Paramatman Facts for Kids

Paramatman (pronounced Par-uh-MAHT-mun) is a Sanskrit word that means the "Supreme Self" or "Highest Soul." It's a very important idea in many Indian religions like Hinduism and Sikhism. Think of Paramatman as the ultimate, original Self, which is connected to the absolute truth of everything. It's about being selfless, where individual thoughts and feelings blend into a bigger, universal consciousness.

What the Word Means
Paramatman in Jainism
Paramatman in Hinduism
Time
See also

What the Word Means

The word paramātman comes from two Sanskrit words:

Parama, which means "supreme" or "highest."
Ātman, which means "individual self" or "soul."

So, Paramatman means the "Supreme Self." While Atman usually refers to your own individual soul, Paramatman is like the soul of all souls, the Universal Self. It's seen as the creator of everything.

Paramatman in Jainism

In Jainism, every individual soul (called atman) has the potential to become a Paramatman, or a God. A soul stays an atman because of its karma (actions and their results). Once these karmic limits are removed, the atman becomes a Paramatman. This means it has reached the highest point of spiritual growth.

Jainism believes in the existence of the soul, and it sees all enlightened souls as Paramatman or gods. However, in Jainism, Paramatman doesn't create or control the world. Instead, each person's soul is honored as its own eternal savior.

Paramatman in Hinduism

Hindus believe in one God, who can be called by many names, including Paramatman, Parameshwar, or Parabrahman. Even though God is one, God can appear in countless forms. This doesn't mean there are many different Gods, but rather one God showing up in different ways.

Different Hindu traditions understand Parabrahman in various ways:

In Advaita Vedanta, Parabrahman is seen as God without any specific qualities (called Nirguna Brahman).
In Dvaita and Vishistadvaita Vedanta, Parabrahman is God with qualities (called Saguna Brahman).
In traditions like Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism, specific deities like Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti are considered Parabrahman.

Descriptions in the Upanishads

Ancient Hindu texts called the Upanishads talk about the idea of the Supreme Self. For example, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad explains that when a person becomes free, their individual soul (Jiva) unites with the Paramatman. At this point, the Jiva no longer experiences the world through senses like sight or smell. The Jiva reaches Moksha (spiritual freedom) when it truly understands that the Paramatman is the all-knowing, all-powerful ruler of everything. So, Paramatman is a key part of Brahman, the ultimate reality, and shares all of Brahman's qualities.

The Parable of the Two Birds

The Rig Veda, an ancient Hindu scripture, doesn't use the word Paramatman, but it hints at it by referring to Isha (the Lord). A famous story, found in the Mundaka Upanishad, uses the image of two birds to explain the relationship between the individual soul and the Supreme Self:

Two birds, beautiful of wings, close companions, cling to one common tree: of the two one eats the sweet fruit of that tree; the other eats not but watches his companion. The self is the bird that sits immersed on the common tree; but because he is not lord he is bewildered and has sorrow. But when he sees that other who is the Lord and the beloved, he knows that all is His greatness and his sorrow passes away from him. When, a seer, he sees the Golden-hued, the maker, the Lord, the Spirit who is the source of Brahman, then he becomes the knower and shakes from his wings sin and virtue; pure of all stains he reaches the supreme identity.

In this story, one bird represents the individual soul (Jiva), which eats the fruits of the tree (experiences life's joys and sorrows). The other bird represents the Paramatman, which simply watches without eating. When the individual soul realizes the presence of the watching bird (the Paramatman), its sadness disappears, and it understands the greatness of the Lord.

The Two Souls

Some philosophies, like the Dualistic school, see the individual soul (Jivatman) and the Supreme Soul (Paramatman) as different. They are both present in the human heart, but they are distinct, like light and shade. The Jivatman experiences the results of actions, while the Paramatman simply observes, like a witness.

The Bhagavad Gita also talks about two types of beings: the changing (Mutable) and the unchanging (Immutable). The changing refers to all living things, while the unchanging is the one who is above them all. The Jivatman is the conscious individual, and the Paramatman is the divine observer. They are always together, like friends sitting on the branch of a tree (which represents the body). The Jivatman acts and experiences, while the Paramatman watches and allows these actions.

Advaita Philosophy

In Advaita philosophy, individual souls are called Jīvātman, and the highest God is called Paramātman. Advaita teaches that the Jivatman and the Paramatman are actually one and the same. This understanding comes when the Jivatman gains true knowledge of Brahman, the ultimate reality.

In Advaita, Paramatman usually refers to God without qualities (Nirguna Brahman). However, sometimes the terms Paramatman and Ishvara (God with qualities) are used interchangeably, even when referring to specific names of God like Narayana or Vishnu.

According to Advaita, the world we see, with its many different things and beings, is like an illusion (called maya). Ishvara is Brahman connected with this illusion. Beyond this changing world and Ishvara is the infinite, limitless Brahman.

Vaishnavism

In Vaishnavism, Paramatman is seen as being beyond all material qualities. In the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text, Paramatman is described as Krishna living in the hearts of all beings and even in every tiny particle of matter. Paramatman is also seen as worthy of devotion (bhakti) from individual souls.

The Bhagavad Gita says:

For I am actually both the one who receives and the Lord over all acts of worship. Whoever offers even a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water to Me in devotion, That is a meaningful offering I accept from those whose souls are truly devoted.

Paramatman is the one who watches and allows all actions. It is different from the five elements, the senses, the mind, and the individual soul.

Many Vaishnava groups believe that simply knowing Brahman or realizing that your soul is one with Brahman is just an early step. They teach that true freedom (Mukti) comes from realizing Paramatman as the God living within you, which is achieved through devotion.

Scholars like Jiva Goswami explain that the one ultimate reality can be understood in three ways:

As Brahman, which is everywhere and has no specific form.
As Paramatman, the Supreme Soul within everything.
As Bhagavan, the most complete form of God, who has a divine and perfect form.

Jiva Goswami believes that Bhagavan is the most complete understanding, and Brahman and Paramatman are parts of this greater reality.

Time

In the Bhagavata Purana, Time is described as a form of the Lord, the supreme controller who has no beginning or end. Time is seen as the witness of all our actions, good or bad. Because Paramatman is our constant companion, it knows everything we have done, are doing, and will do. Paramatman also decides the results of all actions, meaning nothing can happen without its permission.

Paramatman facts for kids

Contents