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Dear friends,
We start with the shortest of the Upanishads, the Mandukya Upanishad. Rightfully it extols the virtues of the Pranava Mantra "AUM".
In twelve verses it states that one can reach self realisation.
Varadarajan
The Mandukya Upanishad belongs to the Atharvaveda. Although it contains only 12 verses, the Mandukya Upanishad occupies an important place in the development of Indian philosophical thought, following a commentary or Karika on it by Gaudapada, who is believed to be a teacher of Adi Shankaracharya's teacher
Mandukya Upanishad – 12 Verses on AUM
Pure Consciousness seems to play as waves of beauty, so does Atman appear to play as if it has four aspects; Waking, Dreaming, Deep Sleep and Turiya (this means “the fourth”). This Upanishad, that is all about AUM, only counts 12 verses. It shows us the four apparent states, level, or planes of Consciousness in which the Atman seems to play; Vaishvanara (or Visva), Taijasa, Prajna and Turiya in relation to AUM mantra. It presents all the channels and instruments through which manifestation (maya) seems to exist and through which Atman seems to experience the apparent manifestation.
By contemplating and witnessing these levels, channels and instruments (see also Yogic Self-awareness Assessment) they are seen as parts of the not-self, leading the student to the real Self, to Atman. Eventually the understanding comes that Atman and Brahman are one and the same, which is also called Yoga. If one would be able to fully grasp what is offered in this Upanishad, one needs to know no more, because Self-realization would have been attained. In the Yoga Sutras AUM has been offered as a direct route, thus this Upanishad, that is all about AUM, is the direct route for Self-realization.
Here we find the " Maha vaakya', considered as the essence of the Atharva Veda,: "AYAM ATMA BRAHMA" , " Atman and Brahman are the same".