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Aham, a concept ofKashmir Shaivism, is defined as the supreme heart(hṛdayam),[1] transcendentSelf, supreme I awareness[2] or infinite consciousness.[3] The space ofAham is wherekhecarī mudrā (free movement in the space of the heart) is realised.Khecarī mudrā is considered the supreme state of spiritual evolution.
WhenŚiva wants to create, the first step is said to be the creation of an interior space (the space of his heart) - a matrix ofenergies that will be the substrate of the new world. This place is calledAham which means "I" inSanskrit. Thus the absolute first creates thedivine person,Aham, and from this divine person will appear the manifestation itself.
Aham is identical tomātṛkā (the wheel of phonematic energies), essential nature of all categories fromPṛithvī tattva (earth) toSadāśiva tattva.[4]Aham is the final resting place, dwelling place, abode of all beings, receptacle of the world.[1][5]
Another definition ofAham is that of primordial mantra,[6] transcendental mantra,[7] the so-called heart-bīja (mantra of the heart) - force and power of consciousness.[8] As the supreme mantra,Aham is closely related tomatravīrya (the potency of mantra).[9] Thus the realization ofAham confers power over any mantra.[10]
InAham, the supreme (para) aspect ofŚakti is realized.Aham is theŚakti ofŚiva or in other words, the expansion of Śiva.[11] Another way of describingAham is as the union ofŚiva andŚakti,[12] the emotive(visarga) aspect of the Supreme (anuttara).[10]
Aham is formed of A+HA+M, a triad ofŚiva (A),Śakti (HA) and bindu (M).[13] M is the final point, union ofŚiva andŚakti, where they dissolve intoParamaśiva. Thetriangle of A+HA+M is the essence of theTrika system.[14] A+HA+M form thesṛṣṭi bīja (seed of emission), a mantra that is identical to the energy of expansion and creation.[15]
Aham can also be defined as: A =abheda (non-differentiation), HA =bheda (differentiation) and M =bhedābheda (differentiation cum non-differentiation).[16]
On the other hand,Maha, mirror image ofAham,[17] is formed of Ma+Ha+A, and represents thesaṃhara bīja (seed of reabsorption) - the mantra that is identical to the process of spiritual evolution,[15] or in other words reabsorption of the manifestation back into the absolute. InMaha, Śakti (Ha) enters bindu (M) (the limited being) and reunites it with the Supreme (A).[18]