Sathyam moolam jagat – Truth is the basis of the universe
Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati – The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman
Satyam vada! Dharmam chara! – Speak the truth! Practice Virtue! (Taittiriya Upanishad Chapter I, section 11, Verse 1)
Satyameva Jayate nanrtam – Truth alone wins, not untruth (Mundaka Upanishad Chapter III Verse 6)
Satyam na pramaditavyam – Let there be no neglect of Truth (Taittiriya Upanishad Chapter I, section 11, Verse 1)
Brahma sathyam, jagat mithya, jeevo Brahmaiva naaparam – Brahman alone is true, creation is a myth; the individual is Brahman itself.
