Talk:Śabdabrahman

By Swami Harshananda

Śabdabrahman (‘Brahman in the form of śabda or sound’)

This word has been used in several senses.

The Veda is known as Brahman since it helps us in realising Brahman or God, the Absolute. It is also in the form of śabda or words. Hence it is called Śabdabrahman.

The word Oiii (Praṇava) is the highest symbol of Brahman. The Upaniṣads identify it with Brahman (vide Taittirīya Upanisad 1.8.1; Katha Upanisad 2.15). Hence Śabdabrahman is Oñkāra.

The Amrtabindu Upanisad (17) identifies Saguṇabrahman (Brahman with attributes) with Śabdabrahman and Nirguṇabrahman (Brahman without attributes) with Parabrahman.

This word occurs in the Bhagavadgltā (6.44) also. It has been interpreted there as the result of Vedic rituals (Sankara) or the prakṛti or nature (Rāmānuja).

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

OLD CONTENT

Śabdabrahman (‘Brahman in the form of śabda or sound’) This word has been used in several senses. The Veda is known as Brahman since it helps us in realising Brahman or God, the Absolute. It is also in the form of śabda or words. Hence it is called Śabdabrahman. The word Oiii (Praṇava) is the highest symbol of Brahman. The Upaniṣads identify it with Brahman (vide Taittirīya Upanisad 1.8.1; Katha Upanisad 2.15). Hence Śabdabrahman is Oñkāra. The Amrtabindu Upanisad (17) identifies Saguṇabrahman (Brahman with attributes) with Śabdabrahman and Nirguṇabrahman (Brahman without attri¬butes) with Parabrahman. This word occurs in the Bhagavadgltā (6.44) also. It has been interpreted there as the result of Vedic rituals (Śañkara) or the prakṛti or nature (Rāmānuja).