anoraniyan-mahato-mahiyankatha-upanishadvedantaatman

අණෝරණීයාන්මහතෝ මහීයාන්

अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयान् in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ upanishad·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study·📜 Katha Upanishad, Verse 1.2.20

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Katha Upanishad, Verse 1.2.20 · Traditional (Upanishadic); taught by Yama to Nachiketa · Vedic / Upanishadic

In the Katha Upanishad, Yama, the lord of death, instructs the steadfast boy Nachiketa in the knowledge of the deathless Self. Having praised Nachiketa for choosing wisdom over wealth and pleasure, Yama describes the Self that dwells within all beings: subtler than the atom yet greater than the greatest, hidden in the cave of the heart. He declares that the one who has stilled desire and made the mind serene perceives this majestic Self and crosses beyond all sorrow — the very immortality Nachiketa had sought.

✦ As told in scripture

The Katha Upanishad teaches that the Self, though seated still within the heart, travels far while the body sleeps and is the deathless light in all; and it promises that the wise who realize this Self, 'great and all-pervading', as dwelling in their own being grieve no more, having found the peace that is eternal.

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The Mantra

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අණෝරණීයාන්මහතෝ මහීයානාත්මාස්ය ජන්තෝර්නිහිතෝ ගුහායාම් . තමක්රතුඃ පශ්යති වීතශෝකෝ ධාතුප්රසාදාන්මහිමානමාත්මනඃ ..

aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyān ātmāsya jantor nihito guhāyām tam akratuḥ paśyati vītaśoko dhātuprasādān mahimānam ātmanaḥ

Meaning:अणु से भी सूक्ष्म और महान् से भी महान् यह आत्मा प्रत्येक प्राणी के हृदय-गुहा में स्थित है। जो निष्काम, शान्तचित्त पुरुष है, वह इन्द्रियों एवं मन की प्रसन्नता (निर्मलता) से उस आत्मा की महिमा का दर्शन करता है और शोकरहित हो जाता है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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අණෝඃ අණීයාන්🔊aṇoḥ aṇīyānSubtler than the subtlest, smaller than the smallest atom

මහතඃ මහීයාන්🔊mahato mahīyānGreater than the greatest, vaster than the vast

ආත්මා🔊ātmāThe Self, the indwelling Spirit

අස්ය ජන්තෝඃ🔊asya jantoḥOf this living being, of every creature

නිහිතඃ ගුහායාම්🔊nihito guhāyāmIs set, hidden, in the cave (of the heart)

තම්🔊tamThat (Self)

අක්රතුඃ🔊akratuḥThe one free of desire and craving, of calm will

පශ්යති🔊paśyatiSees, beholds

වීතශෝකඃ🔊vītaśokaḥFreed from sorrow, beyond grief

ධාතුප්රසාදාත්🔊dhātuprasādātBy the grace (serenity) of the senses and mind, through the tranquillity of the inner being

මහිමානම් ආත්මනඃ🔊mahimānam ātmanaḥThe glory, the majesty, of the Self

Benefits of Chanting अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयान्

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Reveals the Self as both infinitely subtle and infinitely vast — beyond all measure.

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Locates the supreme Reality within, in the cave of the heart, as the goal of meditation.

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Teaches that freedom from desire and a serene mind are the keys to beholding the Self.

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Promises freedom from grief (vita-shoka) to the one who realizes the Self.

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Cultivates inner calm, desirelessness and one-pointed contemplation.

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Recited for peace of mind and to turn the attention inward toward the indwelling Spirit.

How to Chant अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयान्

Repetitions11times

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

FaceEast or North

Recite the verse and then withdraw the attention inward to the 'cave of the heart' it describes. Let desires and agitation settle, allowing the senses and mind to grow serene as the verse prescribes. In that tranquillity, contemplate the Self that is subtler than the atom yet vaster than all space, seated within. Rest in the sorrowless stillness of that majesty, the glory of your own Self.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयान् 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.

It means the Self is 'subtler than the subtlest and greater than the greatest'. Though beyond all dimension, this Self dwells in the heart of every living being, and the desireless, serene seeker beholds its glory and is freed from sorrow.

It is from the Katha Upanishad (1.2.20), part of the Yajur Veda. A nearly identical verse also appears in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (3.20). In the Katha Upanishad it is part of Yama's teaching to the seeker Nachiketa.

The 'cave' (guha) of the heart is a traditional image for the innermost depth of one's being, the secret place where the Self is hidden. It points to meditation turned inward, where the seeker discovers the indwelling Spirit rather than seeking it outside.

Desire keeps the mind turned outward and agitated, while the Self is the subtle inner Witness. Only when craving subsides and the senses and mind become serene (dhatu-prasada) does the mind grow still enough to behold the glory of the Self within.