What is the nature of God in Hinduism? Swami Sivananda
What is the nature of God in Hinduism? Swami Sivananda in his book 'God
Exists' describes the essential properties of Brahman - the absolute
almighty. Here's a simplified excerpt.
- God is Satchidananda: Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute and
Bliss Absolute.
- God is Antaryamin: He is the Inner Ruler of this body and mind.
He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
- God is Chiranjeevi: He is permanent, eternal, perpetual, indestructible,
immutable and imperishable. God is past, present and future. He is unchanging
amidst the changing phenomena.
- God is Paramatma: He is the Supreme Being. The Bhagavad Gita styles
Him as 'Purushottama' or Supreme Purusha or Maheswara.
- God is Sarva-vid: He is ever-knowledgeable. He knows everything in
detail. He is 'Swasamvedya', that is, he knows by Himself.
- God is Chirashakti: He is ever-powerful. Earth, water, fire, air
and ether are His five powers. 'Maya' is His illusive Shakti (power).
- God is Swayambhu: He is self-existent. He does not depend upon others
for His existence. He is 'Swayam Prakasha' or self-luminous. He reveals Himself
by His own light.
- God is Swatah Siddha: He is self-proven. He does not want any proof,
because He is the basis for the act or process of proving. God is 'Paripoorna'
or self-contained.
- God is Swatantra: He is Independent. He has good desires ('satkama')
and pure will ('satsankalpa').
- God is Eternal Happiness: Supreme Peace can be had only in God. God-realisation
can bestow supreme happiness on humankind.
- God is Love: He is an embodiment of eternal bliss, supreme peace
and wisdom. He is all-merciful, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
- God is Life: He is the 'Prana' (life) in the body and intelligence
in 'Antahkarana' (fourfold mind: mind, intellect, ego and the subconscious
mind).
- God has 3 Aspects: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the three aspects
of God. Brahma is the creative aspect; Vishnu is the preservative aspect;
and Shiva is the destructive aspect.
- God has 5 Activities: 'Srishti' (creation), 'Sthiti' (preservation),
'Samhara' (destruction), 'Tirodhana' or 'Tirobhava' (veiling), and 'Anugraha'
(grace) are the five kinds of activities of God.
- God has 6 Attributes of Divine Wisdom or 'Gyana': 'Vairagya' (dispassion),
'Aishwarya' (powers), 'Bala' (strength), 'Sri' (wealth) and 'Kirti' (fame).
- God Lives in You: He dwells in the chamber of your own heart. He
is the silent witness of your mind. This body is His moving temple. The 'sanctum
sanctorum' is the chamber of your own heart. If you cannot find Him there,
you cannot find Him anywhere else.
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