MYSTICA Hinduism 01

The Ultimate – Brahman (1)

“The offering is Brahman; the oblation is Brahman;

offered by Brahman into the fire of Brahman.

Brahman will be attained by him,

who always sees Brahman in action.” (Hymn 4.24)

“He who finds his happiness within,

His delight within,

And his light within,

This yogin attains the bliss of Brahman, becoming Brahman.” (Hymn 5.24)

— Bhagavad Gita

Nothing is profounder, abstruser, more elusive, or more perplexing than defining this Being with dozens of words. Nevertheless, it's surprisingly simple, clear, and intuitive to imagine this in our minds. Actually, for thousands of years, thousands of sages and pundits in Hinduism have defined Brahman ever employing a plethora of colorful words in thousands of sacred literature in history. This shows how vain language is before Brahman. Because the essence of language is Brahman.

The supreme being, the universal consciousness, the highest reality,…

It might be thought that it's appropriate to grasp Brahman as a whole by eliminating some notions unconcerned with to carve out. However, Brahman is everything. It's being everywhere, every time, and immanent in everything. It's broader than the atmosphere, void, or even the Universe. Because the Universe consists of Brahman.

Etymology

Brahman is a Sanskrit word, derived from a root bṛh-, which means “to swell, expand, grow, enlarge.” It's a neuter noun, but a little confusing that the masculine noun from the same stem, brahmā, refers to a male who embodies the quality of Brahman in various senses. Also, in Hindu mythology, the creator god of the Universe is Brahmā.

Furthermore, out of the origin, the word Brahman could mean “sacred lore” as a whole, or a “priestly sacred speech,” or even “priesthood” itself, which can denote either the priestly class or the sacred power. In this "priesthood" sense, the counterpart can be kṣatra, which means “royalty,” the power of the secular ruling class.

But in later Hinduism, the neuter and masculine forms of the word have become clearly differentiated and attached to two distinct concepts respectively. Today, Brahman (neuter) exclusively refers to the Ultimate, and Brahmā (masculine) to the creator god.

But in the Upaniṣads, the fourth and last part of the collection of Hindu sacred hymns Vedas (or Vedānta), the distinction is still vague. In Bṛhadāraṅyaka Upaniṣad, the creator seems to shift between the neuter abstract being and the masculine deity. In Kena Upaniṣad, the neuter Brahman is active, appearing before the gods as a mysterious being (yakṣa). Also, in Kauṣītakī Upaniṣad, the creator god Brahmā and a male person Brahmā who has realized Brahman are mixed and ambiguous. Accordingly, we can say that such ambiguity can also be a significant characteristic of Brahman.

As can be seen above, the word Brahman itself is very universal, which encompasses quite broad intentions and connotations, or even an enigmatic umbrella. Actually, in the Upaniṣads, all these various meanings are still mixed. But by and by, the word has developed to mean the sacred power ‘of the Universe,’ so the supreme, ultimate reality. As there are overlaps in various meanings of Brahman, I guess that the modern translators who interpret the Hindu sacred scriptures would be confused about which word should be appropriate to translate the original author’s mind…

The Ultimate Reality

To describe Brahman flawlessly, we will require hundreds of adjectives at once. The ultimate, supreme, eternal, omnipresent, ubiquitous, universal, absolute,…

Master Sankara (or Sankarācārya; 8th century CE)

Master Sankara (or Sankarācārya; 8th century CE), the great reformer of Hinduism and the founder of the school of Advaita Vedānta, referred to Brahman as Nirguna (‘without qualities’).

In Hinduism, Brahman is often described as the Saccidānanda (or Sat-Cit-Ānanda), which is a compound word of three concepts, Sat-Cit-Ānanda (simply Existence-Consciousness-Bliss). In the Sanskrit language, the word compounding is an essential characteristic like German. So let's break it down!

Sat:

Being, Truth, Existence, Infinity, Omnipresence, the eternal and unchanging absolute Reality.

Cit:

Consciousness, Awareness, the aspect of Knowledge and Intelligence.

Ananda:

Bliss, Joy, Euphoria, the flawless Delight.

As this property Saccidānanda confirms, Brahman is the immanent essence from which everything emerges and to which everything returns, unfathomable, unborn and uncreated, but eternal reality, and the ultimate of the universe, encompassing everything yet beyond everything. But even more words can't wrap up around Brahman enough…

And also, Brahman is often represented by AUM. The nature of the mysterious Sanskrit syllable AUM signifies all-encompassing.

