A conscious entity inside the body is known as Atma or Jeev. All the living beings of this bhoo lok are called jeev. The other names of jeev is atma, spirit, inner self, soul etc.
The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word jeev means life. So, the one which is always alive and infuses life in the entire body it lives in is jeev. Manifestation of the power of jeev could be seen in all the sentient living beings, viz; human beings, animals, birds, trees etc.
Every jeev has been given a body which is made of Panch Mahabhoot also called five gross elements earth, water, fire, space and air. That is why deficiency of any of these five elements, makes our body frail. These elements are material which means they are made of Maya and like Maya they are inert and insentient. Hence, the body which is made from these is also inert or lifeless.
When the jeev enters the body it permeates the entire body. It is then the body and senses perform work as if they too were conscious.
Jeev is sent into the body for a predetermined length of time. When that much time has elapsed, the imperceptible soul leaves the body and then it is called a "dead body". Means it returns back to its original lifeless state. The consciousness of soul was making it perform the work viz. perceiving their objects of senses, locomotion etc was possible. For instance, a pair of tongs is lifeless, yet it lifts up burning coals only when hand holds those tongs.
The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word jeev means life. So, the one which is always alive and infuses life in the entire body it lives in is jeev. Manifestation of the power of jeev could be seen in all the sentient living beings, viz; human beings, animals, birds, trees etc.
Every jeev has been given a body which is made of Panch Mahabhoot also called five gross elements earth, water, fire, space and air. That is why deficiency of any of these five elements, makes our body frail. These elements are material which means they are made of Maya and like Maya they are inert and insentient. Hence, the body which is made from these is also inert or lifeless.
When the jeev enters the body it permeates the entire body. It is then the body and senses perform work as if they too were conscious.
Jeev is sent into the body for a predetermined length of time. When that much time has elapsed, the imperceptible soul leaves the body and then it is called a "dead body". Means it returns back to its original lifeless state. The consciousness of soul was making it perform the work viz. perceiving their objects of senses, locomotion etc was possible. For instance, a pair of tongs is lifeless, yet it lifts up burning coals only when hand holds those tongs.
Tongs are lifeless. They can't pick up embers on their own accord. When hand enables the tongs then it can hold coals. Similarly, human body is lifeless. It seem to be sentient due to the soul (jeev).
Hand is also inert until it gets consciousness from mind. The mind gets power of consciousness from intellect. Intellect gets power of consciousness from jeev which is eternally conscious. Jeev is eternally conscious for Brahm-Supreme God eternally gives consciousness to each jeev.
Brahm-Supreme God is the ultimate life force. He does not get His consciousness from anyone. He Himself is consciousness. That is why in many places Vedas have referred to God as jeev. He is the Supreme and original source of all the sources including life.
Brahm-Supreme God is the ultimate life force. He does not get His consciousness from anyone. He Himself is consciousness. That is why in many places Vedas have referred to God as jeev. He is the Supreme and original source of all the sources including life.
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सर्व कारण कारणम् ।
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Sarva kāraṇa kāraṇam
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In this article we will concentrate on Jeev Shakti of Brahma-Supreme God.
Every jeev is the revelation of God’s Jeev power. Jeev is a conscious entity and it is an inseparable and eternal part of God.
Jeev is part of God means God like big rock. When the big rock (God) is broken then each piece is called jeev?
No. God is akhand, which means He cannot be broken.
Every jeev is the revelation of God’s Jeev power. Jeev is a conscious entity and it is an inseparable and eternal part of God.
Jeev is part of God means God like big rock. When the big rock (God) is broken then each piece is called jeev?
No. God is akhand, which means He cannot be broken.
Jeev is NOT a fragment of God like all these rocks are fragments of the big rock.
God cannot be broken.
Jeev is called fragment on God because it is a power of God.
Jeev is a part of God still it must not be considered as the fragment of God.
Jeev is called an eternal part because it is a power of God. God is eternal and all His powers have also existed with Him. God revealed innumerable souls, and still God possesses unlimited consciousness with unlimited and unceasing divine splendor.
If 'eternal part' were to mean a fragment then after revealing innumerable jeev, God would cease to exist. Just as a paper ceases to exist when it is torn into pieces.
Each jeev has been in search for happiness. Since jeev are akarta (non doer) jeev does not perform any actions. God gives each jeev a body to attain the ultimate goal of life.
Jeev is called an eternal part because it is a power of God. God is eternal and all His powers have also existed with Him. God revealed innumerable souls, and still God possesses unlimited consciousness with unlimited and unceasing divine splendor.
