Paramatman

{{italic title}} {{Short description|Absolute Atman, or supreme Self, in various philosophies}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{redirect|Paramathma|the film|Paramathma (film)}}

'''''Paramatman''''' (Sanskrit: परमात्मन्, IAST: Paramātman) or '''''Paramātmā''''' is the absolute ''Atman'', or supreme Self, in various philosophies such as the Vedanta and Yoga schools in Hindu theology, as well as other Indian religions such as Sikhism. ''Paramatman'' is the "Primordial Self" or the "Self Beyond" who is spiritually identical with the absolute and ultimate reality. Selflessness is the attribute of ''Paramatman'', where all personality/individuality vanishes.<ref>{{cite book|title=An Occult Glossary:A Compendium of Oriental and Theosophical Terms|author=T. Depurucker|date=January 2003|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|page=130|isbn=9780766129757|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eRztON94euYC&q=paramatman&pg=PA130}}</ref>

==Etymology== The word stem ''paramātman'' ({{IPA|sa|pɐɾɐmaːtmɐn|}}, its nominative singular being ''paramātmā'' — परमात्मा, pronounced {{IPA|sa|pɐɾɐmaːtmaː|}}) is formed from two words, ''parama'', meaning "supreme" or "highest", and ''ātman'', which means individual self.

The word ''Ātman'' generally denotes the Individual Self, but by the word ''Paramatman'' which word also expresses Boundless Life, Boundless Consciousness, Boundless Substance in Boundless Space, is meant the ''Atman'' of all ''atmans'' or the Supreme Self or the Universal Self. The word ''Ātman'' (''Atma'', आत्मा, आत्मन्) is a Sanskrit word that refers to "essence, breath.",<ref group=web name="EB_Atman">[https://www.britannica.com/topic/atman Atman] Britannica, Atman Hindu philosophy</ref><ref group=web name=dougharper>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=atman Atman] Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper (2012)</ref>{{sfn|Dalal|2011|p=38}} is often equated with Brahman, the subtlest indestructible Divine existence.<ref name="james122">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism|last=Lochtefeld|first=James G.|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0823931798|volume=1|pages=122}}</ref><ref name=ptraju>P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, {{ISBN|978-1406732627}}, page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII</ref>{{Sfn|Fowler|2002|pp=49–55 (in Upanishads), 318–319 (in Vishistadvaita), 246–248 and 252–255 (in Advaita), 342–343 (in Dvaita), 175–176 (in Samkhya-Yoga)}} The word ''Paramatman'' refers to the Creator of all.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

==Jainism== {{main|Jīva (Jainism)}}

In Jain mysticism, each ''atman'' or individual self is a potential ''Paramatman'' or God; both are essentially the same. It remains an ''atman'' only because of its binding karmic limitations, until such time as those limitations are removed. As ''Paramatman'', the ''atman'' represents the ultimate point of spiritual evolution.<ref>{{citation |title=Encyclopaedia of Oriental Philosophy |year=2005 |publisher=Global Vision Publishing House |page=245 |isbn=9788182201132 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgNHE-48jNcC&pg=PA245 }}</ref>

Even though Jain mysticism centers on ''Atman'' and ''Paramatman'' because it affirms the existence of the soul, in Jainism, which does not accept the Vedic notion of ''Paramatman'', all enlightened souls are referred to as ''Paramatman'' and regarded as gods, while it honours the soul of each person as its own strictly eternally distinct saviour.<ref>{{citation |title=The World's Great Religions: An Anthology of Sacred Texts |author=Selwyn Gurney Champion |date=January 2003 |publisher=Courier Dover Publications |page=149 |isbn=9780486427157 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wEjIX4FldtkC&pg=PA149 }}</ref> Because the Jain paramātman neither creates nor governs the cosmos, Jainism has no place for a creator deity, and is thus classified as a heterodox (nāstika) school in the Indian philosophical tradition.<ref>{{citation |title=A Jaina Perspective on the Philosophy of Religion |author=Arvind Sharma |year=2001 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |page=4 |isbn=9788120817609 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BtbbLjvTkGMC&pg=PA4 }}</ref>

