Mandukya Upanishad & The 4 States of Consciousness (AUM Meditation)

The Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest of the twelve major (*Mukhya*) Upanishads, consisting of only twelve terse Sanskrit verses (Wikipedia). Yet, according to classical Advaita Vedanta, mastering the Mandukya alone is sufficient to grant direct self-realization (*Moksha*).

In this master guide, we explore how the Mandukya maps human experience across four distinct states of consciousness and explains why meditating on the sacred syllable AUM awakens the non-dual witness Self (*Atman*).

What are the 4 states of consciousness in the Mandukya Upanishad?

The Mandukya Upanishad outlines four states of human consciousness symbolized by AUM: Jagrat (Waking state / A), Swapna (Dream state / U), Sushupti (Deep dreamless sleep / M), and Turiya (The underlying non-dual witness consciousness / Silence). Realizing Turiya is the ultimate goal of Advaita Vedanta and Meditation.

Research in modern neuroscience confirms that transitions between waking focus, dreaming REM, and deep slow-wave sleep correspond to distinct EEG brainwave frequencies (PubMed).

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The 4 States of Consciousness (*Chatuspad*)

The Mandukya Upanishad categorizes human experience into four quarters (*Padas*):

| State of Consciousness | Sanskrit Name | Symbol | Brainwave / EEG State | Physical & Spiritual Realm | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. Waking State | *Jagrat* | A | Beta / Alpha (12–30 Hz) | External physical world (*Vaishvanara*), sensory perception | | 2. Dream State | *Swapna* | U | Theta (4–8 Hz) | Internal mental world (*Taijasa*), subtle thoughts & desires | | 3. Deep Sleep State | *Sushupti* | M | Delta (0.5–4 Hz) | Unmanifest causal realm (*Prajna*), bliss without duality | | 4. Pure Witness | *Turiya* | Silence | Gamma synchrony (40+ Hz) | Non-dual universal Self (*Atman/Brahman*), pure awareness |

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1. Jagrat (The Waking State) In *Jagrat*, consciousness is directed outward through the five senses (*Indriyas*). We experience the physical body and external universe. Here, identity is bound to ego and physical form.

2. Swapna (The Dream State) In *Swapna*, external senses shut down, but the mind projects an internal dream world using stored impressions (*Samskaras*). The dreamer experiences pleasure and pain without physical objects.

3. Sushupti (The Deep Sleep State) In *Sushupti*, both external senses and internal mental projections dissolve into stillness. There is no desire, fear, or duality—only pure unmanifest potential and peace. However, ignorance (*Avidya*) remains in seed form.

4. Turiya (The Fourth State - Pure Awareness) *Turiya* is not a temporary state; it is the permanent, non-dual witness (*Sakshi*) that underlies waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. It is eternal, birthless, and infinite.

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This article is based on the traditional Vedanta, Yoga, and Indian philosophy curriculum taught by Yogacharya Aravind Prasad at Samyut Yoga Mysore.