Mandukya Upanishad Teachings: Easy Explaination

Short Answer

The Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest of the principal Upanishads, containing only 12 verses, yet it is considered sufficient for liberation . It belongs to the Atharva Veda . The core teaching is that the sacred syllable AUM represents all of existence and the four states of consciousness. The Upanishad reveals that the individual self (Atman) is identical to ultimate reality (Brahman) . Its famous declaration “Ayam Atma Brahma” (This Self is Brahman) is one of the four Mahavakyas of Vedanta . The Muktika Upanishad declares that this single text alone is enough for those seeking liberation .

In one line: The 12 verses of the Mandukya Upanishad map the whole of existence through AUM and reveal your true Self.

Key points:

• Only 12 verses long—shortest of principal Upanishads
• Declared sufficient for liberation (Muktika Upanishad)
• Teaches four states of consciousness through AUM
• Contains Mahavakya: “Ayam Atma Brahma” (This Self is Brahman)
• Gaudapada’s Karika (commentary) established it as foundational Advaita text

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Part 1: AUM—The Syllable That Is Everything

The Upanishad begins with a powerful declaration: “AUM, this syllable is all this” . Past, present, future—everything beyond time—is AUM .

AUM as All States of Time:

Aspect	Meaning
‘A’	Past, present, future—all that exists in time
‘U’	The continuum connecting past to future
‘M’	The silence beyond—that which transcends time

“All that is the past, the present and the future, all this is only the syllable Aum. And whatever else there is beyond the threefold time, that too is only the syllable Aum.” — Mandukya Upanishad 1.1

For a complete guide to the Mandukya Upanishad, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Divine Truth Unveiled: Hidden Secrets of Gaudapada’s Mandukya Karika provides a modern, accessible commentary on this profound text.

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Part 2: The Four States of Consciousness

The Four Quarters of the Self

The Upanishad describes the Self (Atman) as having four quarters . Each quarter corresponds to a letter of AUM and a state of consciousness.

Quarter	Letter	State	Characteristics
First	‘A’	Waking (Jagrat)	Outward consciousness, experiences gross objects
Second	‘U’	Dream (Svapna)	Inward consciousness, experiences subtle objects
Third	‘M’	Deep Sleep (Sushupti)	Unified consciousness, mass of cognition, blissful
Fourth	Silence	Turiya	Beyond all three, non-dual, the Self itself

State 1: Waking (Vaishvanara)

The first state is waking consciousness . The self experiences outer objects through the senses. It is called “Vaishvanara” (common to all men) and knows the physical world. The self in this state experiences gross material objects. This corresponds to the letter ‘A’ of AUM—the first element, from “ap” (to obtain) .

State 2: Dream (Taijasa)

The second state is dream consciousness . The self turns inward, experiencing subtle objects created by the mind. It is called “Taijasa” (brilliant) because it shines with inner light. This corresponds to the letter ‘U’ of AUM—the second element, from “utkarsa” (exaltation) .

State 3: Deep Sleep (Prajna)

The third state is deep sleep . The self desires nothing, sees no dreams. It is a mass of consciousness, blissful, unified. It is called “Prajna” (consciousness). This corresponds to the letter ‘M’ of AUM—the third element, from “miti” (measuring) or from “apiti” (annihilation).

State 4: Turiya (The Fourth)

The fourth state is Turiya—not another state like the others . It is the substratum underlying and transcending waking, dream, and deep sleep.

It is described as :

• “Not that which cognizes the internal”—not inward-turned like dream
• “Not that which cognizes the external”—not outward-turned like waking
• “Not what cognizes both”
• “Not a mass of cognition”—not like deep sleep
• “Unseen, incapable of being spoken of, ungraspable, without distinctive marks, unthinkable, unnameable”
• “The essence of the knowledge of the one Self”
• “Peaceful, benign, non-dual”

This fourth quarter corresponds to the silence after AUM—the element-less, beyond all speech.

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Part 3: The Seven Limbs and Nineteen Mouths

The Mandukya Upanishad describes the self in the waking and dream states as having “seven limbs and nineteen mouths” .

Component	What It Represents
Seven Limbs	Head (heaven), eye (sun), breath (air), etc.—the cosmic manifestation
Nineteen Mouths	5 sense organs, 5 action organs, 5 pranas, mind, intellect, ego (ahamkara), subconscious (chitta)

Traditional yoga interprets the seven limbs as the six chakras plus Sahasrara . The nineteen mouths are the instruments through which the self experiences the world.

