Brahman

                                                   Brahman                                                                                                                                                                                                               KRISHNARAJA SHARMA

The term Brahman is used to explain the Absolute or the Ultimate Reality. The investigation into the structure of this Brahman is seen in the Upanishads. The study of Upanishads requires high austerity and great penance (thapas) from the part of students. It is not easy to understand Upanishads by studying the lexical,literal or etymological meaning of the verses.

Brahman is the indestructible, indescribable, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, the eternal principle without beginning or end, immersed in all beings. Brahman is explained as the atman while the material existence is caused by prakrithi. Some schools of thought believe that both physical and intellectual aspects are caused by the Brahman. As he is immersed in each and every particle of this Universe(it is not the suitable word-'vishwam' is not the Universe. The Universe is only a part of the 'vishwam'), there is nothing beyond Brahman. (It is to be noted that the term 'he' is used only for convenience and no gender can be attributed to the Brahman). Brahman has no form and so he is invisible. As he is the wishwam, we, being immersed by him, can experience him. Mahavakyas explain the Brahman in detail.

Aham Brahmasmi- This mahavakya is in the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad of the Shukla Yajurvedam. It explains that the Brahman is the supreme power. There is no separate entity for the universe from God. The universe itself is God. Every being on this universe,as part of the universe,is indwelt by God. The Universe is the part of the Brahman which is full and perfect. Though it is a part of the Brahman, it is full and perfect as each particle of the universe is indwelt by the full and perfect Brahman. Therefore each tiny particle of this universe itself is full and perfect.

PrajnanamBrahma- knowledge of the self, knowledge of the Athman is itself Brahman. This is from Aithareya Upanishad of Rig Vedam. 'Pra' means superior, supreme,

highest in quality and 'jna' refers to consciousness, undersdtanding,knowledge etc. Prajnaanam here means consciousness of the Brahman. A higher function of the intellect that can ascertain the truth of the 'sath' has really attained the ultimate truth Brahman and therefore the consciousness of the ultimate truth itself is Brahman.

Ayamathma brahma-This mahavakya is in the Mandukya Upanishad of the Atharva vedam. Atma refers to the self-luminous and non-mediate nature of the Self, which is internal to everything. The self is the substance out of which all things are really made that which is within us and is everywhere, that fills all space, expands into all existence, and is vast beyond all measure of perception or knowledge. The self itself has no seperate existence from the Absolute.

Tat tvam asi – This is in Chandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda.Uddalaka was teaching his son Swethakethu. While explaining about the Absolute, he told these words to his son which means 'you are that'. He tells his son that he is the Brahman. He means that the self and the Absolute are not different but the same. The absolute identity between the jivathma and the paramathma is explained here.

Sankaraacharya says,

''ब्रहमसत्यं जगन्मिथ्य जीवो ब्रहमाइवा नापरा''

Brahman is the reality, the Universe is an illusion. The living being is none else, but the Brahman. In vedantha sathyam means the absolute reality that which exists in past, present and future unchanging, and in the three states of consciousness(waking state, dream state and deep sleep state). The life-principle, the pure consciousness present in all jiva as their inner spirit is the all-pervading Brahman.