Formulae for Nirguna Meditation

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation

by Swami Sivananda

Asangoham – I am unattached Om Om Om
Achintyoham – I am unthinkable Om Om Om
Ajoham – I am unborn Om Om Om
Ajaroham – I am without decay Om Om Om
Akartaham – I am non-doer Om Om Om
Abhoktaham – I am non-enjoyer Om Om Om
Aksharoham – I am imperishable Om Om Om
Agrahyoham – I am ungraspable Om Om Om
Achyutoham – I am changeless Om Om Om
Anantoham – I am infinite Om Om Om
Advaitoham – I am one without a second Om Om Om
Anamayoham – I am diseaseless Om Om Om
Atindriyoham – I am beyond the senses Om Om Om
Amaroham – I am immortal Om Om Om
Avyayoham – I am inexhaustible Om Om Om
Avyapadesyoham – I am indescribable Om Om Om
Aprameyoham – I am immeasurable Om Om Om
Avangmanogochroham – I am unattain�able by
speech and mind Om Om Om
Akhandaikarasa-chinmatroham – I am the one
undivided essence of consciousness alone Om Om Om
Antaratmaham – I am the inner Self Om Om Om
Paramatmaham – I am the supreme Self Om Om Om
Paripurnoham – I am all-full Om Om Om
Nityoham – I am eternal Om Om Om
Suddhoham I am pure Om Om Om
Siddhoham – I am perfect Om Om Om
Buddhoham – I am awakened Om Om Om
Muktoham – I am liberated Om Om Om
Nityabodhasvarupoham – I am of the nature of
eternal knowledge Om Om Om
Nityatriptisvarupoham – I am of the nature of
eternal satisfaction Om Om Om
Nityavijnanasvarupoham – I am of the nature of
eternal wisdom Om Om Om
Nityamuktasvarupoham – I am of the nature of
eternal freedom Om Om Om
Bhumanandasvarupoham – I am of the nature of
infinite bliss Om Om Om
Niralamboham – I am without any other support Om Om Om
Nirvikaroham – I am without modification Om Om Om
Nirviseshoham – I am without particularities Om Om Om
Nirbhayoham – I am without fear Om Om Om
Nishkriyoham – I am without action Om Om Om
Nirgunoham – I am without attributes Om Om Om
Nirakaroham – I am without shape Om Om Om
Nirmaloham – I am without impurity Om Om Om
Niranjanoham – I am spotless Om Om Om
Nirvisesha-chinmatroham – I am the unlimited
consciousness alone Om Om Om
Nishkaloham – I am without parts Om Om Om
Nirvikalpoham – I am without mental modifications Om Om Om
Niramsoham – I am without divisions or limbs Om Om Om
Desatitoham – I am transcending space Om Om Om
Kalatitoham – I am transcending time Om Om Om
Desakalavastuparichhedarahitoham – I am without
the differentiations of space, time and
individuality Om Om Om
Trigunatitoham – I am above the three qualities
of Prakriti Om Om Om
Dvandvatitoham – I am above the pairs of opposites Om Om Om
Mayatitoham – I am above Maya Om Om Om
Matrimanameyatitoham – I am above knower,
knowledge and known Om Om Om
Nadabindukalatitoham – I am above Nada, Bindu
and Kala Om Om Om
Turiyatitoham – I am above Turiya Om Om Om
Sarvatitoham – I am above all things Om Om Om
Dvaita-advaita-vihinoham – I am without duality
and non-duality Om Om Om
Bandhamuktivihinoham – I am without bondage
and liberation Om Om Om
Adimadhyantahinoham – I am without beginning,
middle and end Om Om Om