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Part 4: “Ayam Atma Brahma”—This Self Is Brahman

The Mandukya Upanishad verse 1.2 declares one of the four Mahavakyas (great statements) of Vedanta :

“Ayam Atma Brahma”—”This Self is Brahman.”

This statement :

• Identifies the individual self (Atman) with ultimate reality (Brahman)
• Removes the distinction between “me” and “everything”
• Is the highest realization—knowing this is liberation

“All ãtmãs are brahmarup, or aksharrup. This is a lofty principle on the spiritual path.”

The Upanishad teaches that to realize this, one must first understand the three states (waking, dream, deep sleep) and see oneself as separate from them . Only then can one attain the fourth state—brãhmic consciousness.

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Part 5: How One Mantra Per State Leads to Liberation

The Path Through AUM

The Upanishad prescribes a meditation practice using AUM :

Stage	Meditation	Result
On ‘A’	Meditate on waking state	Obtain all desires, become first
On ‘U’	Meditate on dream state	Exalt knowledge, become equal
On ‘M’	Meditate on deep sleep	Measure all, merge all
On silence	Abide in Turiya	Enter the Self—liberation

Why One Upanishad Is Enough

The Muktika Upanishad declares :

“Mandukyam ekam eva alam mumukshunam vimuktaye”
“For a sincere aspirant of Liberation, the Mandukya alone is sufficient.”

This is because the Mandukya maps the entire range of human experience—waking, dream, deep sleep—and points directly to what transcends them. It needs no elaborate philosophy. It needs no lengthy scripture. It needs only sincere inquiry.

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Part 6: Gaudapada’s Karika—Foundational Advaita Text

The philosopher Gaudapada (c. 6th-7th century CE) wrote a 215-verse commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad called the Mandukya Karika . This became the earliest systematic exposition of Advaita Vedanta and was later commented on by Adi Shankara .

Gaudapada’s four chapters :

Chapter	Focus
Agama Prakarana	Based on scripture—exposition of the four states
Vaitathya Prakarana	Illusory nature of the world—neither waking nor dream is ultimately real
Advaita Prakarana	Non-duality—the Self alone exists
Alatasanti Prakarana	Non-creation (Ajativada)—nothing was ever born

Gaudapada introduced two revolutionary doctrines :

• Ajativada (Non-creation) : Nothing has ever truly come into existence
• Asparshayoga (Touchless Yoga) : The direct abidance in non-duality without “touching” duality

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Part 7: Common Questions

Why is the Mandukya Upanishad considered so important despite being so short?
Because it condenses the entire non-dual philosophy into essence. The four states of consciousness—mapped onto AUM—cover the full range of human experience and point directly to what transcends it . The Muktika Upanishad says this single text is sufficient for liberation .

What is the difference between the Mandukya Upanishad and Gaudapada’s Karika?
The Upanishad is the original scripture (12 verses). Gaudapada’s Karika is a 215-verse philosophical commentary on it . The Karika established Advaita Vedanta as a systematic philosophy and is the foundation for Shankara’s commentary .

How does AUM relate to the four states?
‘A’ represents waking, ‘U’ represents dream, ‘M’ represents deep sleep. The silence after (or the syllable as a whole) represents Turiya—the fourth beyond all states .

What is the practical takeaway from this Upanishad?
Investigate your own consciousness. Ask: Who is aware in waking? Who dreams? Who sleeps peacefully? Trace awareness to its source. That source—the witness of all three states—is Turiya. That is your true Self .

Is the Mandukya Upanishad influenced by Buddhism?
Some scholars note Buddhist terms like “prapancopasama” in the text . Others argue the core teaching of a permanent Self (Atman) is fundamentally non-Buddhist. The debate continues, but for Advaita Vedanta, the Upanishad is a foundational scripture of non-duality .

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Summary

The Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest principal Upanishad—only 12 verses—yet it is declared sufficient for liberation. It teaches that the sacred syllable AUM represents all of existence: ‘A’ is the waking state, ‘U’ is dream, ‘M’ is deep sleep. The silence after is Turiya—the fourth, the Self itself. The famous Mahavakya “Ayam Atma Brahma” (This Self is Brahman) removes the distinction between individual and universe. Gaudapada’s Karika (215 verses) expanded this into the earliest systematic Advaita treatise, introducing Ajativada (non-creation) and Asparshayoga. Practice is simple: meditate on ‘A’ as waking, ‘U’ as dream, ‘M’ as sleep, then rest in silence. That silence is Turiya. That is what you are. Liberation is not somewhere else—it is recognizing the witness of all three states. The Mandukya gives you the map. Inquiry takes you home.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.