AUM

AUM

The AUM, also called Prānava, the sacred syllable, encompasses the whole Universe within. Because the AUM consists of the first vowel A and the last vowel U, as well as the last consonant M of the Sanskrit alphabet. So it encompasses all possible words of the combination within.

According to the Māndukya Upaniṣad, the AUM signifies the four stages of consciousness.

A: waking consciousness.

U: dream consciousness.

M: deep sleep.

and,…

AUM: the fourth state of consciousness.

In Hindu life, the AUM is usually recited to introduce and to conclude a religious practice, an act of worship, and an important task. It is supposed to be auspicious, and its prolonged intonation (like AU—m) is said to associate with the creative sound, through which the Universe came into existence.

The source of Everything

Brahman is the origin of the Universe, the sustainer of the Universe, and the final destination of the Universe. It is also the cosmic consciousness and the foundation of the universe, transcending space, time, and human comprehension. Everything, All matters and spirits, emanates from this supreme Brahman.

Brahman is often likened to an endless screen on which the movie of creation is projected as the material and the ultimate cause of the Universe.

Unchanging, but Changing

As we have seen, Brahman is essentially unchanging, immutable, and eternal divine consciousness. However, on the other hand, it appears as the changing, ever transmutating, and temporal phenomenal Universe through Maya (illusion, deception). Note that in Hindu philosophy, the Universe as a whole in reality is phenomena of vision and perception, contrasted with the European ontology, such as the “thing in itself” of Immanuel Kant. While the world and bodies are temporal and ever changing, Brahman remains the constant, non-dual substratum. The apparent change is attributed to Maya, or cosmic illusion, of the side of subjectivity, which disguises the unchanging, eternal nature of reality.

Unchanging Brahman

As Brahman is the absolute reality, the supreme, non-dual foundational consciousness, it transcends time, space, and causation. It doesn’t undergo any modification, development, growth, or decay, but is immutable and unperturbed (nirvikara) in nature.

As often likened to an endless screen upon which the world of phenomena is projected, Brahman is the unchanging, constant substratum. Also, Brahman is essentially identical with Atman, the individual soul, to unite indivisibly as a whole.

Nirguna

As I’ve mentioned a little above, Nirguna means literally “without quality” in Sanskrit. Nirguna is used as an epithet for Brahman in its ultimate aspect. In Hindu tradition in general, the ultimate being is to be without any quality or attribute, and transcends All particularity, superior to any qualified form. So Brahman is nirguna (without quality) in view of the unchanging aspect. In Hindu philosophy, this concept was first suggested by Advaita Vedānta, which was founded by Sankara, based on the Upaniṣads.

But this belief was opposed by some sects, such as the Gaudīya Vaisnava, which was founded by Caitanya (or Krsna Caitanya; 1486-1533) in Gauda, ancient Bengal. This Gaudīya Vaisnava sampradāya (= sect) specifically believed that Krsna, the 8th avatāra(bodily appearances) of savior God Visnu, must be the ultimate reality.

Changing appearances of Brahman

Maya (Illusion)

While Maya means in several senses, in the tradition of the Vedas, Maya referred to the magic or power of the divinity, or the delusive and enthralling power of the individual divinity.

Then later, in Advaita Vedānta, founded by Sankara, the term Maya developed a specialized meaning of “illusion,” specifically, the illusory nature of the world of phenomena. It is an alternative term for Avidya (ignorance). The root reason of suffering and involvement in the cycle of reincarnation (Samsara) is Avidyā. Because the lack of Vidyā (knowledge), that is, Avidya, about the unitary nature of the Ultimate Brahman, causes sufferings in real life.

Maya is the illusory veil over the Brahman. Actually, the illusion neither exists nor nonexists, but is something that cannot be defined by itself. So, in other words, Maya is just the world, which we sense and perceive. Maya should disappear as a fog does when the light of Vidyā (knowledge) about the ultimate reality, Brahman, shines the truth in consciousness.

In Sāktism (Sakti = power), Goddess Devī, who is the deification of ‘Power,’ is believed as the supreme principle and worshiped in an exclusive way. The Goddess Devī is identified not only with Brahman, but also with Prakrti (nature, matter, substances).

