The Advaita Mantra refers to a class of mantras rooted in the non-dual (advaita) philosophy of Vedanta, which teaches the identity of the individual self (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). These mantras are primarily derived from the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and later Advaita texts such as the works of Shankaracharya. The most prominent among them are the Mahavakyas or 'great sayings' found in the Upanishads: 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman) from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10, 'Tat Tvam Asi' (That Thou Art) from the Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7, and 'Prajnanam Brahma' (Consciousness is Brahman) from the Aitareya Upanishad 3.1.3. Another key mantra is 'Om Tat Sat' from the Bhagavad Gita 17.23, which encapsulates the triple designation of the absolute.
These mantras are not associated with a personal deity but with the formless Brahman or Atman. They are chanted for the realization of non-duality, the dissolution of the ego, and the attainment of liberation (moksha). The beej-akshara 'Om' is often prefixed, representing the primordial sound and the substratum of all existence. According to the Mandukya Upanishad, Om encompasses the four states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and turiya (the fourth, non-dual state).
The traditional purpose of these mantras is to shift the practitioner's identification from the body-mind complex to the universal Self. They are recommended for chanting during meditation, especially at dawn or dusk, in a quiet setting. The count is not fixed, but repetition (japa) is often done in multiples of 108. No specific cautions are given, but the practitioner should approach with a sincere desire for self-knowledge and under the guidance of a qualified teacher, as the mantras can be intellectually challenging.
The Advaita Mantra is central to the study of Vedantic texts and is worshiped through study and contemplation rather than ritual. It is revered pan-India and globally among followers of Advaita Vedanta.
Om, That, Reality — the triple designation of the Absolute.
The mantra begins with the seed-syllable 'Oṁ', which according to the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad encompasses all states of consciousness and is the sound-form of Brahman.