The Mahāvākyas (sing

mahāvākyam, महावाक्यम्; plural: mahāvākyāni, महावाक्यानि) are “The Great Sayings” of the Upanishads, as characterized by the Advaita school of Vedanta with mahā meaning great and vākya, a sentence

Most commonly, Mahāvākyas are considered four in number, Tat Tvam Asi (तत् त्वम् असि) - traditionally rendered as “That Thou Art” (that you are), (Chandogya Upanishad 6

8

7 of the Sama Veda, with tat in Ch

U

6

8

7 referring to sat, “the Existent”); correctly translated as “That’s how [thus] you are,” with tat in Ch

U

6

12

3 referring to “the very nature of all existence as permeated by [the finest essence]” Aham Brahman Asmi (अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि) - “I am Brahman”, or “I am Divine” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1

4

10 of the Yajur Veda) Prajnanam Brahma (प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म) - “Prajñāna is Brahman”, or “Brahman is Prajñāna” (Aitareya Upanishad 3

3 of the Rig Veda) Ayam Atma Brahma (अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म) - “This Self (Atman) is Brahman” (Mandukya Upanishad 1

2 of the Atharva Veda)Those statements are interpreted as supporting the insight that the individual self (jiva) which appears as a separate existence, is in essence (atman) part and manifestation of the whole (Brahman)