ayam-atma-brahmamahavakyamandukya-upanishadvedanta

අයම් ආත්මා බ්රහ්ම

अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ upanishad·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study·📜 Mandukya Upanishad, Verse 2

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Mandukya Upanishad, Verse 2 · Traditional (Upanishadic) · Vedic / Upanishadic

The Mandukya Upanishad opens by declaring that the syllable Om is all this, the whole of past, present and future, and whatever lies beyond time. Its second verse affirms, 'All this is verily Brahman; this Self is Brahman,' and announces that this Self has four quarters. The Upanishad then describes the waking, dream and deep-sleep states and finally Turiya, the fourth — the silent, non-dual Self. So concentrated is its teaching that the tradition holds the study of the Mandukya alone, with the Karika of Gaudapada, sufficient to grant liberation.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said in the tradition that of all the Upanishads the Mandukya alone is enough for the liberation of the earnest seeker — for in declaring 'This Self is Brahman' and unveiling Turiya, it gives in twelve verses the direct realization that the Self witnessing all states is the deathless Absolute.

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The Mantra

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සර්වං හ්යේතද් බ්රහ්ම අයම් ආත්මා බ්රහ්ම . සෝ(අ)යම් ආත්මා චතුෂ්පාත් ..

sarvaṁ hyetad brahma ayam ātmā brahma so'yam ātmā catuṣpāt

Meaning:यह सब निश्चय ही ब्रह्म है। यह आत्मा ही ब्रह्म है। यही आत्मा चार पादों (अवस्थाओं) वाली है — जाग्रत, स्वप्न, सुषुप्ति और तुरीय (चौथी अवस्था) जो शुद्ध चैतन्यस्वरूप है और जिसका साक्षात्कार करना है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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සර්වම්🔊sarvamAll, everything (the entire universe)

හි🔊hiIndeed, verily, for

ඒතත්🔊etatThis

බ්රහ්ම🔊brahmaBrahman, the supreme Reality

අයම්🔊ayamThis (the very Self within)

ආත්මා🔊ātmāThe Self, the inner Atman

අයම් ආත්මා බ්රහ්ම🔊ayam ātmā brahma'This Self is Brahman' — the great saying (mahavakya) identifying the inmost Self with the Absolute

සඃ අයම් ආත්මා🔊saḥ ayam ātmāThis same Self

චතුෂ්පාත්🔊catuṣpātHas four quarters/states (waking, dream, deep sleep, and Turiya the fourth)

ඕමිත්යේතදක්ෂරම්🔊om ityetad akṣaramOm, this syllable, is all this (the opening of the Upanishad, equating Om with Brahman and the Self)

Benefits of Chanting अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म

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One of the four Mahavakyas (great sayings) of the Upanishads, declaring the inmost Self to be Brahman.

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Reveals that the Self witnessing the waking, dream and deep-sleep states is the changeless Brahman (Turiya).

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Used in meditation on Om and the four states of consciousness leading to direct Self-knowledge.

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Bestows liberation (moksha) by establishing the seeker in the fourth, ever-free state of pure awareness.

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Grants deep peace and detachment by showing the Self as the silent witness behind all experience.

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A foundation of Advaita Vedanta, the Mandukya Upanishad being held sufficient by itself for liberation.

How to Chant अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म

Repetitions11times

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

FaceEast or North

This mantra is for contemplation joined with meditation on Om. Recite 'Ayam Atma Brahma' and then observe how the same 'I' is present in waking, persists in dream, and remains in dreamless sleep — yet is bound by none of them. Recognize this witnessing awareness (Turiya) as Brahman, your true Self. Combine it with slow recitation of Om, letting the mind settle into the silence from which Om arises.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म 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.

Ayam Atma Brahma means 'This Self is Brahman'. It teaches that the Atman, the very Self within you, is none other than Brahman, the supreme infinite Reality.

It is from the Mandukya Upanishad (verse 2), which belongs to the Atharva Veda. The Mandukya is the shortest Upanishad, with only twelve verses, yet it is considered a complete teaching on the Self and the syllable Om.

The Self has four quarters: the waking state (experiencing the outer world), the dream state (the inner world of mind), deep sleep (undifferentiated bliss without objects), and Turiya, the fourth — pure non-dual consciousness, which is the real Self and Brahman.

The Mandukya correlates the sounds A, U, M of Om with the waking, dream and deep-sleep states, and the silence after Om with Turiya. Meditating on Om while contemplating 'This Self is Brahman' leads the seeker from the three states to the fourth, the liberating realization of the Self.