shankaracharyaadvaitavedantaself-knowledge

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಜ್ಞಾನಾವಳಿ ಮಾಲಾ

ब्रह्मज्ञानावलीमाला

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning after bath, or during meditation and Vedantic study (svadhyaya)·📜 Prakarana grantha (independent didactic treatise) ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya

Also known as: brahma jnanavali mala · brahmajnanavali mala · brahma gyanavali mala · asango'ham asango'ham · brahma satyam jagan mithya

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Brahma Jnanavali Mala ('Garland of Gems of the Knowledge of Brahman') is a celebrated Advaita prakarana of about twenty verses attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, said to grant the knowledge of Brahman upon merely hearing it once. The verses are a sustained, first-person affirmation — 'aham eva aham avyayah', 'I alone am the imperishable Self' — and culminate in the famous Vedantic summary 'Brahman is real, the world is illusory, the soul is none other than Brahman'. It is a powerful tool for Self-enquiry and meditation on one's true nature.

Origin & Story

Prakarana grantha (independent didactic treatise) ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · Classical (traditionally 8th century CE)

The Brahma Jnanavali Mala is one of Adi Shankaracharya's prakarana works — short independent treatises that distil the teaching of Advaita Vedanta. Composed as a garland of affirmative verses in the first person, it describes the marks of the one who has realized 'I am Brahman'. Its opening verse boldly states that it is meant for the liberation of all and that Brahma-jnana can dawn upon merely hearing it once. The hymn is treasured by advanced seekers as a direct pointer to the non-dual Self, ending with the luminous declaration 'I am Shiva, the light of lights'.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that this garland of verses is so potent that 'sakrit shravana matrena' — by a single sincere hearing — the listener's heart can be turned toward the knowledge of Brahman; seekers who steep the mind in its affirmation 'I am the witness, the imperishable Self' are said to be freed, in that very recognition, from the bondage of birth and death.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

असङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहं पुनः पुनः। सच्चिदानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥१॥

asaṅgo'ham asaṅgo'ham asaṅgo'haṃ punaḥ punaḥ | sac-cid-ānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||1||

Meaning:ನಾನು ಅಸಂಗನು, ಅಸಂಗನು, ಅಸಂಗನು, ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ; ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 2

नित्यशुद्धविमुक्तोऽहं निराकारोऽहमव्ययः। भूमानन्दस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥२॥

nitya-śuddha-vimukto'haṃ nirākāro'ham avyayaḥ | bhūmānanda-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||2||

Meaning:ನಿತ್ಯಶುದ್ಧನು, ಸದಾ ಮುಕ್ತನು, ನಿರಾಕಾರನು, ಬದಲಾಗದವನು; ಭೂಮಾನಂದ (ಅನಂತ ಆನಂದ) ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 3

नित्योऽहं निरवद्योऽहं निराकारोऽहमुच्यते। परमानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥३॥

nityo'haṃ niravadyo'haṃ nirākāro'ham ucyate | paramānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||3||

Meaning:ನಿತ್ಯನು, ನಿರ್ದೋಷನು, ನಿರಾಕಾರನೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇನೆ; ಪರಮಾನಂದ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 4

शुद्धचैतन्यरूपोऽहमात्मारामोऽहमेव च। अखण्डानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥४॥

śuddha-caitanya-rūpo'ham ātmārāmo'ham eva ca | akhaṇḍānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||4||

Meaning:ಶುದ್ಧ ಚೈತನ್ಯ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ಆತ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾ ಆನಂದಿಸುವವನು; ಅಖಂಡಾನಂದ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 5

प्रत्यक्चैतन्यरूपोऽहं शान्तोऽहं प्रकृतेः परः। शाश्वतानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥५॥

pratyak-caitanya-rūpo'haṃ śānto'haṃ prakṛteḥ paraḥ | śāśvatānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||5||

Meaning:ಅಂತರಂಗ (ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್) ಚೈತನ್ಯ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ಪ್ರಶಾಂತನು, ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಗೆ ಅತೀತನು; ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಆನಂದ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 6

तत्त्वातीतः परात्माहं मध्यातीतः परः शिवः। मायातीतः परंज्योतिरहमेवाहमव्ययः॥६॥

tattvātītaḥ parātmāhaṃ madhyātītaḥ paraḥ śivaḥ | māyātītaḥ paraṃ-jyotir aham evāham avyayaḥ ||6||