If 'eternal part' were to mean a fragment then after revealing innumerable jeev, God would cease to exist. Just as a paper ceases to exist when it is torn into pieces.
Each jeev has been in search for happiness. Since jeev are akarta (non doer) jeev does not perform any actions. God gives each jeev a body to attain the ultimate goal of life.
Vedas refer to the human body as the chariot. Jeev is the passenger in this chariot, intellect is the driver, mind is the bridle and the senses are the horses.
This body can be compared to a chariot. The owner of this chariot is jeev. It is also the passenger in this chariot wanting to reach its destination. Intellect is the driver, mind is the bridle and the gyanendriyan are the horses. In the chariot, bridle is controlled by the driver. Whereas, the bridle in turn controls the horses. Similarly, in this body intellect controls the mind which in turn controls the senses. Since eternity under the guidance of intellect the mind has been directing senses to find happiness for the jeev.
The jeev relies solely on the charioteer to take it to the abode of Anand (bliss). Since jeev is akarta (non-doer) it cannot give any instruction or direction, yet jeev has the final say when he has arrived at its destination. Destination means the aim of life of the jeev has been achieved. The intellect, mind and senses are eternal servants of the soul. Neither they can defy their master nor can they resign. They have to continue to find bliss. Just like the jeev they are eternal too. They have no excuse and are not constrained by time. They have to serve their master.
Based on whether jeev has found bliss or not they can be divided into 2 categories.
Let us briefly discuss all three of these classes.
The jeev relies solely on the charioteer to take it to the abode of Anand (bliss). Since jeev is akarta (non-doer) it cannot give any instruction or direction, yet jeev has the final say when he has arrived at its destination. Destination means the aim of life of the jeev has been achieved. The intellect, mind and senses are eternal servants of the soul. Neither they can defy their master nor can they resign. They have to continue to find bliss. Just like the jeev they are eternal too. They have no excuse and are not constrained by time. They have to serve their master.
Based on whether jeev has found bliss or not they can be divided into 2 categories.
- Mayabaddha Jeev
- Mayateet Jeev
Let us briefly discuss all three of these classes.
Baddha means bound. This types of jeev have been eternally controlled by Maya hence they are called Mayabaddha Jeev (मायाबद्ध). But it doesn't need to be this way. If they choose they can promote themselves from Mayabaddha to Mayateet category.
ateet means beyond. Those who are beyond control of Maya are called Mayateet jeev (मायातीत). Unlike us who live in the Sansaar-The World they live in the divine abode. They can be further categorized into 3 groups -
Nitya means eternal and siddha means perfect. These jeev are also part of Jeev Shakti of God and yet they are eternally free from Maya. So, they are called nitya siddha (नित्य सिद्ध). Example of this kind of jeev is hymns of Vedas.
Sadhan means practice and siddha means perfect. Those who were once mayabaddha, they did Sadhana Bhakti then one day realized God fall in sadhan siddha (साधन सिद्ध) category. Since that blessed moment they live in divine abode.
Parikar (परिकर) are also called Parshad (पार्शद). Though they are also part of Jeev Shakti yet they have been eternally free from Maya and they are associates of God. They participate in leelas of Supreme God. e.g. Shri Krishna's friends in Braj namely Dhanasukha, Mansukha.
Dheesh means controller. Brahm-Supreme God is the one and only controller of Maya. He is also the beholder of Jeev shakti.
Descensions of God are called swansh (स्वांश). They are part of Chit Shakti not Jeev Shakti. Jeev can NEVER become swansh.
No mayateet jeev can ever become Mayadheesh . That position is reserved for God and God alone. However, the Mayabaddha Jeev are controlled by Maya since eternity.
If they choose then they can become Mayateet Jeev (free from the bondage of Maya). To become free jeev needs to understand
Firm understanding of these 2 points will detach the mind immediately from the worldly attachments and naturally enthuse it to surrender solely unto God.
So, the jeev (soul) is the part of God and it is conscious like God. Yet it is not endowed with unlimited life, knowledge and bliss. Consciousness of soul is confined to their own body only.
According, to the tendencies of jeev it is called taṭastha (तटस्थ) power. Taṭastha means "middle ground". The Sanskrit word taṭa (तट) means bank or shore, stha (स्थ) means situated. Jeev is divine and eternal part of God and it has a material mind and body so it is not fully divine or fully insentient. Instead it is situated in the middle of Brahm-Supreme God and Maya.
If they choose then they can become Mayateet Jeev (free from the bondage of Maya). To become free jeev needs to understand
- Why am I pursuing Maya?
