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Purusha (Samskrit पुरुषः) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic man or Self, Consciousness, and Universal principle.
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{{NeedCitation}}Purusha (Samskrit पुरुषः) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic man or Self, Consciousness, and Universal principle.
    
== परिचय || Introduction ==
 
== परिचय || Introduction ==
During the Vedic period, Purusha concept was one of several theories offered for the creation of universe. Purusha, in Rigveda, was described as a being, who becomes a sacrificial victim of gods, and whose sacrifice creates all life forms including human beings.
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During the Vedic period, Purusha concept was one of several theories offered for the creation of universe. Purusha, in Rigveda, was described as a being, who becomes a sacrificial victim of gods, and whose yajna creates all life forms including human beings.
    
In the Upanishads, the Purusa concept no longer meant a being or cosmic man. The meaning evolved to an abstract essence of Self, Spirit and the Universal Principle that is eternal, indestructible, without form and all pervasive'''.'''The Purusa concept is explained with the concept of [[Prakrti (प्रकृति)|Prakrti]] in the Upanishads. The universe is envisioned, in these ancient Sanskrit texts, as a combination of perceivable material reality and non-perceivable, non-material laws and principles of nature. Material reality, or Prakrti, is everything that has changed, can change and is subject to cause and effect. Purusa is the Universal principle that is unchanging, uncaused but is present everywhere and the reason why Prakrti changes, evolves all the time and why there is cause and effect'''.''' Purusa is what connects everything and everyone, according to various schools of Hinduism.
 
In the Upanishads, the Purusa concept no longer meant a being or cosmic man. The meaning evolved to an abstract essence of Self, Spirit and the Universal Principle that is eternal, indestructible, without form and all pervasive'''.'''The Purusa concept is explained with the concept of [[Prakrti (प्रकृति)|Prakrti]] in the Upanishads. The universe is envisioned, in these ancient Sanskrit texts, as a combination of perceivable material reality and non-perceivable, non-material laws and principles of nature. Material reality, or Prakrti, is everything that has changed, can change and is subject to cause and effect. Purusa is the Universal principle that is unchanging, uncaused but is present everywhere and the reason why Prakrti changes, evolves all the time and why there is cause and effect'''.''' Purusa is what connects everything and everyone, according to various schools of Hinduism.
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== Purusha - As in मुण्डक उपनिषद् || Mundaka upanishad ==
 
== Purusha - As in मुण्डक उपनिषद् || Mundaka upanishad ==
Mundaka Upanishad is the vedanga of the Atharvana Veda. Verses 2-5 describe the attributes of the Purusha.<blockquote>"दिव्यो ह्यमूर्तः पुरुषः सबाह्याभ्यन्तरो ह्यजः |</blockquote><blockquote>अप्रणो ह्यमनाः शुभ्रो ह्यक्षरात्परतः परः || " (Mund. Upan. 2.1.2)</blockquote>Meaning : Replete without a form, this Purusha, all pervading and internal, unborn, without life (breath) or intellect, from Him arise life, breath and mind.   
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Mundaka Upanishad is the vedanga of the Atharvana Veda. Verses 2-5 describe the attributes of the Purusha.<blockquote>"दिव्यो ह्यमूर्तः पुरुषः सबाह्याभ्यन्तरो ह्यजः | अप्रणो ह्यमनाः शुभ्रो ह्यक्षरात्परतः परः || " (Mund. Upan. 2.1.2)</blockquote>Meaning : Replete without a form, this Purusha, all pervading and internal, unborn, without life (breath) or intellect, from Him arises life, breath and mind.   
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It was said
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It was said that from that Imperishable Being, everything proceeds; the world is created by That. That Supreme Imperishable is the divine, formless Purusha. Here Purusha is to be understood in the sense of essential Consciousness. The origin
that from that Imperishable Being, everything proceeds; the world is created by
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That. That Supreme Imperishable is the divine, formless Purusha. Here
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Purusha is to be understood in the sense of essential Consciousness. The origin
   
of all things is Consciousness.
 
of all things is Consciousness.
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Verse 2.1.3
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Verse 2.1.3 wonderfully describes that from this great Purusha (एतस्माज्जायते || etasmaajjayate), everything comes.  
wonderfully describes that from this great Purusha (एतस्माज्जायते || etasmaajjayate), everything comes.  
   