== Hinduism == {{Hinduism}} Hindus believe in one God, who is known variously as ''Paramatman'', ''Parameshwar'', ''Parabrahman'', ''Purushottam'' and so on.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paramtattvadas |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tb4pDwAAQBAJ&dq=parabrahman&pg=129 |title=An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hindu Theology |date=2017-08-17 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-15867-2 |pages=129 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Even though God is one, He manifests in infinite forms, but this should not to be confused with the belief that there are multiple Gods.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rosen |first=Steven |title=Essential Hinduism |date=2006 |publisher=Praeger |isbn=0-275-99006-0 |location=Westport, Conn. |pages=xiii-xiv |oclc=70775665}}</ref>

Hindus conceptualize ''Parabrahman'' in diverse ways. In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, Nirguna Brahman (Brahman without attributes) is ''Parabrahman''. In Dvaita and Vishistadvaita Vedanta traditions, Saguna Brahman (Brahman with qualities) is ''Parabrahman''. In Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism, Vishnu, Shiva and Adi Shakti respectively are ''Parabrahman''. Mahaganapati is considered as ''Parabrahman'' by the Ganapatya sect. Kartikeya is considered as ''Parabrahman'' by the Kartikeya sect.

===Description in the Upanishads=== The sage of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.2, although not using the word ''Paramatman'', explains that at the time of release the portion (aspect) of the ''Paramatman'' and the portion (aspect) of the ''Jiva'' presiding in the right eye become unified with the ''Paramatman'' and the ''Jiva'' presiding in the heart, then the ''Jiva'' does not see, smell, taste, speak, hear, feel, touch and know; when ''Paramatman'' goes out, the Chief ''Prana'' goes out after him, followed by the Lower Prana. ''Paramatman'' goes out riding on the ''Jiva'' following consciousness and work, knowledge of former life or natural capacity. In the Prashna Upanishad IV.11 the word ''Atman'' cannot refer to ''Jiva'' because the ''Jiva'' cannot of its own accord throw off its body or understand ''avidya'', therefore, it refers to ''Paramatman''.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sacred Books of the Hindus, Vol. 15. Part(2)|author=Baman Das Basu|year=2007|publisher=Genesis Publishing (P) Ltd.|page=522,527|isbn=9788130705293|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dn_SVa0vgzcC&q=paramatman&pg=PA522}}</ref> The Jiva attains Moksha when he actually knows the ''Paramatman'', the Asarira Prajnatman, to be thousand-headed, to be the governor of all and to be superior to all.<ref>{{cite book|title= Brihadaranyaka Upanishad|author=B.D.Basu, S.C.Vasu|date=21 February 2024 |publisher= Genesis Publishing (P) Ltd.|page=130|isbn=9788130705569|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0sIq2gHSxgkC&q=paramatman&pg=PA130}}</ref> Thus, ''Paramatman'' is one of the many aspects of Brahman and has all attributes of Brahman.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dhanyashtakam|date=12 March 2018 |publisher=Chinmaya Mission|isbn=978-81-7597-125-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kqBQDwAAQBAJ&dq=Dhanyashtakam+Swami+Tejomayananda&pg=PA23}} With commentary by Swami Tejomayananda</ref> ''Atman'' (Spirit) and ''Paramatman'' (God) are one, some say they are distinct as well as one, they are one with reference to Shakti but distinct with reference to that power.<ref>{{cite book|title=Theosophist Magazine February-March 1909|author=Annie Wood Besant|date=March 2003|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|page=553|isbn=9780766152595|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jzvSqNTx7oC&q=paramatman&pg=PA553}}</ref>{{Clarification needed|date=January 2025|reason=clarify who is "they" and what is "that power"}}

===Parable of the two birds=== {{See|Tree of Jiva and Atman}} The word ''Paramatman'' is not to be found in the Rig Veda but through allusion referring to ''Paramatman'' as ''Isha''. This distinction is made because all of its mantras which in the form of prayers are addressed to gods. In its great Riddle Hymn (Sukta I.164) is the famous mantra - R.V.I.164.20, that was revealed to Rishi Deergatamaah Auchathyah and borrowed by Mundaka Upanishad III.1.1-3, which belongs to Atharva Veda, to weave the parable of the Two Birds:-Two birds.

