Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma
Shantam Shivam adveitam Brahma
Anand rupam amritam yat vibhuti
Ekam eva vityiam Brahman
Brahman, the Lord, or Self, is truth, knowledge, infinity
Brahman is peace, auspiciousness and non-duality
He who manifests as blissful and immortal
He is one, without a second
(Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1.1)
This particular Mantra is a declaration of adoration for Brahman - it follows the succinct words of the Taittiriya Upanishad to honour and revere the highest principle, Self, God, Brahman. It is
the highest Vedic prayer of worship.
Brahman is a Sanskrit word that means the highest universal principle, the essence of everything experienceable and yet unseen; it is also called the cosmic soul, the creative principle that is manifested in the whole world, the ultimate or Absolute Reality. It is derived from the Sanskrit root 'brh', which means to grow or expand.
Brahman is that which grows and causes other things to grow. As such It is the source of all that exists and is present in all that exists in the world.
In the Upanishads, reaching knowledge of Brahman is the central theme.
In the context of yoga, Brahman is an understanding that the yogi hopes to reach through spiritual yoga practice, through asanas, pranayama, mantras and meditation. This Mantra is traditionally chanted at the close of the day.
Brahman does not mean the Hindu god Brahma, the God of creation. Nor does it refer to a Brahmin, a class that is a part of the Hindu caste system.