Atma Shatakam – a passage to self-realization

Atma Shatakam or Nirvana Shatakam is a beautiful composition written by the Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya around 788-820 CE. It is said that that when Adi Shankara was a young boy of eight and wandering near River Narmada, seeking to find his guru, he encountered the seer Gaudapada who asked him, “Who are you?” The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as “Nirvana Shatakam” or “Atma Shatakam”. “Nirvāṇa” is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. “Ātma” is the True Self. It is a composition consisting of 6 fold shlokas (and hence the name Ṣhaṭ-ka to mean six-fold).

It is believed that this composition summarizes the basic teachings of non-dualism. However, to me, it is much more than that. Listening to Atma Shatakam is in itself an intensely meditative experience that offers a gentle and yet powerful passage to self-realization. It’s a guidance of sorts – through awareness and acceptance of my gross physical existence to appreciating its insignificance in defining my true self and finally acknowledging who I truly am. The composition helps me in moving away from identifying myself with my mind-body existence and experiencing the bliss of merging with pure awareness. Like the thresh-hold of a temple that one has to cross to be able to reach the sanctum sanctorum I also need to go through the illusion of who I think I am to know who I truly am. Through the rest of this article I shall endeavor to explain how each of the six stanzas is experienced by me, while listening to the composition in a meditative state.

Mano BuddhyA-hankara ChittaNi naahamNacha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghrana Netre

Nacha Vyoma Bhoomir Na Tejo Na Vayuh Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!!

I am aware of my mind, intellect, ego and memory through which I comprehend this world. I am aware of my senses through which I perceive this world. I am also aware that I and the world around me are constituted of the five elements.

I however accept that I am neither of these. I am the one who is aware of these and in being aware I am now the one who, like Shiva, is eternally blissful.

Na Cha Prana Sangyo Na Vai Pancha Vayu Na Vaa Sapta dhatur Na Vaa Pancha Koshah

Na Vak Pani Padam Na Chopastha Payu Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!!

I am aware of my breath, my life force, and the bodies of energy that keep me alive. I am aware of the seven compounds and the five sheaths of which my mind-body existence is made. I am also aware of the parts of my body that make me function.

I however accept that I am neither of these. I am the one who is aware of these and in being aware I am now the one who, like Shiva, is eternally blissful.

Na Me Dvesha Ragau Na Me Lobha Mohau Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya Bhavah

Na Dharmo Na Chartho Na Kamo Na Mokshah Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!!

I am not beyond the virtues and vices that any ordinary man is endowed with. I am aware of my hatred, my anger, my greed, my desires, my addictions and my envy as much as I am of my duties, my wealth, my pleasures and my liberties.

I however accept that I am neither of these. I am the one who is aware of these and in being aware I am now the one who, like Shiva, is eternally blissful.

Na Punyam Na Papam Na Saukhyam Na Dukham Na Mantro Na Teertham Na Veda Na Yajnaha

Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhokta Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!!

I still am very much in the ambit of what I believe are sin and salvation and religion and rituals. As I am still caught in the pendulous experiencing of happiness and sorrow. Yet, I know and I am aware that I am not the experienced, neither the one who experiences nor the experiencing.

I am the one who is aware of these and in being aware I am now the one who, like Shiva, is eternally blissful.

Na Me Mrityu Shanka Na Me Jati Bhedah Pita Naiva Me Naiva Mata Na Janma

Na Bandhur Na Mitram Gurur Naiva Shishyah Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!!

I am not beyond the dread of death. Nor am I oblivious to distinctions in race and lineage. Yet I am aware of transience and illusory nature of it all – friends and relationships, master and disciple, my father, my mother and my birth – and in being aware I am now the one who, like Shiva, is eternally blissful.

Aham Nirvikalpo Nirakaara Roopah Vibhur Vyapya Sarvatra Sarvendriyanaam

Sada Me Samatvam Na Mukthir Na Bandhah,Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!!

Steeped in self-awareness, devoid of all identification I have no substitute, neither any shape nor form. I am omnipresent and omnipotent pervading all senses for I am neither free nor bound. In being aware I am now the one who, like Shiva, is eternally blissful.

Shivoham! Shivoham!!