Atman
आत्मन् (Ātman)
“Who am I beyond the physical body, emotional fluctuations, and intellectual ideas?”
Canonical Definition
Atman is the true Self, the inner witness (Sakshi), pure immortal consciousness that is eternal, unchanging, and distinct from the physical body, vital breaths, and fleeting thoughts.
The Upanishads systematically analyze our experience into five sheaths (Pancha Koshas): the food sheath (body), energy sheath (prana), mental sheath (manas), wisdom sheath (vijnana), and bliss sheath (ananda). The Atman is the underlying conscious witness in whom all sheaths exist, illuminating the three waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states.
☸Philosophical Schools & Interpretations (दर्शन भेद)
Advaita Vedanta School
advaitaThe individual Atman is fundamentally non-different from Brahman, the infinite reality (Ayam Atma Brahma).
Dvaita Vedanta School
dvaitaThe individual soul (Jivatman) is eternally real, distinct from other souls, and eternally subordinate to the Supreme Lord (Paramatman).
📜Scriptural Passages (शास्त्र प्रमाण)
अणोरणीयान् महतो महीयान् आत्माऽस्य जन्तोर्निहितो गुहायाम् ।
“The Atman, subtler than the subtle and greater than the great, is seated within the cave of the heart of all beings.”
Significance: Yama instructs Nachiketa on the paradoxical, all-encompassing nature of pure consciousness.