The Four States of Consciousness in Mandukya Upanishad

Written and reviewed by The Kriya Yogi · Updated 25 September 2026

The Mandukya is the shortest of the major Upanishads but is considered by many to be the most profound. It provides a roadmap of consciousness by analyzing our daily experiences of waking, dreaming, and sleeping, ultimately pointing to a fourth state (Turiya) which is our true nature.

The short answers

Jagrat (Waking): Consciousness directed outward to the material world.
Svapna (Dreaming): Consciousness directed inward to mental impressions.
Sushupti (Deep Sleep): Consciousness in a state of causal potential, no objects.
Turiya (The Fourth): The underlying witness of the other three states.
Connects each state to a sound in the syllable AUM.

Advaita Vedanta uses the Mandukya to prove that the 'Self' is constant while the 'states' change. When you wake up, the dream world disappears. When you go into deep sleep, the waking world disappears. Because you are the witness of both their presence and their absence, you must be independent of them. Turiya is not a 'fourth state' in the sense of a new experience, but the 'ever-present background' (the screen) upon which the movie of the three states is projected.

Approaching it with care

Observe the Transitions
Notice the moment you wake up or fall asleep to see the changing nature of the states.
Analyze Deep Sleep
Recognize that even in deep sleep, you existed (otherwise you couldn't say 'I slept well').
Meditation on OM
Use the sounds A, U, and M to represent the states and the silence after as Turiya.

Cautions worth reading

Don't mistake Turiya for a trance state or something 'extraordinary'.
Avoid over-intellectualizing; the goal is to realize yourself as the witness.

What scholars and evidence say

The Mandukya Karika by Gaudapada is the first systematic treatise on Advaita, based entirely on this Upanishad.

Questions people ask

+ What is Turiya?

It is pure consciousness, the silent observer that remains unchanged throughout waking, dreaming, and sleeping.

+ How does OM relate to this?

'A' is waking, 'U' is dreaming, 'M' is deep sleep, and the silence that follows is Turiya.

Sources

Mandukya Upanishad with Gaudapada's Karika
The Eight Upanishads by Swami Gambhirananda

These are living traditions, best approached with a teacher or community where possible. Nothing here is medical advice; check with a clinician before starting a new movement or meditation practice if you have a health condition.