According to vedanta, the four states of consciousness are captured beautifully in the divine ओंकार oṁkāra.

1. अ a – from silence, form and name emerges from deep sleep
   जाग्रत् अवस्था jāgrat avasthā (Waking state)
2. उ u – form and name is sustained
   स्वप्न अवस्था svapna avasthā (Dreaming state)
3. म् m – return to deep sleep
   सुषुप्ति अवस्था suṣupti avasthā (Deep sleep state)
4. Deep silence – original
   तुरीय अवस्था turīya avasthā (‘The fourth state’ – The transcendent, non-dual state of the ātman)