Jivatma

''Jiva'' ( sa, जीव, IAST: ) is a living being or any entity imbued with a life force in Hinduism and Jainism. The word itself originates from the Sanskrit verb-root ''jīv'', which translates as 'to breathe' or 'to live'. The ''jiva'', as a metaphysical entity, has been described in various scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. Each subschool of Vedanta describes the role of the ''jiva'' with the other metaphysical entities in varying capacities.

Described in the scriptures

A common metaphysical entity discussed in the scriptures (such as the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishad and Vachanamrut) in the seven schools of Vedanta is the ''jiva'' or ''atman'': the soul or self.

Bhagavad Gita

Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita contains verses describing the ''jiva''. For example, the ''jiva'' is described as eternal and indestructible in chapter 2, verse 20:

Upanishads

बालाग्रशतभागस्य शतधा कल्पितस्य च । भागो जीवः स विज्ञेयः स चानन्त्याय कल्पते ॥ ९ �


:"If the tip of the hair were to be divided in to one hundred parts and each part was divided into 100 more parts, that would be the dimension of the Jiva (soul)". Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (5.9)

The Shvetashvatara Upanishad compares the ''jiva'' and the ''Paramatma'' to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree:

समाने वृक्षे पुरुषो निमग्नोऽनीशया शोचति मुह्यमानः । जुष्टं यदा पश्यत्यन्यमीशमस्य महिमानमिति वीतशोकः ॥ ७ �


:"Two birds sitting in the tree (the body). One bird, the jiva is enjoying the fruits of the tree and the other the Paramatma is watching the jiva." Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (4.7)

Vachanamrut

Swaminarayan has described the nature of the ''jiva'' in his discourse in Vachanamrut Jetalpur 2:

Vedanta

Vedanta is one of the six schools ( ''darshanam'') of Hindu philosophy, and it contains subschools that have derived their beliefs from the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. The aforementioned three scriptures are commonly referred to as the Prasthantrayi.

Advaita Darshan

The Advaita (non-dualist) Darshan posits the existence of only one entity, Brahman. It considers all distinctions ultimately false since differentiation requires more than one entity. Those distinctions empirically perceived, along with those expounded in the Prasthanatrayi, are accounted for within this school by the recognition of a relative reality (''vyavaharik satta).'' One such distinction is that between ''jivas'', or souls, and Brahman. Understood through the paradigm of relative reality, ''jivas'' are cloaked by '' maya—avidya'', or ignorance—a state in which they are not able to realize their oneness with Brahman.

Bhedhabheda (Dvaitadvait) Darshan

The Bhedhabheda Darshan, founded by Nimbark, maintains that ''jivas'' are at once distinct and part of Brahman, a middle ground of sorts between the extremes of Advaita, utter oneness, and Dvaita, utter distinctness. This notion of difference yet non-difference is commonly depicted through an analogy: just as rays originate from the sun but are spatio-temporally distinct from it, so too ''jivas'' are parts of the whole that is Brahman.

Dvaita Darshan

Founded by Madhva, the Dvaita (dualist) Darshan rejects the Advaita (non-dualist) notion of one ultimate reality. It propounds a duality of five kinds, the most fundamental of which is that between ''jivas'' and ''Ishvara''. A soul or ''jiva'' is differentiated from God or ''Ishvara'' due to the ''jiva’s'' dependence on ''Ishvara''; this state is an indication of eternal, ontological distinction. Unique to this school is the idea of a hierarchy of souls, evocative of predestination. Within the system, some souls are inherently and eternally destined for liberation, others for hell and still others for migration through the cycle of birth and death.

Vishishtadvaita Darshan

The Vishishtadvaita Darshan, proposed by Ramanuja, maintains an ontological distinction between ''jivas'' and God. However, unlike in the Dvaita Darshan, the distinction is qualified. The ''jiva'' still remains dependent on God for its qualities and volition. Vishishtadvaita holds, like other ''darshanas'', that the self is ''chetan'', a conscious being that is made up of consciousness. The school offers many rebuttals against the Advaita conception, one of which addresses the way in which Advaita's ''jiva'', Brahman, may be in a state of ignorance. The Vishishtadvaita Darshan argues that if ignorance is not a quality of Brahman, then the notion of non-duality is contradicted.

Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

The Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, the teachings of Swaminarayan as interpreted by the BAPS, centers around the existence of five eternal realities, as stated in two of Swaminarayan’s sermons documented in the Vachanamrut, Gadhada 1.7 and Gadhada 3.10:

The ''jiva'' is defined as a distinct, individual soul, i.e., a finite sentient being. ''Jivas'' are bound by ''maya'', which hides their true self, which is characterized by eternal existence, consciousness and bliss. There are an infinite number of ''jivas''. They are extremely subtle, indivisible, unpierceable, ageless and immortal. While residing within the heart, a ''jiva'' pervades the entire body by its capacity to know (''gnānshakti''), making it animate. It is the form of knowledge (''gnānswarūp'') as well as the knower (''gnātā''). The ''jiva'' is the performer of virtuous and immoral actions (karmas) and experiences the fruits of these actions. It has been eternally bound by ''maya''; as a result, it roams within the cycle of birth and death. Birth is when a ''jiva'' acquires a new body, and death is when it departs from its body. Just as one abandons one's old clothes and wears new ones, the ''jiva'' renounces its old body and acquires a new one.

See also

* Gyvas
* Indian religions
* Jīva (Jainism)
* Tirthankara

References

External links

''The Science of the Emotions'' by Bhagavan Das

'Jiva' - usage in Bhagavata Purana

Terms 'jiva' and 'soul' in Western and Eastern philosophy and religion
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Jain philosophical concepts
Hindu philosophical concepts