Karyakaranavarjitoham – I am different from
cause and effect Om Om Om
Namarupavivarjitoham – I am free from
name and form Om Om Om
Sadasadbhedarahitoham – I am without the
difference of being and non-being Om Om Om
Sajatiya-vijatiya-svagata-bhedarahitoham I am
without the difference of genus, and without
external or internal variety Om Om Om
Aparichhinnoham – I am without limitation Om Om Om
Akasavatsarvagatoham – I am all-pervading
like the sky Om Om Om
Kevaloham – I am alone absolute Om Om Om
Kevala-asti-rupoham – I am the embodiment of
mere existence Om Om Om
Prajnanaghanoham – I am the mass of knowledge Om Om Om
Vijnanaghanoham – I am the mass of wisdom Om Om Om
Chaitanyaghanoham – I am the mass of
consciousness Om Om Om
Chidghanoham – I am the mass of sentience Om Om Om
Anandaghanoham – I am the mass of bliss Om Om Om
Sattamatroham – I am existence alone Om Om Om
Sattasamanyoham – I am existence-in-general Om Om Om
Soham – I am He Om Om Om
Sivoham – I am Siva (auspicious, blissful) Om Om Om
Sivah Kevaloham – I am Siva, the Alone,
the Absolute Om Om Om
Svayamjyotih svarupoham – I am the embodiment
of Self-effulgence Om Om Om
Svayamprakasoham – I am Self-luminous Om Om Om
Tejomayoham – I am All-brilliance Om Om Om
Jyotirmayoham – I am All-light Om Om Om
Jyotih svarupoham – I am the embodiment of
effulgence Om Om Om
Chinmayoham – I am the embodiment of
consciousness Om Om Om
Chinmatroham – I am consciousness alone Om Om Om
Chaitanyoham – I am consciousness Om Om Om
Kutasthoham – I am immutable (rock-seated) Om Om Om
Sasvatoham – I am everlasting Om Om Om
Svaradaham – I am Self-King Om Om Om
Veda-Vedanta-vedyoham – I am what is to be known
through the Veda and Vedanta Om Om Om
Akhandananda-vigrahoham – I am the form of
undivided bliss Om Om Om
Omkarasvarupoham – I am theembodiment of
Omkara Om Om Om
Pratyagatmaham – I am the internal Self Om Om Om
Pratyaktattvoham – I am the internal Reality Om Om Om
Parabrahmaham – I am the Supreme Brahman Om Om Om
Paramanandoham – I am the Supreme Bliss Om Om Om
Chidakasalakshanoham – I am of the character of
the ether of consciousness Om Om Om
Rasanam Rasatamoham – I am the best
essence of all essences Om Om Om
Sarvadhishthanarupoham – I am of the form of the
substratum of everything Om Om Om
Sarvasunyoham – I am devoid of everything Om Om Om
Sarvapurnoham – I am filled with everything Om Om Om
Nirvanasukharupoham – I am the embodi�ment of
the bliss of Nirvana Om Om Om
Sarvatah Panipadoham – I am with hands and
feet everywhere Om Om Om
Sarvatokshisiromukhoham – I am with eyes,
heads and mouths everywhere Om Om Om
Sarvatahsrutimanaham – I am with ears
everywhere Om Om Om
Prapanchopasamoham – I am the cessation of the
appearance of the universe Om Om Om
Sariratraya-vilakshanoham – I am other than the
three bodies Om Om Om
Panchakosa-vyatiriktoham – I am different from
the five sheaths Om Om Om
Avasthatraya-sakshyaham – I am the Witness of
the three states Om Om Om
Satchidananda-svarupoham – I am the embodiment
of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Om Om Om

