Dharmabhutajñāna
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Dharmabhutajñāna literally means ‘knowledge which is an attribute of the Self’.
Textual References[edit]
The knowledge and details of the jīvātman or the individual soul is a subject of discussion in the darśanas or philosophical systems.
- The Advaita Vedānta posits that the consciousness is the very nature of the soul.
- The Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta, expounded by Rāmānuja (A. D. 1017-1137), asserts that jñāna or consciousness is always present in īśvara (God) and the jīva (soul) as their dharma or attribute.
Characteristics of Dharmabhutajñāna[edit]
- The dharmabhutajñāna is ‘ajaḍa’.[1]
- It illuminates itself and other objects.
- It always exists for another.
- It never prevails for itself.
- It illuminates the objects for the conscious subject.
- it is an attribute for the conscious subject.
- The dharmabhutajñāna is eternal and all-pervasive in the case of īśvara, the nityasuris (eternally illumined souls) and the liberated souls.
- In the case of the jīvātman (the soul in bondage) it is contracted or obscured.
- When the jīvātman realizes the beatific form of the Divine through the yogas of karma, jñāna and bhakti, his dharmabhutajñāna also expands to infinity and becomes perfect.
Synonyms[edit]
Synonyms of dharmabhutajñāna are:
- Mati
- Prajñā
- Saiñvit
- Śemuṣī
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore