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{{Short description|Metaphysical concept, Supreme Brahman in Hinduism}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=March 2015}}<br />
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{{hinduphilosophy}}<br />
'''''Para Brahman''''' ({{lang-sa|परब्रह्म|translit=parabrahma|translit-std=IAST}}) in [[Hindu philosophy]] is the "Supreme [[Brahman]]" that which is beyond all descriptions and conceptualisations. It is described as the formless (in the sense that it is devoid of [[Maya (religion)|Maya]]) that eternally pervades everything, everywhere in the universe and whatever is beyond.<ref name="PalHuyler2016p55">{{cite book|author1=Pratapaditya Pal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXolDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA55|title=Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent|author2=Stephen P. Huyler|author3=John E. Cort|publisher=University of California Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-520-28847-8|pages=55–56|display-authors=etal}}</ref><br />
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Param Brahma is conceptualised in diverse ways. In the [[Advaita Vedanta]] tradition, the Param Brahma is a synonym of ''nirguna brahman'', i.e., the attribute-less Absolute. Conversely, in [[Dvaita Vedanta]] and [[Vishishtadvaita|Vishistadvaita Vedanta]] traditions, the Param Brahma is defined as ''[[saguna brahman]]'', i.e., the Absolute with attributes. In [[Vaishnavism]], [[Shaivism]] and [[Shaktism]], [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]] and [[Adi Shakti]] respectively are Param Brahma.{{sfn|White|1970|p=156}} [[Mahaganapati]] is considered as Param Brahma by the [[Ganapatya]] sect. [[Kartikeya]] is considered as Param Brahma by the Kartikeya sect.<br />
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==Etymology==<br />
''Para'' is a Sanskrit word that means "higher" in some contexts, and "highest or supreme" in others.<ref>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European languages, Oxford University Press, Article on ''Para''</ref><br />
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''Brahman'' in Hinduism connotes the Absolute, the [[Absolute (philosophy)|Ultimate Reality]] in the universe.<ref name=james122>James Lochtefeld, ''Brahman'', The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0823931798}}, page 122</ref><ref name=ptraju>PT Raju (2006), Idealistic Thought of India, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-1406732627}}, page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII</ref> In major schools of Hindu philosophy it is the immaterial, efficient, formal and final [[Four causes|cause]] of all that exists.<ref name=ptraju/><ref name=fxclooney>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;<br>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</ref> Brahman is a key concept found in the [[Vedas]] and is extensively discussed in the early [[Upanishads]]<ref name=sphilips>Stephen Philips (1998), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Brahman to Derrida (Editor; Edward Craig), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415187077}}, pages 1-4</ref> and in Advaita Vedanta literature.<ref>Michael Comans (2002), The Method of Early Advaita Vedānta, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120817227}}, pages 129-130, 216-231</ref><br />
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==Advaita Vedanta==<br />
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 (Hinduism)|Atman]] (one's soul, innermost self) and nirguna (attribute-less), infinite, love, truth, knowledge, "being-consciousness-bliss".{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|pp=9-14}}<br />
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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}}<br />
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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:<br />
* "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān." ([[Bhagavata Purana]] 1.2.11)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iskconpress.com/books/sb/1/2/11|title=Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.2.11|last=A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|''vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam, yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti, bhagavan iti sabdyate''}}<br />
* "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''}}<br />
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The Upanishads state that the Supreme Brahma is Eternal, Conscious, and Blissful [[Satcitananda|sat-chit-ânanda]]. The realisation of this truth is the same as ''being'' this truth:<br />
* "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''}}<br />
* "Verily know the Supreme One to be Bliss." ([[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] 2.9.28)<br />
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==Vaishnavism ==<br />
