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==Etymology ==
 
==Etymology ==
Brahman (ब्रह्मन्) is derived from the dhatus बृहँ and बृहिँ in the meaning of वृद्धौ (vrddhi)<ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%82 See ब्रह्म])</ref> - बृंहति वर्द्धते निरतिशयमहत्त्व-लक्षणवृद्धिमान् भवतीत्यर्थः - to expand, grow, enlarge, one which is beyond comparison. It is used to explain the concept of the transcendent and immanent ultimate reality, Supreme force which is attributeless.     
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Brahman (ब्रह्मन्) is derived from the dhatus बृहँ and बृहिँ in the meaning of वृद्धौ (vrddhi)<ref name=":0">Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%82 See ब्रह्म])</ref> - बृंहति वर्द्धते निरतिशयमहत्त्व-लक्षणवृद्धिमान् भवतीत्यर्थः - to expand, grow, enlarge, one which is beyond comparison. It is used to explain the concept of the transcendent and immanent ultimate reality, Supreme force which is attributeless.     
    
Brahman is thus a gender-neutral concept that implies greater impersonality than masculine or feminine conceptions of a deity. Brahman is referred to as the supreme self.  
 
Brahman is thus a gender-neutral concept that implies greater impersonality than masculine or feminine conceptions of a deity. Brahman is referred to as the supreme self.  
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*[[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)]] is a deity who has the role of the creator among the [[Trimurti|Trimurtis]], having a lifetime measured in kalpas (see [[Kala (कालः)|Kala]])
 
*[[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)]] is a deity who has the role of the creator among the [[Trimurti|Trimurtis]], having a lifetime measured in kalpas (see [[Kala (कालः)|Kala]])
 
*Ishvara (ईश्वरः), in Advaita, is identified as a partial worldly manifestation (with limited attributes) of the ultimate reality, the attributeless Brahman. In Visishtadvaita and Dvaita, however, Ishvara (the Supreme Controller) has infinite attributes and the source of the impersonal Brahman.
 
*Ishvara (ईश्वरः), in Advaita, is identified as a partial worldly manifestation (with limited attributes) of the ultimate reality, the attributeless Brahman. In Visishtadvaita and Dvaita, however, Ishvara (the Supreme Controller) has infinite attributes and the source of the impersonal Brahman.
== Qualities of Brahman ==
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== Nature of Brahman ==
An abstract but highly discussed word, Brahman, is the core of the Vedanta and Upanishad literatures. All sampradayas are unified in agreeing to the concept of an attributeless supreme entity, with variations seen only in the paths taken to understand and experience Brahman.  
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An abstract but highly discussed word, Brahman, is the core of the Vedanta and Upanishad texts, a concept fundamental and unique to Sanatana Dharma. No other philosophies of the world has this way of thinking, it is the most ancient concept. All sampradayas are unified in agreeing to the existence in an attributeless supreme entity, while variations amongst them are seen only with respect to the path followed to understand and experience Brahman.  
: वेदान्तमते ‘वस्तु सच्चिदानन्दाद्वयं ब्रह्म तथा अज्ञानादिसकलजडसमूहोऽवस्तु ।’ ‘ब्रह्मैव नित्यं वस्तु तदन्यदखिलमनित्यम् ।’  
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: वेदान्तमते ‘वस्तु सच्चिदानन्दाद्वयं ब्रह्म तथा अज्ञानादिसकलजडसमूहोऽवस्तु ।’ ‘ब्रह्मैव नित्यं वस्तु तदन्यदखिलमनित्यम् ।’<ref name=":0" />
    
== Evolution of Concept of Brahman ==
 
== Evolution of Concept of Brahman ==
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Brahman is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists. It is the pervasive, genderless, infinite, eternal truth and bliss which does not change, yet is the cause of all changes. Brahman is "the infinite source, fabric, core and destiny of all existence, both manifested and unmanifested, the formless infinite substratum and from which the universe has grown".  
 
Brahman is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists. It is the pervasive, genderless, infinite, eternal truth and bliss which does not change, yet is the cause of all changes. Brahman is "the infinite source, fabric, core and destiny of all existence, both manifested and unmanifested, the formless infinite substratum and from which the universe has grown".  
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Formless and nameless be the description of Nirguna Brahma, however, his nature is Infiniteness, Absoluteness, Eternity, Changelessness finally it constitutes All That is (अस्तीति). That which is beyond number and name is denoted by one sound called Pranava.
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Formless and nameless be the description of Nirguna Brahma, however, his nature is Infiniteness, Absoluteness, Eternity, Changelessness finally it constitutes All That is (अस्तीति). That which is beyond number and name is denoted by one sound called Pranava (प्रणवः).
===प्रणवम् ॥ Pranava===
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Represented by OM (ॐ) or Pranava (प्रणवम्) and designated as तत् ॥ That, IT (Brahman । ब्रह्मन्) stands for Unity, which cannot be perceived by the eyes, but which IS (exists सत्) and is implied in the very existence of universes, systems, worlds, and in effect all entities (animate or inanimate) is the Brahman. All Upanishads discuss the matter of Pranava giving different perspectives about how it represents Brahman.
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Shvetasvatara Upanishad<blockquote>यदाऽतमस्तन्न दिवा न रात्रिर्न सन्नचासच्छिव एव केवलः । तदक्षरं तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं प्रज्ञा च तस्मात्प्रसृता पुराणी ॥ १८ ॥(Shev. Upan. 4.18)<ref>Shvetasvatara Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4% Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote>Taittriya Upanishad
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Tattriyopanishad,  Shikshavalli contains the stuti of Pranava in the eighth anuvaka as follows<blockquote>ओमिति ब्रह्म । ओमितीदँसर्वम् । (Tait. Upan. 1.8)<ref>Taittriyopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4% Shikshavalli, Anuvaka 8])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म (Maha. Nara. Upan. 33)</blockquote>Kathopanishad
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Kathopanishad states <blockquote>सर्वे वेदा यत्पदमामनन्ति तपाँसि सर्वाणि च यद्वदन्ति । यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदँ संग्रहेण ब्रवीम्योमित्येतत् ॥ १५ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>एतद्ध्येवाक्षरं ब्रह्म एतद्ध्येवाक्षरं परम् । एतद्ध्येवाक्षरं ज्ञात्वा यो यदिच्छति तस्य तत् ॥ १६ ॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.2.15-16)<ref>Kathopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Adhyaya 1 Valli 2])</ref></blockquote>That which all the Vedas declare, that which all austerities utter, That desiring which they lead the life of Brahmacharya, That Word I tell thee briefly : it is Aum. That Word is even Brahman; that Word is even the Supreme. Knowing that Word, whatever one desires, that becomes his.<ref name=":022">''Sanatana Dharma : An Advanced Textbook of Hindu Religion and Ethics''. (1903) Benares : The Board of Trustees, Central Hindu College</ref>
      
Unity of Jivatma and Brahman
 
Unity of Jivatma and Brahman

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