Purushottama

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Purushottama (Sanskrit: पुरुषोत्तम from पुरुष, purusha "spirit" or "male" and उत्तम, uttama, "highest") means "Supreme Purusha," "Supreme Being," or "Supreme God," the "One who is the Supreme Purusha beyond the Kshara (Destroyable — i.e., Prakṛti) and (Undestroyable — i.e., Atman)."

Beyond kshar and akshar[]

Purushottama is one of the names of Lord Vishnu and appears as the 24th name of Lord Vishnu in Vishnu Sahasranama of the Mahabharata. Lord Rama as an avatara of Lord Vishnu is called Maryada Purushottama, whereas Lord Krishna as an avatara of Lord Vishnu is known as Leela or Purushottama.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, Purushottam is explained as above and beyond kshar and akshar purushas or as an omnipotent cosmic being. Kshara is explained as "destroyable," Prakṛti, bound by maya; and Akshara (अक्षर) as "imperishable," "unalterable," "undestroyable," Atman, the one who is unchanging, forever beyond maya. For example, verses 15.16 and 15.17 of the Bhagavad Gita explain:

There are two types of beings within the world: ‘kshar’ and ‘akshar’. All those bound by maya are kshar, whereas the one who is unchanging – forever beyond maya – is Akshar.
The supreme being is distinct [from kshar and Akshar]. He is called Paramatma.[1][note 1]

The Purushottama was explained by the integral philosopher Haridas Chaudhuri (1913–1975) as representing that ineffable phenomenon that lies even beyond the undifferentiated Godhead.

Purushottam is often misinterpreted as "Foremost Amongst All Men." The most appropriate word for this concept in Sanskrit literature is "Narottam," which is used for Arjun in the Mahabharat.

Notes[]

  1. ^ द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च ।
    क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते ।।
    उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः ।।

References[]

  1. ^ Sadhu 2017, pp. 168.

Sources[]

  • Rajaguru, S.N. (1992). Inscriptions of Jagannath Temple and Origin of Sri Purusottam Jagannath. Vol. 1–2. Puri: Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya.
  • Sadhu, Paramtattvadas (2017). An introduction to Swaminarayan Hindu theology. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107158672. OCLC 964861190.


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