In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva (Sanskrit: जीव, jīva alternate spelling, jiwa) is a living being,^[1] or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism (human, animal, fish or plant etc.) which survives physical death.^[2][3] It has a very similar usage to atma, but whereas atma refers to "the cosmic self", jiva is used to denote an individual 'living entity' or 'living being' specifically.^[4] The terms Paramatma and jivatma are used to avoid confusion.

The word itself originates from the Sanskrit Jivás, with the root jīv- 'to breathe'. It has the same Indo-European root as the Latin word Vivus: "alive".

Definition [link]

In the Bhagavad Gita, the jiva is described as immutable, eternal, numberless and indestructible.^[5][6][7][8] It is said not to be a product of the material world (Prakrti), but of a higher 'spiritual' nature.^[9] At the point of physical death the jiva takes a new physical body depending on the karma and the individual desires and necessities of the particular jiva in question.

Goals [link]

Some Jain and Hindu scriptures describe the ultimate goal of the jiva as being one or more of the following (depending on the particular philosophical tradition):

• 'liberation' from material existence (moksha)
• obtaining pure love of God (bhakti)
• becoming liberated from the happiness and distress of the world, while still being existent within it (jivanmukta).

See also [link]

• Ātman (Hinduism)
• Atman (Jainism)
• Brahman
• Consciousness
• Tirthankar
• Vedanta

References [link]

External links [link]

• 'Jiva' - usage in Bhagavata Purana
• Terms 'jiva' and 'soul' in Western and Eastern philosophy and religion, en & cz language

Please Refer The Book 'Shri Abaji Bapashri ni Vato" Part:01 and Part:02

This spirituality-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e