* The cosmic प्राणो || prana, [[Hiranyagarbha (हिरण्यगर्भ)|Hiranyagarbha]], emanates from this Supreme Brahman.     
 
* The cosmic प्राणो || prana, [[Hiranyagarbha (हिरण्यगर्भ)|Hiranyagarbha]], emanates from this Supreme Brahman.     
 
* The Virat, which is called here the मनः || manas, also emanates from that Brahman.     
 
* The Virat, which is called here the मनः || manas, also emanates from that Brahman.     
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== Purusha - As in अत्मनोपनिषद् || Atmanopanishad ==
 
== Purusha - As in अत्मनोपनिषद् || Atmanopanishad ==
The abstract
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The abstract idea Purusa is extensively discussed in various Upanishads, and referred interchangeably as महा-आत्मन || maha-atman and ब्रह्मन् || brahman (not to be confused with a person).
idea Purusa is extensively discussed in various Upanishads, and referred
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interchangeably as महा-आत्मन || maha-atman and ब्रह्मन् || brahman (not to be confused with Brahmin).[2]
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Rishi [[Angirasa (अङ्गिरसः)|Angiras]]
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Rishi [[Angirasa (अङ्गिरसः)|Angirasa]] of the Atmopanishad belonging to the Atharvaveda explains that Purusha, the dweller in the body, is three-fold:  
of the Atmopanishad belonging to the Atharvaveda explains that Purusha, the
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dweller in the body, is three-fold:  
   
* the बाह्यत्मन् || Bahyatman (the Outer-Atman) which is born and dies  
 
* the बाह्यत्मन् || Bahyatman (the Outer-Atman) which is born and dies  
 
* the अन्तरात्मन् || Antaratman (the Inner-Atman) which comprehends the whole range of material phenomena, gross and subtle, with which the Jiva concerns himself  
 
* the अन्तरात्मन् || Antaratman (the Inner-Atman) which comprehends the whole range of material phenomena, gross and subtle, with which the Jiva concerns himself  
 
* the परमात्मन् || Paramatman which is all-pervading, unthinkable, indescribable, is without action and has no संस्कार || Samskaras
 
* the परमात्मन् || Paramatman which is all-pervading, unthinkable, indescribable, is without action and has no संस्कार || Samskaras
 
== Purusha - As in साङ्ख्य || Saamkhya ==
 
== Purusha - As in साङ्ख्य || Saamkhya ==
Samkhya school
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Samkhya school of darshanas states that there are two ultimate realities whose interaction accounts for all experiences and universe - Prakriti (प्रकृति | Matter) and पुरुष || Purusha (पुरुषः | Atman). Sankhya analyzes the cosmos into a dualistic, and atheistic
of Hinduism states that there are two ultimate realities whose interaction
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accounts for all experiences and universe - प्रकृति || Prakriti (matter) and पुरुष || Purusha
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(spirit). Sankhya analyzes the cosmos into a dualistic, and atheistic
   
scheme.  
 
scheme.  
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# In Taittiriya Aranyaka, it is the 12<sup>th</sup> anuvaka in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Kanda.  
 
# In Taittiriya Aranyaka, it is the 12<sup>th</sup> anuvaka in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Kanda.  
 
# It is also found in Sama Veda & Atharva Veda with some variations.  
 
# It is also found in Sama Veda & Atharva Veda with some variations.  
It gives a description of the spiritual unity of the universe. It presents the nature of Purusha or the cosmic being as both immanent in the manifested world and
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It gives a description of the adhyatmik unity of the universe. It presents the nature of Purusha or the cosmic being as both immanent in the manifested world and
 
yet transcendent to it. 
 
yet transcendent to it. 
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Purusha refers to a person or a human being in general. Ayurvedic classics specify that the term ‘Purusha’ denotes Chetana dhatu (‘consciousness, soul or life element’).  The knowledge of life offered by Ayurveda is for longevity, health and well-being of ‘Tridandatmaka Purusha’ which is called as Adhikaran (Object) of Ayurveda.  
 
