Bhartrhari in his Vakyapadiya (Brahma Kanda) states that the
absolute Brahman is identical with the speech principle, which is identified
with consciousness. Sabda Brahma meaning is absolute reality as primordial and
immanent sound or speech principle.
Source -
Rig Veda, the earliest available text in Hindu religion,
contains glowing tributes to the Shabda Brahman. There are three hymns that
deal with Vak Devi (Divine Speech). Sage Dirghatamas says that the ultimate
abode of speech is Brahman.
As per Amritabindu Upanishad, there are two Brahmans to be
realized, Shabda Brahman and Parama Brahman; one who has realized and is well
versed in Shabda Brahman will realize Param Brahma.
Shabda Brahman has no beginning or end and appears in the
form of the various symbols or expressions and meanings in the form of ideas,
thus constituting the entire phenomenal world.
The speech essence, though one, appears different on the
basis of its powers (shakti), like time and space, which are not different from
it but appear as evolutionary and pluralistic. According to this theory, the
phenomenal world never loses its direct logical identity with Brahman.
According to Bhartrhari, the powers like time and space are
not different from Brahman; they have the capacity to bring out its
potentiality into activity. Powers are also real. Revelation is through
intuitive power, an instantaneous flash of insight can penetrate into the
reality wall beyond the empirical level.
Bhartrhari has stated that the ultimate shabda has three
levels of manifestation in this Vakyapadiya 1.143)
- Pasayanti
- Madhyama
- Vaikhari
This does not preclude the acceptance of the highest level
(para) which is beyond the range of normal language and mind.
Rigveda itself mentions four levels of language, of which
only the fourth is used by men in ordinary parlance.
Utpaladeva says that Bhartrhari accepts the highest level as
para pashyanti. Consciousness has as its essential nature, pratyavamarsa
(reflective awareness); it is para vak (the supreme world) that arises freely.
It is freedom in the absolute sense, aishwarya (the sovereignty of the Supreme
Self).
According to Utpaladeva, the highest level of vak is so
close to silence that the distinction between the supreme vak and its power or
energy is non-existent and belongs only to theory. It is identified with
Brahman by Bhartrhari.
- Notes taken from Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume IX (IHRF). (page 7)