Panchamamahaavaakya

पञ्चममहावाक्य

(The Fifth Great Aphorism)

The Mahaabhaarata is called the Panchamaveda i.e. the fifth Veda. Here is a suggestion to add a fifth great aphorism to the four aphorisms from the four Vedas. It is picked from the Geetaa, which is part of the Mahaabhaarata.

The four aphorisms from the Vedas are first discussed. All four propound Advaita.

1. Tattwamasi (From the Chandogya UpaniShad of Saama Veda)
That Thou Art.

THAT represents the unmanifest Supreme Being - Brahman (not to be confused with Brahma - one of the manifest trinity of Gods).

THOU refers to you i.e. your Self, Aatmaa.

ART confirms that THAT and THOU are one and the same, inseparable, integral. INTEGRAL>

THAT does not indicate IT is not here or not available now. THAT is in everything, at any time. There is nothing in which THAT is not present at any time. THAT is present between sun and planets and between planets besides being inside the sun and planets. As indeed it is present in all elements i.e. in all their atoms in between proton are neutrons and inside the protons and neutrons. ANoraNeeyaan mahatomaheeyaan - smaller than the smallest, bigger than the biggest, sings Sri Shankaraacharya.

THAT is given the neuter gender, being unmanifest. IT is bodyless and therefore neither male nor female sex is applicable.

The verb ART is clear. THOU art already THAT - nothing need be done to become THAT.

2. Ayamaatmaa brahma (From the MaaNdukya UpaniShad of Atharva Veda)

This Aatmaa is Brahman - know this for sure.

3. Aham Brahmaasmi (From the BrihadaaraNyaka UpaniShad of Yajur Veda)

I am Brahman. This constitutes the mantra for deep meditation and leads to salvation i.e. merger of the puny I into the Unmanifest (Brahman). The body is transcended.


4. Prajnaanam Brahma (From the Aitareya UpaniShad of Rug Veda)

Supreme Knowledge is Brahman. This states that awareness or knowledge is the nature of Brahman.

All these aphorisms are crisp and contain only two or three words. They appear at the end of the respective Vedas in the UpaniShads.

The Geetaa is the essence of all UpaniShads. The Vedas were revealed from the Unseen. The Geetaa was uttered by the Lord Himself. Therefore, the aphorisms from the LORD deserve the status of Mahaavaakya.

Jnaanee Twaamtaiva, says the Lord. A Jnaanee is my very self.

Three words only.

Elsewhere, the Lord has said that a Bhakta is dear to Him, a yogi is the greatest and so on. But here, He asserts that a Jnaanee is none other than Himself. A Jnaanee is not the body you see.(See the Advaita blog for details)

NOTE : Know yourself first before you start searching for THAT. ONCE you know yourself ,THAT is automatically known as THOU AND THAT are ONE and same.