Meaning:ಸಮಸ್ತ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳಿಗೆ ಅತೀತನು, ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನು; ಮಧ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅತೀತನು, ಪರಮ ಶಿವನು; ಮಾಯೆಗೆ ಅತೀತನು, ಪರಂಜ್ಯೋತಿ, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 7

नानारूपव्यतीतोऽहं चिदाकारोऽहमच्युतः। सुखरूपस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥७॥

nānā-rūpa-vyatīto'haṃ cid-ākāro'ham acyutaḥ | sukha-rūpa-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||7||

Meaning:ಅನೇಕ ರೂಪಗಳಿಗೆ ಅತೀತನು, ಚೈತನ್ಯ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ಕ್ಷಯರಹಿತನು; ಸುಖ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 8

मायातत्कार्यदेहादि मम नास्त्येव सर्वदा। स्वप्रकाशैकरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥८॥

māyā-tat-kārya-dehādi mama nāsty eva sarvadā | sva-prakāśaika-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||8||

Meaning:ಮಾಯೆ, ಅದರ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳು — ಶರೀರಾದಿ — ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನವು ಎಂದೂ ಅಲ್ಲ; ಸ್ವಯಂಪ್ರಕಾಶನು, ಏಕನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 9

गुणत्रयव्यतीतोऽहं ब्रह्मादीनां च साक्ष्यहम्। अनन्तानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥९॥

guṇa-traya-vyatīto'haṃ brahmādīnāṃ ca sākṣy aham | anantānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||9||

Meaning:ತ್ರಿಗುಣಗಳಿಗೆ ಅತೀತನು, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾದಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ; ಅನಂತ ಆನಂದ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 10

अन्तर्यामिस्वरूपोऽहं कूटस्थः सर्वगोऽस्म्यहम्। परमात्मस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥१०॥

antaryāmi-svarūpo'haṃ kūṭasthaḥ sarvago'smy aham | paramātma-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||10||

Meaning:ಅಂತರ್ಯಾಮಿ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ಕೂಟಸ್ಥನು, ಸರ್ವವ್ಯಾಪಿ; ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 11

निष्कलोऽहं निष्क्रियोऽहं सर्वात्माद्यः सनातनः। अपरोक्षस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥११॥

niṣkalo'haṃ niṣkriyo'haṃ sarvātmādyaḥ sanātanaḥ | aparokṣa-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||11||

Meaning:ನಿಷ್ಕಲನು (ಭಾಗರಹಿತನು), ನಿಷ್ಕ್ರಿಯನು (ಅಕರ್ತನು), ಸರ್ವಾತ್ಮನು, ಆದಿ, ನಿತ್ಯನು; ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ (ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷ) ಅನುಭವ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 12

द्वन्द्वादिसाक्षिरूपोऽहमचलोऽहं सनातनः। सर्वसाक्षिस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥१२॥

dvandvādi-sākṣi-rūpo'ham acalo'haṃ sanātanaḥ | sarva-sākṣi-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||12||

Meaning:ದ್ವಂದ್ವಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ, ನಿಶ್ಚಲನು, ನಿತ್ಯನು; ಸರ್ವ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸ್ವರೂಪನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 13

प्रज्ञानघन एवाहं विज्ञानघन एव च। अकर्ताहमभोक्ताहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥१३॥

prajñāna-ghana evāhaṃ vijñāna-ghana eva ca | akartāham abhoktāham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||13||

Meaning:ಶುದ್ಧ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಘನನು ನಿಜವಾಗಿ, ಶುದ್ಧ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಘನನು ಕೂಡ; ಅಕರ್ತನು, ಅಭೋಕ್ತನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 14

निराधारस्वरूपोऽहं सर्वाधारोऽहमेव च। आप्तकामस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः॥१४॥

nirādhāra-svarūpo'haṃ sarvādhāro'ham eva ca | āpta-kāma-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||14||

Meaning:ಯಾವ ಆಧಾರವೂ ಇಲ್ಲದವನು, ಆದರೂ ಸರ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಆಧಾರನು; ಸದಾ ಸಂತೃಪ್ತನು, ಸರ್ವ ಬಯಕೆಗಳು ಈಡೇರಿದವನು, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 15

तापत्रयविनिर्मुक्तो देहत्रयविलक्षणः। अवस्थात्रयसाक्ष्यस्मि चाहमेवाहमव्ययः॥१५॥

tāpa-traya-vinirmukto deha-traya-vilakṣaṇaḥ | avasthā-traya-sākṣy asmi cāham evāham avyayaḥ ||15||

Meaning:ಮೂರು ತಾಪಗಳಿಗೆ ಅತೀತನು, ಮೂರು ಶರೀರಗಳಿಗೆ ಭಿನ್ನನು, ಮೂರು ಅವಸ್ಥೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ, ನಾನೇ ನಾನು, ಅವ್ಯಯನು.

