The term 'Nirvikalpa Samadhi' refers to the highest state of meditative absorption in which all mental modifications (vrittis) cease, and the distinction between subject and object dissolves. This state is described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (1.51) as 'sarvārtha-śūnyatā' or emptiness of all objects, and is the culmination of the practice of samprajñāta samādhi. The Upanishads, such as the Mandukya Upanishad (verse 7), allude to this state as the fourth (turiya) beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, where non-duality (advaita) is realized. The mantras associated with Nirvikalpa Samadhi are not conventional chants with specific deities but are often seed syllables (bīja) or phrases that quiet the mind.
For example, the mantra 'Om' is considered the primordial sound that leads to absorption, as stated in the Mandukya Upanishad: 'Om ity etad akṣaram idaṃ sarvaṃ' (Om is all this). Another common mantra is 'So'ham' (I am That), which is used in the practice of ajapa-japa to merge individual consciousness with universal consciousness. According to the Advaita tradition, the repetition of 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman) from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.10) serves as a direct affirmation of non-duality. The purpose of these mantras is to transcend all conceptualization (vikalpa) and abide in the formless self.
Chanting is typically done in a quiet, solitary setting, often during the brahma muhurta (pre-dawn hours), with a count of 108 or 1008 repetitions using a rudraksha mala. The practitioner should be well-established in preliminary practices (sadhana) and have a steady mind, as premature attempts can lead to confusion or mental imbalance. No specific deity worship is involved; the focus is on the self (Atman) as identical with Brahman. The scriptures caution that this path requires a qualified guru and rigorous discipline, as described in the Yoga Sutras (1.21-22) regarding the intensity of practice.
The state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi is considered the highest goal of yoga and Vedanta, leading to liberation (moksha) while still alive (jivanmukti).
Salutations to the formless, to the state of non-dual absorption.
The mantra begins with the seed syllable 'Oṁ', which is the primary bīja for absorption into Brahman. 'Nirvikalpa' itself is not a seed syllable but a descriptive term.