Kshara, Akshara, and Avyaya

The 16th mantra of the Dwitiya Valli of the first chapter of Kathopanishad -

एतद्ध्येवाक्षरं ब्रह्म एतद्ध्येवाक्षरं परम् ।

एतद्ध्येवाक्षरं ज्ञात्वा यो यदिच्छति तस्य तत् ॥

This very syllable is Brahman; this very syllable is supreme.

Knowing this very syllable, whatever one desires, that (desire) is fulfilled.

There are three levels of existence:

Kshara (the perishable):
Think of 'kshara' as anything that takes a form and can fade away or dissolve. It has a certain lifespan. Objects, thoughts, and concepts in our changing world are all 'kshara.' They come into being, exist for a while, and then pass away.

Akshara (the imperishable in action):
'Akshara' is the principle or power that never vanishes—it is the enduring source of all movement and manifestation in the world. Even though forms come and go, 'akshara' remains as the active, creative force behind them. You can think of 'akshara' as the engine that keeps reappearing in different ways, giving rise to ever-new expressions.

Avyaya (the unchanging foundation):
'Avyaya' is the highest reality that never changes at all. It is like an infinite sky that simply is. Nothing can alter it. Although everything in the universe (kshara) appears and disappears, and all action (akshara) continues to flow, 'avyaya' stands beyond time and modification. It is the all-encompassing base on which everything rests.

There are five layers of human existence:

1. Annamaya Kosha (Physical Sheath) – The outermost layer, made of food and matter, representing the physical body. It is nourished by what we eat and is subject to birth, growth, decay, and death.
2. Pranamaya Kosha (Vital Energy Sheath) – The life-force (prana) that sustains the body, governs breathing, circulation, and movement. It connects the physical body to the mind and is vital for overall well-being.
3. Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath) – The layer of thoughts, emotions, and mind-driven actions. It influences perceptions, desires, and reactions, shaping our personality and mental state.
4. Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom/Intellect Sheath) – The seat of higher intelligence, discernment, and awareness. It governs reasoning, self-awareness, and the ability to distinguish truth from illusion.
5. Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Sheath) – The innermost and subtlest layer, representing pure joy, peace, and spiritual fulfillment. It is the closest to the Atman (true self) and is experienced in deep meditation or self-realization.

Everything in existence is established upon the Avyaya (imperishable). Whether joy or sorrow, fear or fearlessness, good or bad—everything depends on the Avyaya. Whatever you seek can be found in that immutable being, for everything is contained within it. There is nothing beyond it, as is clearly established in the verses of the Gita -

मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय।

मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव।।

There is nothing whatsoever higher than Me, O Dhananjaya.

All this is woven in Me, like clusters of gems strung on a thread.

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्।

प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्।।

I am the goal, the sustainer, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, and the dearest friend.

I am the creation, the dissolution, the foundation, the repository, and the imperishable seed.

बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसंमोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः।

सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च।।

Intelligence, wisdom, freedom from delusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, and tranquility;

Pleasure and pain, existence and non-existence, fear and fearlessness—all arise from Me.

The immutable (Avyaya), upon which the entire cosmos is established, does not exist independently of the perishable (Kshara) and the imperishable (Akshara). The Avyaya is everything, yet without the support of Prakriti (the dynamic principle), it remains inactive. It is only through Prakriti that the Avyaya becomes capable of performing all actions. This is because the ability to act resides within Akshara itself, as previously mentioned. When Akshara exists, the supremacy of the Avyaya is manifested.

From the preceding discussion, it is clearly established that although everything is ultimately Avyaya (the immutable), the doer and sustainer is the manifest Prakriti in its Akshara form.

The single syllable ‘Om’ is everything. The entire universe is established upon the Avyaya, but the means to attain it is through Akshara. This is why Akshara is referred to as a bridge (Setu). Without Akshara, reaching the all-encompassing Avyaya is not just difficult but entirely impossible.

Therefore, for one who seeks liberation, knowledge of Akshara is of utmost importance. The one who realizes Akshara breaks free from all bonds and attains that supreme, immutable support.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi