- Title Pages
- Dedication
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Glossary of Sanskrit Words
- Introduction
- Chapter I A Conceptual Introduction
- Chapter II A Historical Survey
- Chapter III Brahman: Nirguṇa and Saguṇa
- Chapter IV Īśvara
- Chapter V Devī
- Chapter VI The Hindu Trinity (Trimūrti)
- Chapter VII Brahmā
- Chapter VIII Viṣṇu
- Chapter IX Śiva
- Chapter X Jīva
- Chapter XI Saṁsāra
- Chapter XII Karma
- Chapter XIII Dharma
- Chapter XIV Māyā
- Chapter XV Mokṣa
- Chapter XVI Jñāna-yoga
- Chapter XVII Bhakti-yoga
- Chapter XVIII Karma-yoga
- Chapter XIX Varṇa
- Chapter XX Āśrama
- Chapter XXI Puruṣārthas
- Chapter XXII Vedas
- Bibliography
- Name Index
- Subject Index
Īśvara
Īśvara
- Chapter:
- (p.62) Chapter IV Īśvara
- Source:
- Classical Hindu Thought
- Author(s):
Arvind Sharma
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The one ultimate reality can be visualized either in personal or impersonal terms. However, the chronological order of priority of Brahman (neuter) and Brahman (masculine) cannot be determined with certainty. In fact, it is quite possible that the Hindus did not consciously distinguish between the two, and that may be why we find monotheism and monism ‘often mixed up with each other’ in the Brāhmanic period. This chapter discusses monotheism as represented by the concept of Īśvara. The qualified Brahman, if personified, becomes the God or Īśvara. Like it, God also may be represented as the cosmic parallel to the finite individual self, the distinction between them being entirely one of adjuncts.
Keywords: Brahman, Hinduism, Brahmanic period, Monotheism, Īśvara, monism, God
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- Title Pages
- Dedication
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Glossary of Sanskrit Words
- Introduction
- Chapter I A Conceptual Introduction
- Chapter II A Historical Survey
- Chapter III Brahman: Nirguṇa and Saguṇa
- Chapter IV Īśvara
- Chapter V Devī
- Chapter VI The Hindu Trinity (Trimūrti)
- Chapter VII Brahmā
- Chapter VIII Viṣṇu
- Chapter IX Śiva
- Chapter X Jīva
- Chapter XI Saṁsāra
- Chapter XII Karma
- Chapter XIII Dharma
- Chapter XIV Māyā
- Chapter XV Mokṣa
- Chapter XVI Jñāna-yoga
- Chapter XVII Bhakti-yoga
- Chapter XVIII Karma-yoga
- Chapter XIX Varṇa
- Chapter XX Āśrama
- Chapter XXI Puruṣārthas
- Chapter XXII Vedas
- Bibliography
- Name Index
- Subject Index