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{{italic title}}{{Short description|Metaphysical concept, Supreme Brahman in Hinduism}}{{EngvarB|date=March 2015}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}{{hinduphilosophy}}Para Brahman or Param Brahman () in Hindu philosophy is the "Supreme Brahman" that which is beyond all descriptions and conceptualisations. It is described as the formlessness (in the sense that it is devoid of Maya) that eternally pervades everything, everywhere in the universe and whatever is beyond.BOOK, Pratapaditya Pal,weblink Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent, Stephen P. Huyler, John E. Cort, University of California Press, 2016, 978-0-520-28847-8, 55–56, etal, Para Brahman is conceptualised in diverse ways. In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, the Para Brahman is a synonym of nirguna brahman, i.e., the attribute-less Absolute. Conversely, in Dvaita Vedanta and Vishistadvaita Vedanta traditions, the Para Brahman is defined as saguna brahman, i.e., the Absolute with attributes. In Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism, Vishnu, Shiva, and Adi Shakti respectively are Para Brahman.{{sfn|White|1970|p=156}} Mahaganapati is considered as Para Brahman by the Ganapatya sect. Kartikeya is considered as Para Brahman by the Kaumaram sect.

Etymology

Para is a Sanskrit word that means "higher" in some contexts, and "highest or supreme" in others.Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European languages, Oxford University Press, Article on ParaBrahman in Hinduism connotes the Absolute, the Ultimate Reality in the universe.James Lochtefeld, Brahman, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0823931798}}, page 122PT Raju (2006), Idealistic Thought of India, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-1406732627}}, page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In major schools of Hindu philosophy it is the immaterial, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists.For dualism school of Hinduism, see: Francis X. Clooney (2010), Hindu God, Christian God: How Reason Helps Break Down the Boundaries between Religions, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0199738724}}, pages 51–58, 111–115;For monist school of Hinduism, see: B Martinez-Bedard (2006), Types of Causes in Aristotle and Sankara, Thesis – Department of Religious Studies (Advisors: Kathryn McClymond and Sandra Dwyer), Georgia State University, pages 18–35 Brahman is a key concept found in the Vedas and is extensively discussed in the early UpanishadsStephen Philips (1998), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Brahman to Derrida (Editor; Edward Craig), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415187077}}, pages 1–4 and in Advaita Vedanta literature.Michael Comans (2002), The Method of Early Advaita Vedānta, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120817227}}, pages 129–130, 216–231

Advaita Vedanta

In Advaita Vedanta, the Para Brahman is defined as nirguna brahman, or Brahman without form or qualities.{{sfn|Sullivan|2001|p=148}}{{sfn|Fisher|2012|p=116}}{{sfn|Malkovsky|1997|p=541}} It is a state of complete knowledge of self as being identical with the transcendental Brahman, a state of mental-spiritual enlightenment (Jnana yoga).{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|p=13}} It contrasts with Saguna Brahman which is a state of loving awareness (Bhakti yoga).{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|p=13}} Advaita Vedanta non-dualistically holds that Brahman is divine, the Divine is Brahman, and this is identical to that which is Atman (one's soul, innermost self) and nirguna (attribute-less), infinite, love, truth, knowledge, "being-consciousness-bliss".{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|pp=9–14}}According to Eliot Deutsch, Nirguna Brahman is a "state of being"{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|p=12}} in which all dualistic distinctions between one's own soul and Brahman are obliterated and are overcome.{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|p=13}} In contrast, Saguna Brahman is where the distinctions are harmonized after duality between one's own soul and Brahman has been accepted.{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|p=13}}Advaita describes the features of a nondualistic experience,{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|p=13}} in which a subjective experience also becomes an "object" of knowledge and a phenomenal reality. The Absolute Truth is both subject and object, so there is no qualitative difference:

• The knowers of Truth declare knowledge alone as the Reality——that knowledge which does not admit of duality (the distinction of subject & object), in other words, which is indivisible & one without a second, & which is called by different names such as Brahman (the Absolute), Paramatma (the Supreme Spirit or Oversoul) & Bhagavan (the Deity). (Bhagavata Purana 1.2.11)WEB,weblink ÅšrÄ«mad Bhāgavatam 1.2.11, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 13 July 2021, {{refn|group=note|vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam, yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti, bhagavan iti sabdyate}}
• "Whoever realizes the Supreme Brahma attains to supreme felicity. That Supreme Brahma is Eternal Truth (satyam), Omniscient (jnanam), Infinite (anantam)." (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1.1){{refn|group=note|brahma-vid apnoti param, tad eshabhyukta, satyam jnanam anantam brahma}}

The Upanishads state that the Supreme Brahma is Eternal, Conscious, and Blissful sat-chit-ânanda. The realisation of this truth is the same as being this truth:

• "The One is Bliss. Whoever perceives the Blissful One, the reservoir of pleasure, becomes blissful forever." (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.7.1–2){{refn|group=note|raso vai sa, rasam hy evayam labdhvanandi bhavati}}
• "Verily know the Supreme One to be Bliss." (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.9.28)

Vaishnavism

In Vaishnavism, Vishnu is considered to be Para Brahman, especially in his form of Mahavishnu.BOOK, Vishwananda, Paramahamsa Sri Swami,weblink Shreemad Bhagavad Gita: The Song of Love, 2017-01-12, Bhakti Marga Publications, 978-3-940381-70-5, 854, en, He is also depicted as the Paramatman, according to the Narayana Sukta in the Yajurveda.BOOK, Ritajananda, Swami,weblink The Practice Of Meditation, 2022-07-15, Sri Ramakrishna Math, 89, en, The Mahabharata describes Vishnu to be the Para Brahman, and is also identified with both purusha and prakriti.BOOK, Ganguli, Kisari Mohan,weblink The Mahabharata of Khrisna-Dwaipayana Vyasa; XII. The Book of Peace Part Two: Vol. XII Part. 2, 2024-01-24, BoD – Books on Demand, 978-3-385-32443-5, 610, en, In the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna is described to be Para Brahman.BOOK, Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,weblink Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto: The Cosmic Manifestation, 1972-12-31, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 978-91-7149-635-5, 700, en,