Purusha refers to a person or a human being in general. Ayurvedic classics specify that the term ‘Purusha’ denotes Chetana dhatu (‘consciousness, soul or life element’).  The knowledge of life offered by Ayurveda is for longevity, health and well-being of ‘Tridandatmaka Purusha’ which is called as Adhikaran (Object) of Ayurveda.  
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=== Etymology according to Ayurvedic classics: ===
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=== Etymology according to Ayurvedic classics ===
 
The term purusha is composed of 2 words.  
 
The term purusha is composed of 2 words.  
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Acharya Charaka has pertinently highlighted the unparallel role of purusha in living world. Acharya says that no object or experience in world can be perceived without the presence of Purusha. Darkness and light, Truth and untruthful, knowledge in Vedas and good or unethical actions, body, pleasure and pain perception, movement, rest, speech, intelligence, birth and death, bondage and liberation; nothing could be perceived without the presence of Purusha in this world. This clearly indicates that the Purusha is the cause of perception and also the prime cause for the creation. (charaka Sharir 1/ 41)
 
Acharya Charaka has pertinently highlighted the unparallel role of purusha in living world. Acharya says that no object or experience in world can be perceived without the presence of Purusha. Darkness and light, Truth and untruthful, knowledge in Vedas and good or unethical actions, body, pleasure and pain perception, movement, rest, speech, intelligence, birth and death, bondage and liberation; nothing could be perceived without the presence of Purusha in this world. This clearly indicates that the Purusha is the cause of perception and also the prime cause for the creation. (charaka Sharir 1/ 41)
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=== Ayurveda acharyas have described Purusha from different perspectives as follows ===
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=== Various components of Purusha described in Ayurvedic classics ===
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Purusha is one and single entity. However after reviewing other shastras, Ayurveda acharyas have mentioned various components of Purusha described elsewhere and specified the meaning of term 'Purusha' when used in context of Ayurveda shastra. Ayurveda acharyas have described Purusha from different perspectives as follows,
    
==== कर्मपुरुषः|| Karmapurusha ====
 
==== कर्मपुरुषः|| Karmapurusha ====
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==== एकधात्वात्मक: पुरुषः|| Ekdhatwatmaka Purusha ====
 
==== एकधात्वात्मक: पुरुषः|| Ekdhatwatmaka Purusha ====
 
When purusha refers only to the consciousness inside the human body then it is called as ‘Ek dhatwatmaka purusha’ i.e. Purusha composed of single element named ‘Chetana’ (life element/living force) Citation needed
 
When purusha refers only to the consciousness inside the human body then it is called as ‘Ek dhatwatmaka purusha’ i.e. Purusha composed of single element named ‘Chetana’ (life element/living force) Citation needed
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==== त्रिदन्डात्मकपुरुषः|| Tridandatmaka Purusha ====
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Acharya Charaka has clearly mentioned that, knowledge about life offered in Ayurveda is related to the Ayu of त्रिदन्डात्मकपुरुषः । Tridandatmaka [[Purusha (पुरुषः)|Purusha]].  सत्वम्। [[Manas (मनः)|Satva]] (Mind), आत्मा। [[Atman (आत्मन्)|Atman]] (Life energy) and शरीरम् । [[Sharira (शरीरम्)|Shariram]] (Body) are the three basic components. The union of these three components form the tripod of life. The entire life depends and sustains on this union. It must be understood that any one of these is not sufficient to uphold the life individually. When each one of these factors supports other and form a union, they develop the ability to sustain the life. When any one of these factors is absent and their union breaks, the life discontinues. Hence each of these 3 factors and their union hold equal importance. This union is also called as  पुमान् । Puman or चेतनम् । Chetan and Tridandatmaka Purusha
    
==== चतुर्विंशतिकः पुरुषः || Chaturvinshatika purusha ====
 
==== चतुर्विंशतिकः पुरुषः || Chaturvinshatika purusha ====

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