Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman
Many Hindus believe that their ultimate goal in life is to achieve spiritual union with the supreme spirit - BrahmanIn Hindu belief, the absolute reality that is the true essence of all existence, God.. Different groups or denominationA group within a religion. Christian denominations include, for example, Roman Catholic and Anglican denominations. within Hinduism focus on different features of Brahman. Brahman is described in two main ways by Hindus 鈥 as NirgunaBrahman can be known as Nirguna, a being without form or shape that has always existed. Brahman or SagunaBrahman can be known as Saguna, which means that Brahman exists with form and shape and so can be seen. Brahman.
Nirguna Brahman
The term Nirguna Brahman refers to the concept that Brahman is beyond time and space. It is the idea that Brahman has no particular form and is present within all living beings and everywhere.
The Taittiriya Upanishad tells Hindus that:
One who knows Brahman, reaches the highest. Satya (reality, truth) is Brahman, Jnana (knowledge) is Brahman, Ananta (infinite) is Brahman
Nirguna Brahman allows Hindus to focus on Brahman鈥檚 eternal qualities rather than getting distracted by different names and forms.
Saguna Brahman
Another way that Brahman is perceived is as Saguna Brahman. This means that Brahman has a form, identity and purpose, which may vary over time. Hindus who believe in Saguna Brahman see deity / deitiesOne god or goddess. In Hinduism, the word for gods and goddesses that many Hindus believe are different aspects of the one Supreme Spirit (Brahman). as a way for people to understand Brahman鈥檚 vast nature. These deities help Hindu worshippers to focus on images or statues, also known as murtiA statue of a god or goddess which has been made holy through a special ceremony; a term for any statue of a god or goddess.. This type of devotion is known as bhaktiExpressing love for the divine through adoration and rituals. and is one of the ways identified by KrishnaHindu deity, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. There are many tales of him as a mischievous but loving child. in the Hindu text Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered and important Hindu texts. The Gita tells the story of Krishna鈥檚 incarnation as a chariot driver to Prince Arjuna and forms part of the Mahabharata. to achieve union with Brahman.
But you cannot see me [Brahman] with your present eyes, therefore I will give you divine eyes. Behold My mystic opulence!
Vaikuntha
When Hindus worship Brahman as a divine person (or IshvaraA Sanskrit word meaning lord, used when Hindus understand God as a person.), they recognise that this form of Brahman has a spiritual home. Hindus believe that many spiritual realms exist beyond our own universe and that divine beings reside in them. VaikunthaUnderstood by Hindus to be the celestial home of the Hindu God Vishnu. is the highest of these worlds. It is the home of VishnuVishnu is the aspect of Brahman responsible for the preservation of the world. Vishnu forms one part of the Trimurti, along with with gods, Brahma and Shiva. and his consort LakshmiThe goddess of wealth..
Hindus who maintain strict devotion to Vishnu throughout their lives earn a blessing where, at the moment of their death, their soul can visit Vaikuntha for some time. The soul then continues on its journey through the cycle of death and rebirth, also known as samsaraIn Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, this is the cycle of life, death and rebirth.. The Rig VedaThe oldest and most sacred Hindu scripture. states that even the demigodsIn Hinduism, demigods refers to deities who were once human and later became devas (gods). hope to enter this spiritual place.