Who Am I

Who Am I

Nirvana Shatakam Lyrics and Meaning

Nirvana Shatakam, composed by Adi Shankara himself, embodies the spiritual pursuit. Here are the lyrics and meaning of this timeless composition.

Sadhguru looks at the significance of the Nirvana Shatakam chant and explores what is being conveyed through it.

Sadhguru: Nirvana means “formless.” The Nirvana Shatakam is towards this – you don’t want to be either this or that. If you don’t want to be this nor that, then what do you want to be? Your mind cannot understand this because your mind always wants to be something. If I say, “I don’t want to be this; I don’t want to be that,” you would think, “Oh something super!” Not super. “Oh, so emptiness?” Not emptiness. “Nothingness?” Not nothingness. That’s what is being conveyed through this chant.

Nirvana Shatakam Lyrics

1.
Mano buddhya-haṅkāra chittāni nāham
Na cha shrotra jihve na cha ghrāṇa netre
Na cha vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuh
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥1॥

2.
Na cha prāṇa sañjño na vai pancha vāyuh
Na vā sapta dhātur na vā pancha kośah
Na vāk pāṇi pādam na chopastha pāyu
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥2॥

3.
Na me dvesha rāgau na me lobha mohau
Mado naiva me naiva mātsarya bhāvah
Na dharmo na chārtho na kāmo na moksha
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥3॥

4.
Na puṇyam na pāpam na saukhyam na duḥkham
Na mantro na tīrtham na vedā na yajñāh
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktā
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥4॥

5.
Na mṛtyur na śaṅkā na me jāti bhedah
Pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janmah
Na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva śishya
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥5॥

6.
Aham nirvikalpo nirākāra rūpo
Vibhu tvāccha sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām
Na chāsaṅgatam naiva muktir na meyah
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥6॥

Who Am I – The Deep Inquiry into Self and Inner Truth

Who Am I is one of the most powerful spiritual questions a seeker can ask. It looks simple on the surface, but it opens the door to the deepest truth of life. Most people answer this question by giving their name, family, profession, body, religion, nationality, or personal story. But all these are changing identities. The real Self is deeper than every label.

The body changes from childhood to youth, from youth to old age, and finally it returns to nature. Thoughts also change every moment. Emotions rise and fall like waves. Roles in life keep changing according to time and circumstance. If all these are changing, then the seeker must ask whether they can truly be the real “I.”

Who Am I teaches us to look beyond the surface personality. We usually say, “I am happy,” “I am sad,” “I am successful,” or “I am a failure.” But happiness and sadness come and go. Success and failure are only passing experiences. The one who knows these experiences is different from them. That witnessing presence is closer to the real Self.

Spiritual inquiry begins when a person becomes tired of living only through outer identity. Wealth, praise, pleasure, and position may give temporary satisfaction, but they cannot answer the deepest hunger of the soul. The heart longs for something permanent, peaceful, and true. This longing turns the mind inward.

Who Am I is not merely an intellectual question. It must be lived, observed, and meditated upon. The seeker watches the body, senses, thoughts, and emotions carefully. Slowly, one begins to see that all these are objects of awareness. The body is known, thoughts are known, emotions are known, but the knower remains silent and steady.

This inquiry removes false identification. When a person thinks, “I am only the body,” fear of disease, aging, and death becomes strong. When one thinks, “I am only the mind,” every thought creates disturbance. But when the seeker begins to recognize the witnessing awareness, fear becomes weaker and inner freedom begins to awaken.

The practice requires patience and honesty. The mind may not become silent immediately. Old habits, desires, worries, and memories may arise again and again. The seeker should not become discouraged. Each time attention returns to the inner witness, the power of false identity becomes weaker.

Who Am I also brings humility. The ego claims ownership over knowledge, talent, success, and action. It says, “I am the doer, I control everything.” But deeper reflection shows that life is supported by countless visible and invisible forces. Breath, intelligence, opportunity, strength, and grace are not created by ego. This understanding softens pride.

Meditation helps this inquiry become clear. Sit quietly, observe the breath, and watch the movement of thoughts without becoming involved. Ask inwardly, “To whom has this thought come?” The answer arises, “To me.” Then inquire, “Who is this me?” This simple turning inward can gradually lead the mind toward silence.

The real Self is not an object that can be seen like a thing outside. It is the very awareness by which all things are known. It is not born with the body and does not become old with age. It is silent, luminous, peaceful, and present in all experiences. To realize this is the essence of spiritual wisdom.

Who Am I guides the seeker from ego to awareness. Ego creates separation, comparison, fear, pride, and attachment. Awareness brings peace, unity, compassion, and freedom. When the false “I” becomes weak, the heart becomes more loving and less defensive. Life is then lived with greater simplicity and clarity.

This inquiry should also reflect in conduct. A person cannot claim higher knowledge while living with anger, dishonesty, cruelty, and selfishness. True understanding purifies daily life. Speech becomes gentle, actions become thoughtful, desires become moderate, and the heart becomes compassionate. Self-knowledge must become character.

The question also helps reduce suffering. Much pain comes from clinging to temporary identities. When people insult the ego, we suffer. When situations change, we feel broken. But when the seeker rests more deeply in the witnessing Self, outer changes lose some of their power. Peace begins to arise from within.

The path does not reject devotion. Prayer, surrender, mantra, service, and love of God can support self-inquiry beautifully. Devotion purifies the heart, and inquiry clarifies the mind. Together, they help the seeker move beyond ego and experience the Divine presence within.

In the end, Who Am I is the sacred inquiry that leads the soul from false identity to true Self-knowledge. Through meditation, discrimination, purity, devotion, humility, and steady reflection, the seeker discovers that the real Self is not the changing body or restless mind, but pure awareness. This realization brings peace, freedom, wisdom, and liberation.