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Atma (आत्मा)

Atma (आत्मा) means “that which pervades.” The term is used for both the individual soul and Shri Krishna, but its fullest meaning belongs to Shri Krishna alone.

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Atma (आत्मा)

Atma (आत्मा | Ātman) literally means "that which pervades" (vyāpaka).

The Vedas use the word Atma for both the individual soul (Jeev) and Shri Krishna, because both pervade. However, the extent of their pervasion is infinitely different.

The Jeev pervades only the physical body in which it resides. By pervading the body, consciousness is experienced throughout the body. When the soul departs at death, the body becomes inert and can no longer experience any pain, or sensation.

Shri Krishna, on the other hand, pervades every living and non-living entity, including every individual soul. Thus, while the Jeev is vyāpaka (pervading) with respect to its own body, it is also vyāpya (pervaded) by Shri Krishna. In the fullest and absolute sense, therefore, the word Atma truly applies to Shri Krishna alone, whose all-pervading nature is infinite.

Relationship to Jeev

Thus, although these words have different literal meanings and derivations, they are often used interchangeably to refer to the same entity—the individual soul.

  • Jeev (जीव | jīva) means the individual conscious living being.
  • Atma (आत्मा | Ātman) emphasizes the quality of pervading.
  • Jeevatma (जीवात्मा | jīvātmā) refers to the Jeev as the conscious principle that pervades the body.

See Main Entry

👉 Jeev

Alternate Spelling

atman, aatma, aatmaa

Reference

Who am I? Who is Mine? Vol. 1, Ch. 1

Narad Bhakti Sutra - Lecture 6

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