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Para Brahman (IAST para-brahmaṇ) (the highest brahman) - is a term often used by Vedantic philosophers as to the "attainment of which is his ultimate goal". It is believed that all Vaishnava and other schools attribute Personhood to this concept, as in Svayam bhagavan. Under terms of some schools of Vedanta, He has three modal aspects with a highest as Para Brahman or Krishna. This term is often quoted often used in relation to Krishnas being the ultimate goal of Vedanta. Its belived that one of the prominent Hindu philosophers, Dr. Radhakrishnan, after his alleged conversion to Gaudiya Vaishnavism in early 1960s, has confirmed that this term is applied to the person, being the absolute.
Vaishnavism
ParaBrahman (literally, that which transcends Brahman) means Supreme Brahman, or Supreme Cosmic Spirit, within which the universe is contained suggests a panentheistic view of God. Vishnu or Krishna is ParaBrahman in all Vaishnava traditions. In Vaishnavism, ParaBrahman is the source of the Brahman effulgence. Vedic scriptures usually quoted by Vaishnavas to point out that Krishna or Vishnu as the Supreme Lord:
ete camsa-kalah pumsah krishnas tu bhagavan svayam indras vyakulam lokam mrdayanti yuge yuge
All incarnations are either plenary portions or expansions of plenary portions appearing in various universes to protect the theists; but Lord Krishna is the original supreme lord and the source of all. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.27-28)
isvara paramah krishna sac-cid-ananda vigrahah anadir adir govindah sarva karana karanam
Lord Krishna is the supreme absolute controller, whose form comprises immortality, omniscience and bliss. He is without beginning, the origin of all, the cause of all causes and the source of the Vedas. (Brahma Samhita 5.1)
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah
Let me offer my humble obeisance unto Lord Krishna, who is the worshipable deity for all brahminical people, who is the well-wisher of the cows and brahmanas and who is always benedicting all the universes. (Vishnu Purana 1.19.65)
Krishna Himself confirms this in the Bhagavad-Gita when He says:
mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya mayi sarvam idam protam sutre mani-gana iva
There is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. (Bhagavad Gita 7.7)
bhajagovindam bhajagovindam govindam bhajamuudhamate naamasmaranaadanyamupaayam nahi pashyaamo bhavatarane
Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool! Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean. (Bhaja Govindam, composed by Adi Shankaracharya)
ParaBrahman is also the highest among the five eternal entities within Swaminarayana sect of Hinduism.
Other uses
Other sects like Shaivism and Shaktism also have a concept of Parasiva or Parashakti symbolic of ParaBrahman.
Also the name of an Upanishad, the Para-Brahma Upanishad. It is one of the 23 Sannyāsa Upanishads.
See also
References and Notes
- Sawai, Y. (1987). "The Nature of Faith in the Sankaran Vedanta Tradition". Numen. 34 (1): 18–44. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- Malkovsky, B. (1997). "The Personhood of Samkara's" Para Brahman"". The Journal of Religion. 77 (4): 541. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- White, C.S.J. (1970). "Krsna as Divine Child". History of Religions. 10 (2): 156. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- His Thought, I.S. (1992). "Radhakrishnan: His Philosophical Position". Tagore and Radhakrishnan, a Study in Religious Perspective.
- Parabrahma: Bhakti Yoga Dictionary on Parabrahma
- http://vedabase.net/sb/1/3/en1
- http://vedabase.net/bs/5/1/en
- http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Articles/sriguru.html
- http://www.bhagavad-gita.us/articles/389/1/Bhagavad-Gita-77/Page1.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/Bhaja_Govindam
- Satsang Glossary - P
- Para-Brahma Upanishad
- Para Brahma Upanishad
Links
"VEDA - Vedas and Vedic Knowledge Online - Vedic Encyclopedia". www.veda.harekrsna.cz.
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