{{quote|Two birds, beautiful of wings, close companions, cling to one common tree: of the two one eats the sweet fruit of that tree; the other eats not but watches his companion. The self is the bird that sits immersed on the common tree; but because he is not lord he is bewildered and has sorrow. But when he sees that other who is the Lord and the beloved, he knows that all is His greatness and his sorrow passes away from him. When, a seer, he sees the Golden-hued, the maker, the Lord, the Spirit who is the source of Brahman, then he becomes the knower and shakes from his wings sin and virtue; pure of all stains he reaches the supreme identity.|Translation of Verses 1-3 of Third Mundaka Upanishad by Sri Aurobindo.}}

Aurobindo makes the Spirit or ''Purusha'' the Source of everything, including Brahman. He makes ''Purusha'' more fundamental. Thus, he does not have to say Brahman to be the source of inferior Brahman, and he also dismisses the sense of Reality revealed in imaginative and emotional build-up.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Parable of Two Birds|author=Ry Deshpande|url=http://archives.mirroroftomorrow.org/blog/_archives/2010/9/30/4631783.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415120619/http://archives.mirroroftomorrow.org/blog/_archives/2010/9/30/4631783.html|archive-date=15 April 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Concept of two souls=== The Dualistic school of philosophy initiated by Anandatirtha draws its support from the afore-cited passage as well as from the passage of Katha Upanishad I.3.1 of an earlier Upanishad that speaks about two souls which taste the fruits of action, both of which are lodged in the recess of the human heart, and which are different from each other as light and shade, that carried the flaw—how could the Universal soul be regarded as enjoying the fruits of action? The followers of Madhva draw their support from the Bhagavad Gita XV.16 that speaks about two persons in this world, the Mutable and the Immutable; the Mutable is all these things, while the Immutable is the one who exists at the top of them, one is the Jivatman and the other, Paramatman.<ref>{{cite book|title=A constructive survey of Upanishadic philosophy|year=1926|author=Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|place=Mumbai|page=[https://archive.org/details/A.Constructive.Survey.of.Upanishadic.Philosophy.by.R.D.Ranade.1926.djvu/page/n186 151]|url=https://archive.org/details/A.Constructive.Survey.of.Upanishadic.Philosophy.by.R.D.Ranade.1926.djvu }}</ref> ''Jivatman'' is ''chit'', the sentient, and ''Paramatman'' is Isvara, both have the same attributes; they are inseparably present together on the tree which is ''achit'', the insentient, or the gross ''Avidya'' component of existence. ''Jivatman'' and ''Paramatman'' are both seated in the heart, the former is driven by the three modes of nature and acts, the latter simply witnesses as though approving the former's activities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two birds in a tree - Soul and Supersoul|url=http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/philosophy/two-birds-in-a-tree-soul-and-supersoul}}</ref> The relationship between Paramātmā, the Universal Self, and 'ātma, the Individual Self, is likened to the indwelling God and the soul within one's heart. Paramatman is one of the many aspects of Brahman. Paramatman is situated at the core of every individual jiva in the macrocosm. The Upanishads do compare Atman and Paramatman to two birds sitting like friends on the branch of a tree (body) where the Atman eats its fruits (karma), and the Paramatman only observes the Atman as a witness (sākṣin) of His friend's actions.

