Cosmic principleUltimate reality underlying existence in Vedantic discourse
Brahman
Brahman — Ultimate reality underlying existence in Vedantic discourse; distinct from the creator Brahma.
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Characters & Cosmic Entities
Cosmic principle
Cosmic principleSupreme Self or indwelling divine presence
Paramatman
Paramatman — Supreme Self or indwelling divine presence; its relation to Brahman and personal deity depends on school.
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Cosmic principleTerm for the personal divine or Lord possessing fullness of divine excellences
Bhagavan
Term for the personal divine or Lord possessing fullness of divine excellences; not a single universally separate person.
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Cosmic principleCosmic Person in Vedic imagery and conscious principle in Samkhya
Purusha
Cosmic Person in Vedic imagery and conscious principle in Samkhya; distinguish these meanings.
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Cosmic principlePrimordial nature or material principle
Prakriti
Primordial nature or material principle; relationship to divinity and consciousness differs across philosophical schools.
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Cosmic principlePrimordial Shakti understood as the source of divine power
Adi Shakti
Primordial Shakti understood as the source of divine power, especially in Shakta traditions.
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Cosmic principleGreat divine power or Shakti
Mahashakti
Great divine power or Shakti; frequently overlaps with Adi Shakti and Mahadevi rather than constituting a separate being.
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Cosmic principleGolden embryo or germ associated with cosmic emergence
Hiranyagarbha
Golden embryo or germ associated with cosmic emergence; later identifications vary.
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Cosmic principleLord or governing divine principle
Ishvara
Lord or governing divine principle; identity and status vary by philosophical and devotional tradition.
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Cosmic principleCosmic time
Kala
Cosmic time, sometimes personified; distinguish time as principle from particular divine forms.
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Cosmic principlePower of manifestation or appearance
Maya
Power of manifestation or appearance; meanings include divine potency and the conditions of misapprehension.
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Cosmic principleCosmic and ethical order
Dharma
Cosmic and ethical order; distinct uses include a principle and a personified deity.
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