aham-brahmasmimahavakyabrihadaranyaka-upanishadvedanta

අහං බ්රහ්මාස්මි

Aham Brahmasmi (I Am Brahman) in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ upanishad·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study·📜 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Verse 1.4.10

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Verse 1.4.10 · Traditional (Upanishadic) · Vedic / Upanishadic

In the first chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the seer describes the dawn of Self-knowledge: in the beginning there was only Brahman, and knowing its own Self it declared, 'Aham Brahmasmi — I am Brahman,' and thereby became all this. The text goes on to say that whoever among the gods, sages or men awakened to this same truth likewise became the All, while those who worship the divine as separate remain limited. It thus sets out the supreme teaching that the knower of Brahman becomes Brahman itself.

✦ As told in scripture

The tradition teaches that this knowledge alone makes one fearless and immortal — for the one who truly knows 'I am Brahman' no longer identifies with the perishable body, and so, as the Upanishad says, 'even the gods cannot prevail against him,' since he has become the very Self of all.

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The Mantra

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බ්රහ්ම වා ඉදමග්ර ආසීත් තදාත්මානමේවාවේත් . අහං බ්රහ්මාස්මීති . තස්මාත්තත්සර්වමභවත් ..

brahma vā idam agra āsīt tad ātmānam evāvet aham brahmāsmīti, tasmāt tat sarvam abhavat

Meaning:In the beginning this was Brahman alone. It knew only its own Self, thinking, 'I am Brahman.' Therefore it became all this. (Whoever among gods or men awakened to this likewise became the All.)

Word-by-Word Meaning

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බ්රහ්ම🔊brahmaBrahman, the supreme Reality

වෛ🔊vaiIndeed, verily

ඉදම් අග්රේ ආසීත්🔊idam agre āsītThis (universe) was in the beginning

තත්🔊tatThat (Brahman)

ආත්මානම් ඒව🔊ātmānam evaIts own Self alone

අවේත්🔊avetKnew, realized

අහම්🔊ahamI

බ්රහ්ම🔊brahmaBrahman, the Absolute

අස්මි🔊asmiAm

ඉති🔊itiThus (it knew, 'I am Brahman')

තස්මාත්🔊tasmātTherefore, from that (realization)

තත් සර්වම් අභවත්🔊tat sarvam abhavatIt became all this (the whole universe)

අහං බ්රහ්මාස්මි🔊aham brahmāsmi'I am Brahman' — the great saying (mahavakya) realizing the Self as the Absolute

Benefits of Chanting Aham Brahmasmi (I Am Brahman)

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One of the four Mahavakyas (great sayings) of the Upanishads, the key declaration of the Self's identity with Brahman.

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Used in deep meditation (nididhyasana) to dissolve the sense of being a small, separate, mortal ego.

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Awakens Self-knowledge (Atma-jnana) and bestows liberation (moksha) for the prepared seeker.

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Removes fear, grief and the illusion of limitation by revealing the boundless nature of the true Self.

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Establishes the mind in unshakable peace, the peace of the infinite that nothing external can disturb.

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Central to Advaita Vedanta enquiry and recited as an affirmation of one's deepest identity.

How to Chant Aham Brahmasmi (I Am Brahman)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study

FaceEast or North

This is a mantra for realization, not mechanical repetition. Sit in stillness, recite 'Aham Brahmasmi' slowly, and turn the attention inward to the pure awareness that says 'I am'. Reflect that this very awareness — beyond body, mind and ego — is Brahman itself. Best practised after study of Vedanta under a teacher, dwelling on the meaning until the sense of separateness gives way to the knowledge 'I am the Whole'.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Aham Brahmasmi (I Am Brahman) written in the Sinhala script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Aham Brahmasmi means 'I am Brahman'. It is the realization that the innermost Self is not a limited individual but is identical with Brahman, the infinite Reality underlying all existence.

It is from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.10) of the Shukla Yajur Veda, one of the oldest and largest Upanishads. The verse describes how Brahman, knowing itself as 'I am Brahman', became all that exists.

No. It is the opposite of ego. The 'I' here is not the body-mind personality but the pure consciousness that is one with the Absolute. Realizing it dissolves the small ego entirely, replacing it with the infinite Self.

As one of the four Mahavakyas it is given for contemplation. The seeker, after hearing (shravana) and reflection (manana), meditates (nididhyasana) on its truth until the direct knowledge 'I am Brahman' arises as living experience, conferring liberation.