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation – Formless Awareness, Self-Inquiry, and Inner Silence

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation are spiritual aids that help the seeker meditate on the formless, attributeless, and infinite reality. Nirguna means without qualities, without form, without name, without limitation, and beyond all mental descriptions. Meditation on Nirguna Brahman is subtle because the mind is usually trained to think in terms of objects, forms, images, emotions, and ideas. Therefore, certain formulae are used to guide the mind beyond outer appearance and toward pure consciousness.

In ordinary meditation, many seekers use a form, name, symbol, mantra, light, or divine image as support. This is helpful and powerful for purifying the mind. But in Nirguna Meditation, the seeker turns toward that which cannot be seen by the eyes, heard by the ears, touched by the hands, or imagined by the mind. It is the pure awareness in which all experiences appear and disappear.

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation are not mechanical sentences. They are contemplative statements used for deep reflection. They help remove wrong identification with the body, mind, senses, ego, and world. The seeker repeats and reflects upon them until their meaning becomes clear. These formulae do not create truth; they reveal the truth that is already present.

One important formula is, “I am not the body.” The body is seen, felt, and known. It changes from childhood to youth and old age. It may be healthy or sick, strong or weak, comfortable or uncomfortable. Since the body is an object of awareness, it cannot be the final self. The seeker reflects again and again, “The body changes, but I am the witness of the body.”

Another formula is, “I am not the mind.” The mind thinks, doubts, remembers, imagines, desires, and fears. It becomes happy at one time and sad at another. It is restless today and calm tomorrow. Since thoughts and emotions are observed, they cannot be the true observer. This reflection helps the seeker stand apart from mental disturbance and rest in witnessing awareness.

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation also include the idea, “I am not the ego.” Ego claims, “I am the doer,” “I am the enjoyer,” “This is mine,” and “I am separate.” But ego itself is a thought rising in the mind. It appears in waking and dream, and disappears in deep sleep. The real self is present even when ego is absent. Therefore, the seeker learns to observe ego without being bound by it.

A powerful formula is, “I am pure consciousness.” This does not refer to the personality or ordinary self-image. It points to the awareness that knows the body, mind, senses, thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Consciousness is not an object among objects. It is the light because of which all objects are known. To meditate on this truth is to move toward Nirguna realization.

Another useful formula is, “I am the witness.” The seeker watches sensations, thoughts, desires, memories, and emotions as passing movements. Pleasure comes and goes. Pain comes and goes. Praise and blame come and go. Success and failure come and go. But the witnessing awareness remains unchanged. This formula brings steadiness, detachment, and inner peace.

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation may also include the great Vedantic declarations such as “Aham Brahmasmi,” “Tat Tvam Asi,” “Ayam Atma Brahma,” and “Prajnanam Brahma.” These Mahavakyas point to the identity of the true self with Brahman. They should not be repeated with egoistic pride. Their purpose is to dissolve the false ego and reveal the pure, infinite self.

The seeker may meditate on the formula, “I am existence, consciousness, and bliss.” Existence means that the self never becomes non-existent. Consciousness means that the self is the light of awareness. Bliss means that the self is full and peaceful by nature. This bliss is not emotional excitement; it is the deep completeness that remains when desire and ignorance become quiet.

Nirguna Meditation also uses negation. The seeker reflects, “Not this, not this.” I am not the body, not the senses, not the mind, not the intellect, not the ego, not pleasure, not pain, not birth, not death. This process removes false layers of identity. When all that is changing is negated, the changeless witness shines by itself.

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation require purity of mind. A restless and impure mind cannot remain steady in formless contemplation. Truthfulness, self-control, compassion, humility, simple living, devotion, and selfless service prepare the mind. Without purity, the formulae remain only words. With purity, they become living pointers to truth.

The practice should be done with patience. At first, the mind may feel empty or confused because it is used to forms and objects. The seeker should not force the mind harshly. They should sit calmly, repeat the chosen formula, reflect on its meaning, and rest in silence. Gradually, the mind becomes subtle and inward.

A good method is to combine enquiry with meditation. Ask, “Who am I?” Then observe what appears. The body appears, but I know it. Thoughts appear, but I know them. Emotions appear, but I know them. The ego appears, but I know it. Who is the knower? This enquiry leads the mind back to pure awareness.

Formulae for Nirguna Meditation should also influence daily life. If a person meditates on pure consciousness but lives with anger, pride, jealousy, and selfishness, the practice remains incomplete. The understanding of the witness should bring calmness in difficulty, humility in success, patience in relationships, and detachment in action.

In the end, Formulae for Nirguna Meditation are sacred tools for turning the mind from name and form toward the formless truth. They help the seeker remove false identification and recognize the self as pure consciousness. Through negation, enquiry, contemplation, purity, and silence, the mind becomes calm and transparent. When the formulae have done their work, even words become quiet, and the seeker rests in the direct awareness of the infinite, attributeless reality.

What is Karma?