In Vaishnavism, Vishnu ([[Narayana]]) is considered as Para Brahman ([[Mahavishnu | Adinarayana]]). Vishnu in his [[Vishvarupa]] is considered to be the supreme. His abode is called [[Vaikuntha]] and the name there is Para Vasudeva . He is depicted as the only [[Adipurusha]] According to the [[Narayana sukta]] in the [[Yajurveda]] . Narayana, in Hinduism, is considered as the Supreme Truth (Brahman), the thousand-headed, thousand-eyed, and thousand-limbed creator and this hymn is sung to worship Narayana, the universal Self ([[Paramatman]]).<br />
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==Shaivism==<br />
In [[Shaivism]], [[Shiva]] is Para Brahman. [[Parashiva]], the supreme form of Lord Shiva, is considered as Para Brahman. According to mythology, Parashiva is the single incarnation of all souls and deities. He is also depicted as the only [[Adipurusha]] or [[Shiva|Mahadeva]].{{Cn|date=December 2022}}<br />
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===Kashmir Shaivism===<br />
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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 [[Śūnyatā|shunya]] is the state where one attains liberation otherwise known as [[jivanmukta|jivanmukti]] or [[moksha]].{{Cn|date=December 2022}}<br />
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==Shaktism==<br />
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 Devi Suktam and Sri Suktam in [[Rigveda]] she is the womb of all creation. Thus Mahakali is epithets is Brahmamayi, meaning "She Whose Essence is Brahman". [[Tridevi]] is the supreme form of [[Adi Parashakti]]. Her eternal abode is called [[Manidvipa]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Klostermaier|first=Klaus K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC|title=Survey of Hinduism, A: Third Edition|date=2010-03-10|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-8011-3|language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Sant Mat ==<br />
In [[Sant Mat]] and [[Kabir panth]], Akshar Purush is called Parabrahman.<ref>{{cite web |title=volume7 |url=https://archive.org/details/volume7_202012/volume2/page/25/ |publisher=Volume 7 |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref><br />
Parabrahman is other than Brahman so in the language of [[Saint|saints]], it is called Parabrahman (''Para = next''). He is perishable.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghat Ramayan |url=https://archive.org/details/ADictionaryOfReligionAndEthics1000022574/GHAT-RAMAYAN-Commentary%20by%20Baba%20Kehar%20Singh%20Ji/page/n93/mode/2up |publisher=ADictionary |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref> Akshar Purush (''Parabrahman'') was originated by Achint (''a son of Satpurush'').<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghat Ramayan |url=https://archive.org/details/ADictionaryOfReligionAndEthics1000022574/GHAT-RAMAYAN-Commentary%20by%20Baba%20Kehar%20Singh%20Ji/page/n83/mode/2up |publisher=ADictionary |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref> Achint was assigned some work. For the help in his work, he created Akshar Purush (''Parabrahman''), but Akshar Purush had done some negligence in his work due to which he was expelled from Satlok along with the seven sankh Brahmands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sant Tulsi Sahib |url=https://archive.org/details/SantTulsiSahib/page/n23 |publisher=Archive.org |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
{{col div|colwidth=22em}}<br />
* [[Achintya Bheda Abheda]]<br />
* [[Adi Parashakti]]<br />
* [[Ātman (Hinduism)]]<br />
* [[Bhakti]]<br />
* [[Brahma]]<br />
* [[Jiva]]<br />
* [[Jnana]]<br />
* [[Parbrahm Ashram]]<br />
* [[Mahaganapati]]<br />
* [[Oachira Temple]]<br />
* [[Mahavishnu]]<br />
* [[Narayana]]<br />
* [[Om]]<br />
* [[Padanilam Parabrahma Temple]]<br />
* [[Paramatma]]<br />
* [[Parashiva]]<br />
* [[Svayam Bhagavan]]<br />
* [[Vedanta]]<br />
* [[Yoga]] <br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|group=note|2}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist|30em}}<br />
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==Sources==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
* {{Citation | last =Deutsch | first =Eliot | year =1973 | title =Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Reconstruction | publisher =University of Hawaii Press}}<br />
* {{Citation | last =Fisher | first =Mary Pat | year =2012 | title = Living Religions: A Brief Introduction}}<br />
* {{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 }}<br />
* {{Citation | last =Sullivan | first =B.M. | year =2001 | title =The A to Z of Hinduism | publisher =Rowman & Littlefield | isbn =8170945216}}<br />
* {{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 }}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*{{Cite web<br />
|url=http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/vedicsystem.htm<br />
|title=VEDA - Vedas and Vedic Knowledge Online - Vedic Encyclopedia<br />
|publisher=www.veda.harekrsna.cz<br />
}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu gods]]</div>ImportMaster