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- For the Indian philosopher/devotee see Jiva Goswami
In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is the immortal essence of a living being (human, animal, fish or plant etc...), it also sometimes referred to the atma, or 'the true self'. It is similar, but not necessarily identical to, the concept of the soul as presented in Abrahamic religions. As with all definitions of the 'self', the exact nature of the jiva is often a much debated topic.
Definition
In the Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism the jiva is described as immutable, eternal, and indestructible. It is said not to be a product of the material world, but of a higher 'spiritual' nature. At the point of physical death the jiva takes a new physical body depending on karma and the individual desires of the particular jiva in question.
For further explanations see reincarnation and transmigration.
Goals
Jain and Hindu scriptures describe the ultimate goal of the jiva as being either of the following (depending on the particular philosophical tradition):
- 'liberation' from material existence (moksha)
- obtaining pure love of God (bhakti)
- or becoming liberated from the happiness and distress of the world, while still being existant within it (jivanmukta).
For further information see Dharmic Religions.
See also
"Jiva"