===Advaita=== In Advaita philosophy, individual souls are called ''Jīvātman'', and the Highest Brahman is called ''Paramātman''. The ''Jivatman'' and the ''Paramatman'' are known to be one and the same when the ''Jivatman'' attains the true knowledge of the Brahman (Sanskrit ''Brahmajñāna''). In the context of Advaita, the word ''Paramatman'' is invariably used to refer to Nirguna Brahman, with Ishvara and Bhagavan being terms used to refer to Brahman with qualities, or Saguna Brahman. However, there is still a tendency in Shankara to use interchangeably the terms ''Paramatman'' and ''Ishvara'', even when he is referring to personal names of ''Ishvara'' like Narayana and Vishnu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nelson |first=Lance |title=Krishna : a sourcebook |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-972431-4 |editor-last=Edwin |editor-first=Bryant |location=Oxford |pages=313 |chapter=Chapter 13: Krishna in Advaita Vedanta: The Supreme Brahman in Human Form |oclc=181731713}}</ref>

Brahman and Isvara are not synonymous words, the apparent similarity is on account of similar looking attributes imagined with regard to the impressions these two words activate. According to Advaita, Isvara is Brahman associated with ''maya'' in its excellent aspect, as the empirical reality it is the determinate Brahman; Isvara has no reality apart from Brahman. The Svetasvatara Upanishad developed the conception of a personal God. The Katha Upanishad states that never has any man been able to visualise ''Paramatman'' by means of sight, heart, imagination or mind. The Anandamaya-kosha is the Isvara of the Upanishads. Gaudapada called duality ''maya'', and non-duality, the only reality. Maya is the Cosmic Nescience that has in it the plurality of subject and object and therefore, Isvara is organically bound with the world. Beyond the ''Prana'' or Isvara is the state of the Infinite limitless Brahman<ref>{{cite book|title=A constructive survey of Upanishadic philosophy|year=1926|author=Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|place=Mumbai|pages=[https://archive.org/details/A.Constructive.Survey.of.Upanishadic.Philosophy.by.R.D.Ranade.1926.djvu/page/n222 189]–197|url=https://archive.org/details/A.Constructive.Survey.of.Upanishadic.Philosophy.by.R.D.Ranade.1926.djvu}}</ref> which is why in the Bhagavad Gita VII.24, Krishna tells Arjuna—"not knowing My unsurpassable and undecaying supreme nature the ignorant believe Me to have assumed a finite form through birth."

With regard to the cause of ''samsāra'', as to where it resides and the means of its removal, Adi Shankara in his Vivekachudamani.49. instructs that the individual self is the ''Paramatman'' in reality, the association of the individual self with ''ajnana'' i.e. with ''avidya'', which he terms as ''anatmabandhah'', bondage by the ''anatman'' or non-atman, makes it to identify itself with gross, subtle and causal bodies and from that arises samsāra, which is of the form of superimposition of qualities of ''sukha'', ''dukkha'' etc., on itself, the ''atman''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sri Samkara's Vivekacudamani|author=Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati of Sringeri|year=1973|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|place=Mumbai|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncQYAAAAIAAJ&q=sri+samkara's+vivekacudamani}}</ref>

===Vaishnavism=== ''Paramatman'' is beyond knowledge and ignorance, devoid of all material attributes (''upadhi''). In Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita, ''Paramatman'' is described as Krishna residing in the hearts of all beings and in every atom of matter. ''Paramatman'' is also described in the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 9) as worthy of the bhakti (devotion) of the individual selves:<blockquote>For I am actually both the one who receives and the Lord over all acts of worship.

...Whoever offers even a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water to Me in devotion, That is a meaningful offering I accept from those whose souls are truly devoted.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Minor |first=Robert |title=Krishna : a sourcebook |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-972431-4 |editor-last=Bryant |editor-first=Edwin |location=Oxford |pages=84–85 |chapter=Chapter 2: Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita |oclc=181731713}}</ref></blockquote>He is the overseer and the permitter of their actions.<ref>[http://vedabase.net/bg/13/23/en Bhagavad Gita 13.23] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312211826/http://vedabase.net/bg/13/23/en |date=12 March 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/7/14/38/en Bhagavata Purana 7.14.38] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312212902/http://vedabase.net/sb/7/14/38/en |date=12 March 2007 }}</ref> ''Paramatman'' is different from five elements (''pancha mahabhutas''), the senses, mind, ''pradhana'' and ''jiva''.<ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/3/28/41/en Bhagavata Purana 3.28.41] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217121958/http://vedabase.net/sb/3/28/41/en |date=17 February 2012 }}</ref>

Vaishnava sects maintain that attaining knowledge of Brahman and identification of ''atman'' with Brahman is an intermediate stage of self-realization, and only Bhakti Yoga can lead to the next step of ''Paramatman'' realization as the indwelling God, ultimately leading up to liberation (''Mukti'') by God-realization.