Shaivism

In Shaivism, Shiva is regarded to be Para Brahman, especially in his form of Parashiva, the supreme form of Shiva.BOOK,weblink Merging with Siva pocketbook, Himalayan Academy Publications, 978-1-934145-11-1, 407, en, According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva is described to be the only deity to possess both nirguna and saguna attributes, causing him to be the only one worthy of the epithet Ishvara.BOOK, J.L.Shastri,weblink Siva Purana - English Translation - Part 1 of 4, 1950, 62–63,

Kashmir Shaivism

In Kashmir Shaivism, Svachhanda Bhairava is considered as the supreme form of Shiva. Kashmir Shaivism consider Svachhanda Bhairava as Para Brahman. Kashmir Shaivism holds turiya, or the fourth state of consciousness, as the state of Brahman. It is neither wakefulness, dreaming, nor deep sleep. It exists in the junction between any of these three states, i.e. between waking and dreaming, between dreaming and deep sleep, and between deep sleep and waking. In Kashmir Shaivism there exists a fifth state of consciousness called Turiyatita – the state beyond Turiya which represents Parabrahman. Turiyatita, also called the void or shunya is the state where one attains liberation otherwise known as jivanmukti or moksha.{{Cn|date=December 2022}}

Shaktism

In Shaktism, Adi Parashakti is considered to be the Para Brahman both with and without qualities, and also Brahman in its energetic state, the ultimate reality. According to the Devi Suktam and Sri Suktam in the Rigveda she is the womb of all creation. Thus Mahakali's epithet is Brahmamayi, meaning "She Whose Essence is Brahman". Tridevi is the supreme form of Adi Parashakti. Her eternal abode is called Manidvipa.BOOK, Klostermaier, Klaus K.,weblink Survey of Hinduism, A: Third Edition, 2010-03-10, SUNY Press, 978-0-7914-8011-3, en, The Markandeya Purana describes the ten-headed Kāli as the Unborn, the Eternal, Mahamari and Lakshmi.{{sfnp|Pargiter|1904|loc=Canto XCII}} In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the four-armed Vishnu describes Mahā Kāli as Nirguna, creatrix and destructrix, beginningless and deathless.{{sfnp|Vijñanananda|1921|loc=Book 1 Chapter 9}} The Kāli Sahasranama Stotra from the Kalika Kulasarvasva Tantra states that she is supreme (paramā) and indeed Durga, Śruti, Smriti, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Ātman Vidya and Brahmavidya.{{sfnp|Kalika Kulasarvasva|loc=weblink Kalika Sahasranama}} In the Mahanirvana Tantra she is called Adya or Primordial Kali, who is the origin, protectress and devourer of all things.{{sfnp |Avalon |1913a |loc=Chapter 4}} In Chapters 13 and 23 of Nila Tantra she is called the cause of everything, Gayatri, Lakshmi, Mahāmāyā, Parameshwari, omniscient, worshipped by Shiva himself, the great absolute (māhāparā), supreme (paramā), the mother of the highest reality (parāparāmba) and Ātman.{{sfnp|Brihan Nila Tantram|1938|loc=weblink}}Mahā Kāli's own form is referred to as Para Brahman (parabrahmasvarūpiṇī) in the Devyāgama and different Tantra Shastras. She is also variously referred to as Soul of the universe, Paramatman, Bīja and Nirguna.{{sfnp|Avalon|1913b|loc=weblink}}

See also

{{col div|colwidth=22em}}

• Nondualism
• Achintya Bheda Abheda
• Adi Parashakti
• Ä€tman (Hinduism)
• Bhakti
• Brahma
• Jiva
• Jnana
• Parbrahm Ashram
• Mahaganapati
• Oachira Temple
• Mahavishnu
• Narayana
• Om
• Padanilam Parabrahma Temple
• Paramatma
• Parashiva
• Svayam Bhagavan
• Vedanta
• Yoga

{{colend}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=note|2}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

Sources

• {{Citation | last =Deutsch | first =Eliot | year =1973 | title =Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Reconstruction | publisher =University of Hawaii Press}}
• {{Citation | last =Fisher | first =Mary Pat | year =2012 | title = Living Religions: A Brief Introduction}}
• {{Citation | last =Malkovsky | first =B. | year =1997 | title =The Personhood of Samkara's" Para Brahma" | journal =The Journal of Religion | volume =77 | issue =4 | pages =541 | doi =10.1086/490065| jstor=1206747| s2cid =170842690 }}
• {{Citation | last =Sullivan | first =B.M. | year =2001 | title =The A to Z of Hinduism | publisher =Rowman & Littlefield | isbn =8170945216}}
• {{Citation | last =White | first =C.S.J. | year =1970 | title =Krsna as Divine Child | journal =History of Religions | volume =10 | issue =2 | pages =156 | doi =10.1086/462625| jstor=1061907| s2cid =162216194 }}

External links

• WEB,weblink VEDA - Vedas and Vedic Knowledge Online - Vedic Encyclopedia, www.veda.harekrsna.cz, 5 May 2008, 1 June 2022,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20220601235114weblink">weblink dead

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