Sri Vishnusahasranama: Purushah

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Purushah -One who dwells in the Fort-city (Puri sete iti Purushah). Herein

metaphorically the Rishis conceive our body as a fortress with nine

gate-ways-“Nava Dvaare Pure Dehee”-(Geeta Ch. 5, St. 13) -and declare the One

who rules within it, like a king, is the Self.

 

This term can also be dissolved in two more different ways giving more and more

suggestions to the nature of the Self. Thus, Purusha can mean “That which was

before all creatures” -Puraa Aaseet iti Purushah or it can be “One who completes

and fulfils the Existence everywhere”, meaning, without whom Existence is

impossible (Poorayati iti Purushah).

 

This Aatman remains in the bodies of living creatures as their individuality

(Jeeva) and in all the activities, physical, mental and intellectual, Aatman is

not in fact involved but He is therein only an observer of all that is

happening.