The Viṣṇu or the deity of the ''quality of goodness'' in the material world is the ''puruṣa-avatāra'' known as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu or ''Paramātmā''.[https://web.archive.org/web/20101123213949/http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/23/en]

In Bengal, Vaishnava Krishna is viewed as one endowed with his essential ''svarupa-shakti''; he is Bhagawat in full manifestation endowed with ''Jivasakti'' and ''Mayasakti'', he the ''Paramatman'' and ''Brahman''. ''Brahman'', ''Paramatman'' and ''Bhagavan'' are 3 gradations of the ultimate reality.<ref>{{cite book|title=Traditions of Mysticism in Bengal|author=Sandhu Santidev|year=2000|publisher=Genesis Publishing (P) Ltd.|page=101|isbn=9788177550009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JGeitIm_--cC&q=paramatman&pg=PA101}}</ref>

Jiva Goswami, Gaudiya Vaishnava scholar, distinguishes between ''Brahman'', ''Paramatman'', and ''Bhagavan'', citing a passage from the Bhagavata Purana (1.2.11): "The knowers of the Absolute Reality call that Reality ''advaya-jnana'', 'nondual consciousness,' which is designated as ''Brahman'', ''Paramatma'' or ''Bhagavan''." He asserts that the one absolute reality is conceived with different terms depending on who is doing the conceiving: the Advaitins conceive of it as an "all-pervasive ''Brahman''"; the yogis conceive of it as ''Paramatman''; and the Vaishnavas conceive of it as ''Bhagavan'' who possesses a transcendent and immaterial form. Goswami contends that ''Bhagavan'' is the most complete conception or manifestation of the Absolute Reality, and the other two are dependent and based on it, ''Brahman'' (who is undifferentiated) and ''Paramatman'' (as the Supreme soul) are thus understood to be included in ''Bhagavan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dasa |first=Satyanarayana |title=Krishna : a sourcebook |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-972431-4 |editor-last=Edwin |editor-first=Bryant |location=Oxford |pages=377–379 |chapter=Chapter 16: The Six Sandarbhas of Jiva Gosvami |oclc=181731713}}</ref>''

==Time== Time is described in the Bhagavata Purana: {{quote|My Lord, I consider Your Lordship to be eternal time, the supreme controller, without beginning and end, the all-pervasive one. ... Eternal time is the witness of all our actions, good and bad, and thus resultant reactions are destined by Him. It is no use saying that we do not know why and for what we are suffering. We may forget the misdeed for which we may suffer at this present moment, but we must remember that Paramātmā is our constant companion, and therefore He knows everything, past, present and future. And because the Paramātmā feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa destines all actions and reactions, He is the supreme controller also. Without His sanction not a blade of grass can move.[http://vedabase.net/sb/1/8/28/en]}}

==See also== {{refbegin}} * Anima mundi * Names of God * Paramananda (Hinduism) * Raja Yoga * Sattva{{refend}}

== Notes == <references group="web" /> ==References== {{reflist}}

== Sources == * {{cite book|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=poigai&pg=PA308|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|publisher=Penguin Books India|year=2011|isbn=9780143414216}} * {{Cite book |last=Fowler|first=Jeaneane D.|year=2002 |title=Perspectives of Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PJbsAAAAIAAJ|publisher=Sussex Academic Press |isbn=978-1-898723-93-6 }}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110809030359/http://vedabase.net/p/paramatma Usage of the term Paramatma in Puranic and Gaudiya Vaishnava literature]

Category:Forms of Vishnu Category:Hindu philosophical concepts Category:Hindu studies Category:Names of God in Hinduism Category:Puranas Category:Vedanta Category:Vedas