Verse 16

दृग्दृश्यौ द्वौ पदार्थौ स्तः परस्परविलक्षणौ। दृग्ब्रह्म दृश्यं मायेति सर्ववेदान्तडिण्डिमः॥१६॥

dṛg-dṛśyau dvau padārthau staḥ paraspara-vilakṣaṇau | dṛg-brahma dṛśyaṃ māyeti sarva-vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||16||

Meaning:ದ್ರಷ್ಟ, ದೃಶ್ಯ — ಎರಡು ಭಿನ್ನ ವರ್ಗಗಳು; ದ್ರಷ್ಟ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ, ದೃಶ್ಯ ಮಾಯೆ — ಇದೇ ಸಮಸ್ತ ವೇದಾಂತದ ಢಿಂಡಿಮ (ನಗಾರಿ ಘೋಷ).

Verse 17

अहं साक्षीति यो विद्याद्विविच्यैवं पुनः पुनः। स एव मुक्तः सो विद्वानिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः॥१७॥

ahaṃ sākṣīti yo vidyād vivicyaivaṃ punaḥ punaḥ | sa eva muktaḥ so vidvān iti vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||17||

Meaning:ಯಾರು ಹೀಗೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿ 'ನಾನು ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ' ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಾನೋ, ಅವನೇ ಮುಕ್ತನು, ಅವನೇ ಜ್ಞಾನಿ — ಇದೇ ವೇದಾಂತ ಢಿಂಡಿಮ.

Verse 18

घटकुड्यादिकं सर्वं मृत्तिकामात्रमेव च। तद्वद्ब्रह्म जगत्सर्वमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः॥१८॥

ghaṭa-kuḍyādikaṃ sarvaṃ mṛttikā-mātram eva ca | tadvad brahma jagat sarvam iti vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||18||

Meaning:ಮಡಕೆ, ಗೋಡೆ ಮೊದಲಾದವು ಮಣ್ಣೇ ಹೊರತು ಬೇರೆ ಅಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬಂತೆ, ಈ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವೇ ಹೊರತು ಬೇರೆ ಅಲ್ಲ — ಇದೇ ವೇದಾಂತ ಢಿಂಡಿಮ.

Verse 19

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः। अनेन वेद्यं सच्छास्त्रमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः॥१९॥

brahma satyaṃ jagan mithyā jīvo brahmaiva nāparaḥ | anena vedyaṃ sac-chāstram iti vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||19||

Meaning:ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಸತ್ಯ, ಜಗತ್ತು ಮಿಥ್ಯ, ಜೀವ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವೇ ಹೊರತು ಬೇರೆ ಅಲ್ಲ; ಇದನ್ನು ನಿಜ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು — ಇದೇ ವೇದಾಂತ ಢಿಂಡಿಮ.

Verse 20

अन्तर्ज्योतिर्बहिर्ज्योतिः प्रत्यग्ज्योतिः परात्परः। ज्योतिर्ज्योतिः स्वयंज्योतिरात्मज्योतिः शिवोऽस्म्यहम्॥२०॥

antar-jyotir bahir-jyotiḥ pratyag-jyotiḥ parāt-paraḥ | jyotir-jyotiḥ svayaṃ-jyotir ātma-jyotiḥ śivo'smy aham ||20||

Meaning:ಅಂತರ್ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ, ಬಾಹ್ಯ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ, ಅಂತರ್ಯಾಮಿ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ, ಪರಾತ್ಪರ; ಜ್ಯೋತಿಗಳ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ, ಸ್ವಯಂಪ್ರಕಾಶ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ, ಆತ್ಮ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ — ಆ ಮಂಗಳಮಯ ಆತ್ಮ ನಾನು.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

असङ्गोऽहम्🔊asaṅgo'hamI am unattached (untouched by anything)

पुनः पुनः🔊punaḥ punaḥagain and again (repeated for emphasis)

सच्चिदानन्दरूपः🔊sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaḥof the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss (sat-chit-ananda)

अहम् एव अहम्🔊aham eva ahamI alone am I (the one undivided Self)

अव्ययः🔊avyayaḥimperishable, immutable, undecaying

नित्यशुद्धविमुक्तः🔊nitya-śuddha-vimuktaḥeternally pure and ever-free

निराकारः🔊nirākāraḥformless, without shape

भूमानन्दस्वरूपः🔊bhūmānanda-svarūpaḥof the nature of infinite, plenary bliss (bhuma)

परमानन्दरूपः🔊paramānanda-rūpaḥof the nature of supreme bliss

शुद्धचैतन्यरूपः🔊śuddha-caitanya-rūpaḥof the nature of pure consciousness

आत्मारामः🔊ātmārāmaḥever delighting in the Self

अखण्डानन्दरूपः🔊akhaṇḍānanda-rūpaḥof the nature of undivided (indivisible) bliss

प्रत्यक्चैतन्यरूपः🔊pratyak-caitanya-rūpaḥof the nature of the inner, indwelling consciousness

प्रकृतेः परः🔊prakṛteḥ paraḥbeyond Prakriti (primordial nature/matter)

तत्त्वातीतः🔊tattvātītaḥtranscending all the cosmic principles (tattvas)

मायातीतः परंज्योतिः🔊māyātītaḥ paraṃ-jyotiḥbeyond Maya, the supreme Light

गुणत्रयव्यतीतः🔊guṇa-traya-vyatītaḥtranscending the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

ब्रह्मादीनां साक्षी🔊brahmādīnāṃ sākṣīthe witness of Brahma (the creator) and all the gods

कूटस्थः सर्वगः🔊kūṭasthaḥ sarvagaḥthe changeless one, all-pervading

अकर्ता अहम् अभोक्ता अहम्🔊akartāham abhoktāhamI am the non-doer and the non-enjoyer

दृग्दृश्यौ🔊dṛg-dṛśyauthe seer and the seen (the two categories)

दृग्ब्रह्म दृश्यं माया🔊dṛg-brahma dṛśyaṃ māyāthe seer is Brahman, the seen is Maya

वेदान्तडिण्डिमः🔊vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥthis is the proclamation (drumbeat) of all Vedanta

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या🔊brahma satyaṃ jagan mithyāBrahman is real, the world is illusory (unreal)

जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः🔊jīvo brahmaiva nāparaḥthe individual soul is none other than Brahman itself

शिवोऽस्म्यहम्🔊śivo'smy ahamI am Shiva (the auspicious Self-effulgent reality)

Benefits of Chanting ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಜ್ಞಾನಾವಳಿ ಮಾಲಾ

✦

Said to bestow the knowledge of Brahman (Brahma-jnana) even upon a single attentive hearing

✦

Powerfully reinforces the great Advaitic truths 'Aham Brahmasmi' and 'Brahman is real, the world illusory'

✦

An ideal text for nididhyasana — sustained meditation on one's true Self

✦

Dissolves the false identification with body, mind, gunas and the three states (waking, dream, deep sleep)

✦

Cultivates deep, abiding peace and freedom from the three afflictions (tapatraya)

✦

Frequently used for daily Vedantic study (svadhyaya) and contemplation by seekers of liberation

How to Chant ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಜ್ಞಾನಾವಳಿ ಮಾಲಾ

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning after bath, or during meditation and Vedantic study (svadhyaya)

Sit quietly facing east or north in a calm, clean place. Recite the verses slowly, allowing each first-person affirmation ('I am the witness… I alone am the imperishable Self') to sink in. Reflect on the closing teaching 'Brahman is real, the world illusory, the soul is Brahman itself'. Even a single careful recitation is said to be fruitful; many recite it daily as part of contemplation and Self-enquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions

It means 'a garland (mala) of a series (avali) of (verses giving) the knowledge (jnana) of Brahman'. It is a string of verses, each a 'gem', affirming the seeker's identity with the infinite, imperishable Self.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the foremost teacher of Advaita Vedanta. The very first verse declares that it is meant 'for the liberation of all' and that Brahma-jnana may arise 'merely by hearing it once' (sakrit shravana matrena).

It means 'I alone am I, the imperishable'. After each description of the Self as pure, free, blissful and formless, the verse drives home that this very Self — undecaying and one without a second — is what 'I' truly am.

It is the celebrated summary of Advaita Vedanta found in this hymn: 'Brahman is real, the world is illusory, and the individual soul is none other than Brahman.' It captures the entire teaching in a single line and is called the 'drumbeat of all Vedanta'.