In this Sākta tradition, the Goddess of Power is sometimes called Maya or Mahamaya. But in this sense, Maya has NO negative, illusory connotations, but merely refers to the Devī’s supreme magical power.

Saguna

Saguna means “with qualities” literally, just antonymous with Nirguna (‘without quality’), so it refers to anything having distinguishing qualities. In the context of divinity, it signifies particular deities with particular attributes. In the traditions of the Upaniṣads, any manifestation of a deity “with qualities” is seen as inferior to the Nirguna(without quality) Brahman.

This belief was also opposed by Gaudīya Vaishnavism, founded by Caitanya (see above!) as they insisted that the supreme deity Krisna should have the particular form “with the qualities.”

Although Brahman itself is changeless as the aspect of Nirguna Brahman, it also manifests as the ever changing Universe on the go. In view of Saguna (with qualities) Brahman, it can be perceived as the manifestation of the personal creator, sustainer, and destroyer, associating with the dynamic, changing real world.

Immanent in Everything, but Transcendent

Brahman is immanent, and at the same time, transcendent. It's present within everything as the inner self, Atman, the consciousness in All beings, and simultaneously, exists beyond the Universe, timeless and formless. As we have seen, Brahman is the ultimate reality, and both the substance of the Universe and the source and foundation of All existence, manifested through diverse deities, but ultimately one.

To realize this unity, the truth that “Atman is Brahman” is the ultimate goal of Moksha (spiritual liberation).

Brahman as Immanent (Within)

According to Vaisnava theology, which worships the savior God Visnu as the supreme being, the form of a deity dwelling in the human mind, guiding and accompanying it through the experiences of heaven and hell, is called Antaryāmi (literally meaning ‘the inner ruler’ or ‘inner witness’).

In this sense, Brahman resides within every being as the Antaryāmi ("inner witness"). Also, it is Atman, our true self.

And Brahman permeates everywhere in the Universe, and constitutes the material World as the foundation. Everything emerges from Brahman.

Through Maya (illusion), Brahman manifests itself as individual Gods and the Universe as a whole, allowing for phenomena and experiences as the Īsvara (the creator of the Universe).

Brahman as Transcendent (Beyond)

In its ultimate aspect, Nirguna (‘without quality’) Brahman, it is without name, form, boundaries, limit, or attributes, and exists beyond time, space, and causation.

And it is unknowable beyond human comprehension because it is unlimited by the mind, senses, and perception.

Unraveling the Paradox

Consequently, Brahman is immanent WITHIN everything, and transcendent BEYOND everything in nature. Then, how should we comprehend the absolute nature of Brahman?

Brahman can NOT be split into two. Rather, these are two sides of observing the same Ultimate Reality. For example, imagine the endless ocean as the transcendent aspect, and the numberless waves coming and going as the immanent aspect. The waves are identical to the ocean, but the two different aspects of the same infinite entity. And we have an evil, cruel face, and also a good, generous face. We ourselves are NOT defined as the absolute evil, nor the absolute good.

In Hinduism, our spiritual journey involves knowing the transcendent Brahman in the immanent world. And the unification is our ultimate goal, recognizing our own true Self, Atman, as identical to the universal Brahman.

Well,... My attempt to describe Brahman is falling into an endless, redundant tautology as expected. Eventually, I must have been merely circling ONLY one truth hundreds of times like a sleepwalker…

Having said that, despite the complexity to explain Brahman with hundreds of words, it's rather unexpectedly easier to represent it in our mind without any notion.

Brahman is the most important concept and the foundation of Hinduism. The Ultimate explains the unity of the Universe as a whole behind the diversity.

And in Hinduism, the true Self, Atman, is considered to be identical with Brahman in essence, and to achieve the unification of Atman into the omnipresent and immanent Brahman is the ultimate goal for individual lives. Not only understanding Brahman, but also achieving union with Brahman, which is called Moksha, is the spiritual liberation for freedom out of the cycle of reincarnation, Samsara.

Brahman is the most significant key to understanding and practicing Hinduism!

In my coming post, let's take a further look into how Brahman has been expounded in Hindu philosophy, especially from the aspects of manifestation and unification! Stick around!

Mystica

Thursday, February 12, 2026

MYSTICA Hinduism 01: The Ultimate – Brahman (1)