TAT TWAM ASI (THAT THOU ART) Chandogya Upanishad

The Upanishads, according to the Vedantic tradition enshrine many ‘ Maha Vakyas’ which declare the universal message in the form of concise and terse statements. Though many Maha vakyas are present, four of them, one from each of the four Vedas are mentioned as “the Maha Vakyas'. The four Upanishadic statements indicate the ultimate unity of the Individual Soul (Atman) with the Supreme Soul( Brahman). The ‘Maha Vakyas' are: ‘Pragnanam Brahma’ from Aitareya Upanishad, ‘ Ayamatma Brahma’ from Mandukyopanishad, ‘ Tat Twam Asi’ from Chandogya Upanishad, and ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.The sixth prapitica of Chandogya Upanishad contains the key to all knowledge, the famous “ Tat Twam Asi”-(That Thou Art) precept. This Vakya is regarded by the scholars as the sum total of all Upanishadic teachings! Chandogya Upanishad establishes the significance of the statement through the conversation between  Swetaketu and his learned father Uddalaka Aruni. It is seen that the Vakya is repeated nine times at the end of sections of 6.8 through 6.16 of the Upanishad! A few statements are given below:

“ The universe consists of what that finest essence is, it is the soul, that thou art, O Swataketu! This whole world has that as its soul. That is readily that is Atman (Soul) That Art Thou, Swetaketu! That is the truth. That is the Self. In that way are you Swetaketu!”

Uddalaka Aruni sends his 24 year old son Swetaketu Aruneya to school since none in the family attended the school. After 12 years, completing his studies in sasthras and other classics and scriptures, Swetaketu returns. Uddalaka asks Swetaketu if he had studied and learnt that “by which we perceive what cannot be perceived, we know what cannot be known”. Swetaketu admits that he hasn’t  and enquires what it is. His father, Uddalaka, through 16 volumes of  verses of Chandogya Upanishad explains to his son the essential truth. A mass of clay is the essence. But it takes many forms like pots of different sizes and colors.  Gold is the essence but jewels and adornments are many. Milk is the essence but it is from different cows. Atma is one but manifests in different bodies! The form and other qualities alone change but not the essence. Uddalaka says that the universe cannot emerge from nothing! There was one Sat-reality, Truth without a second!  It sent forth heat to grow and multiply. Heat produced water and it multiplied

to give water. Water multiplying produced food! Life emerges through three routes, an egg, direct birth of a living being and sprouting from seeds. The Sat enters these giving them their individuality.

Heat, food, and water nourish all living beings regardless of the route through which they are born. Each of these nourishments has three constituents. They are coarse, medium and the finest essence. Coarse material becomes waste, medium builds the body, and the finest nourishes the mind. Mind depends on the body and proper food while breath depends on hydrating the body. Voice depends on warmth in the body. These are not the leads! It is the Sat inside, Real Self,  the Soul- Atman is the root! It is the essence! It is at the core of all living beings -- It is real. It is True, it is the Self and Thou Art That Swetaketu! Uddalaka Aruni thus explains to his son Swetaketu, the inner significance of creation, living beings and other creatures. The Upanishad does not stop at this. Through Uddalaka, it expatiates with several illustrations the identity of the inner essence with the Supreme Brahman.  (Continued)