The Hindu Pantheon

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Here is how I understand the various terminology in Hinduism:

 

BRAHMAN: The Absolute Potential

ATMAN: Brahman manifested as an individual spirit

PARMATMAN: The individual spirit without attachment

JIVATMAN: The individual spirit in bondage due to attachment

 

NOTE: Parmatman and Jivatman define the two ends of a scale of the

state of Atman. The position of Atman on this scale is defined by the

degree of attachment.

 

PURUSHA: The CAUSE principle

PRAKRITI: The EFFECT principle

 

NOTE: Purusha and Prakriti (Cause and Effect) are the manifestation

of Brahman (the Absolute Potential) in all existence. This is the

prime duality.

 

BRAHMA: The CREATION principle

VISHNU: The SURVIVAL principle

MAHESH: The DESRUCTION principle

 

NOTE: Brahman, Vishnu, Mahesh define the cycle of Create, survive,

destroy. This is the cycle of existence. Here SURVIVE means

" continuous creation. " Here DESTRUCTION does not mean an alteration

of form by force, as the destruction due to a natural calamity. Here

DESTRUCTION means " complete disappearance of form, " as in the

destruction of illusion.

 

MAYA: The existence.

 

NOTE: The term MAYA applies to anything that is created. It is

compared with illusion because anything that is created, and is

existing, is susceptible to being destroyed completely. An illusion

is impermanent, so is Maya.

 

KRISHNA: A great Yogi, who lived the great truth and expounded upon

it.

 

NOTE: Many use the term " Krishna " synonymously with Brahman and

Parmatman.

 

LIFE: A game composed of Goals, Freedoms, and Barriers. Life is the

interaction of the spirit (creator) with the creation.

 

I: the individual spirit

MIND: The instrument to ensure survival in the game of life

BODY: The instrument to transmit effort in playing of the game.

EGO: Part of the mind impersonating as the " I "

 

GODS: The mind's conception of the ideal states for the individual

 

(More later …)