- I belong to Shri Krishna only.
Firm understanding of these 2 points will detach the mind immediately from the worldly attachments and naturally enthuse it to surrender solely unto God.
So, the jeev (soul) is the part of God and it is conscious like God. Yet it is not endowed with unlimited life, knowledge and bliss. Consciousness of soul is confined to their own body only.
According, to the tendencies of jeev it is called taṭastha (तटस्थ) power. Taṭastha means "middle ground". The Sanskrit word taṭa (तट) means bank or shore, stha (स्थ) means situated. Jeev is divine and eternal part of God and it has a material mind and body so it is not fully divine or fully insentient. Instead it is situated in the middle of Brahm-Supreme God and Maya.
River bank is part of land, yet has some properties of the river like wetness. Similarly jeev is part of God, and has proximity of Maya. Therefore, some attributes of Maya are also seen in the living beings.
For more lucidity, just imagine a man is standing at the bank of river.
Ask him, “where are you standing?”
He would reply “I am standing at the bank of this river.”
"But what is this ? Is it a part of land or a part of river?"
He would reply, ”it is a part of land only”.
Ask again, “so what is behind you?”
“It is a very huge land.”
“Then why do you call it bank instead of land?”
He would explain, “From here one can wash hands and clothes since it is adjoining the river. Although, this is part of land yet this ability differentiates this bank from the rest of the land behind.”
Likewise, although we are the part of God, yet being very close to Maya. The bank inherits some attributes of the river as well like wetness. Likewise, we have chosen Maya and we got attached to it, forgetting about our true source of happiness. This is the main reason for our ignorance. Ignorance is the only reason for our miseries.
Lord Krishna says in Gita,
Ask him, “where are you standing?”
He would reply “I am standing at the bank of this river.”
"But what is this ? Is it a part of land or a part of river?"
He would reply, ”it is a part of land only”.
Ask again, “so what is behind you?”
“It is a very huge land.”
“Then why do you call it bank instead of land?”
He would explain, “From here one can wash hands and clothes since it is adjoining the river. Although, this is part of land yet this ability differentiates this bank from the rest of the land behind.”
Likewise, although we are the part of God, yet being very close to Maya. The bank inherits some attributes of the river as well like wetness. Likewise, we have chosen Maya and we got attached to it, forgetting about our true source of happiness. This is the main reason for our ignorance. Ignorance is the only reason for our miseries.
Lord Krishna says in Gita,
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दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया ।
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ।। गीता
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Daivī hyēṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā.
Māmēva yē prapadyantē māyāmētāṁ taranti tē.. Gītā
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"Maya is my personal power. None can win it since it is controlled by Me. I am invincible. Those who surrender solely unto Me, can traverse the ocean of Maya by My grace alone".
The body, mind and intellect are provided by Maya, so they are material. The acts of thinking and deciding is performed by mind and intellect respectively. The matters of world are very attractive for material mind and intellect because they are akin. Also, many of the material matters are achievable by the material mind and intellect. Hence, our mind has a natural affinity for material matters.
The body, mind and intellect are provided by Maya, so they are material. The acts of thinking and deciding is performed by mind and intellect respectively. The matters of world are very attractive for material mind and intellect because they are akin. Also, many of the material matters are achievable by the material mind and intellect. Hence, our mind has a natural affinity for material matters.
But, when we use our inherent discriminatory power of intellect, we find them jejune and inverted source of happiness. This is called renunciation or virag or vairagya from the world.
Then our mind turns towards God, the only source of our being. And that is all that needs to be done. Then will attain our right to enjoy true, divine and unceasing happiness and God will be given the other divine attributes as well. So far, we are deprived of our natural right of attaining divine bliss since we are attached to the material world and have forgotten our very source - God.
Then our mind turns towards God, the only source of our being. And that is all that needs to be done. Then will attain our right to enjoy true, divine and unceasing happiness and God will be given the other divine attributes as well. So far, we are deprived of our natural right of attaining divine bliss since we are attached to the material world and have forgotten our very source - God.
The only way for jeev to attain everlasting bliss is to turn away from Maya and face God.
The only way to attain true and everlasting happiness is to turn the mind towards God by constant thinking that "I belong to God alone[1][2][3][4]. I have no relationship with anyone else. He is veritable bliss too. He is so kind to jeev (His children), that as soon as someone wholeheartedly accepts this relationship, He does not look at the record of offenses one has committed in the past" [6].
Wise person are those who avail the advantage of His merciful nature.
