In Yogic thought, “Turiya” is defined as the state beyond deep, dreamless sleep, in which the superconscious becomes overtly active.

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib contains teachings on Turiya, and this state is referenced and described by the Sikh Gurus throughout the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

According to Swami Sivananda, a yogi and Hindu spiritual teacher, turiya is the “fourth state” of consciousness in which the individual rests in Satchidanandam (“ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new bliss”). The individual has attained nirvikalpa samadhi or final liberation from ego consciousness, and is united with Infinite spirit. Turiya refers to both Atman, the individual self, and Brahman, the Infinite self, representing the spiritual union of the two.

The individual soul realizes and transcends the three states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep consciousness in turiya. One realizes one’s own true nature as pure knowledge and bliss. Thus, one is freed from desire, delusion, and duality in the external world.

Turiya is not a state apart, but pervades all levels of reality as superconsciousness.

Guru Amar Das Ji, the third Sikh Guru, describes the state of Turiya in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਚਉਥਾ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇ ॥

trai gun maiaa moh hai gurmukh chauthaa padh pai ||

The three qualities hold people in attachment to Maya. The Gurmukh attains the fourth state of higher consciousness.

~ Guru Amar Das Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 30

Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh Guru, further describes Turiya, the fourth state, as a state where there is “intuitive balance:”

ਚਉਥੇ ਪਦ ਮਹਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥੬॥

chauthe padh meh sahaj hai gurmukh palai pai ||6||

In the fourth state, there is intuitive balance; the Gurmukhs gather it in. ||6||

~ Guru Amar Das Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 68

Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, explains that the fourth state is a state of salvation or spiritual enlightenment:

ਨਾਨਕ ਚਉਥੇ ਪਦ ਮਹਿ ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਏ ॥੫॥

naanak chauthe padh meh so jan gat paae ||5||

– O Nanak, in the fourth state, those humble servants attain salvation. ||5||

~ Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 284

Bhai Gurdas ji, a great Sikh scholar and saint who was the scribe of the original copy of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib under the guidance of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, describes Turiya as a stage beyond the three gunnas:

ਧਰਮੁ ਅਰਥੁ ਕਾਮੁ ਮੋਖੁ ਜਿਣਿ ਰਜ ਤਮ ਸਤ ਗੁਣ ਤੁਰੀਆ ਰਾਣੀ।

dharam arath kaam mokh jin raj tam sat gun tureeaa raanee|

Conquering dharma, artha, kama, moksa and crossing three stages of rajas, sattva and tamas they enter into the fourth stage turiya, the stage of supreme bliss.

~ Bhai Gurdaas Ji, Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaaran, Pannaa 7

~Resource: Ananda, “The Meaning of Turiya,” The Yogic Encyclopedia.