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Saguna brahman

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Saguna brahman(lit.'The Absolute with qualities';[1]fromSanskritsaguṇa'with qualities',guna'quality', andBrahman'theAbsolute') is a concept ofultimate realityinHinduism,close to the concept ofimmanence,the manifesteddivine presence.

Yoga[edit]

Rājarshi (2001: p. 45) conveys his estimation of the historical synthesis of the School ofYoga(one of the sixĀstikaschools ofHinduism) which he holds introduces the principle of "Isvara"as Saguna Brahman, to reconcile the extreme views ofVedanta's "advandva" andSankya's "dvandva":

"Introducing the special tattva (principle) called Ishvara by yoga philosophy is a bold attempt to bring reconciliation between the transcendental, nondual monism of vedanta and the pluralistic, dualistic, atheism of sankhya. The composite system of yoga philosophy brings the two doctrines of vedanta and sankya closer to each other and makes them understood as the presentation of the same reality from two different points of view. The nondual approach of vedanta presents the principle ofadvandva(nonduality of the highest truth at the transcendental level.) The dualistic approach of sankhya presents truth of the same reality but at a lower empirical level, rationally analyzing the principle ofdvandva(duality or pairs of opposites). Whereas, yoga philosophy presents the synthesis of vedanta and sankhya, reconciling at once monism and dualism, the supermundane and the empirical. "[2]

Vedanta[edit]

According toDvaitaandVishistadvaita,Brahmanis conceived as Saguna Brahman (personal deity) orIshvara(Lord of the universe) with infinite attributes, including form.[3]In Dvaita, Saguna Brahman is distinct from individual souls and the material world. In Vishistadvaita, while Brahman is the supreme reality, the world and souls are its body or modes, making them integral to Brahman.[3]Dvaita and Vishistadvaita considers Saguna Brahman as the ultimate reality and liberation (moksha) is attained only by the grace ofGod.[3]Shankara(Advaita) distinguishes between Saguna Brahman (with qualities) andNirguna Brahman(without qualities), with Saguna Brahman seen as illusory, and Nirguna Brahman as real.[3]

Other[edit]

Suryais regarded as Saguna Brahman bySaura (Hinduism),GoddessShakti(orParvati,Durga,Kali,Mahalakshmi,orGayatri) is seen as the Saguna Brahman inShaktismandShivais the Saguna Brahman ofShaivism.[4] [note 1]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^It is also understood that worshippers of a particular personal form of God or Goddess as supreme may see other personal forms as plenary portions or expansions or aspects ofBrahman.

References[edit]

  1. ^The Shambala Encyclopedia of Yoga (p. 247), byGeorg Feuerstein,Ph.D.,ISBN1-57062-137-3
  2. ^Swami Rājarshi Muni (2001).Yoga: the ultimate spiritual path.Second edition, illustrated. Llewellyn Worldwide.ISBN1-56718-441-3,ISBN978-1-56718-441-9.Source:[1](accessed: Friday May 7, 2010), p.45
  3. ^abcdIannone 2013,p. 78.
  4. ^Swami Dayananda Sarasvati (2005).The Philosophy Of Religion In India.Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. p. 47.ISBN9788180900792.Retrieved1 January2005.

Bibliography[edit]