Krishna, Paramathma and Brahmam – three forms of Supreme! A-Z Details!
Krishna has used all the three terms “I (Krishna)”, Paramathma and Brahmam in different places in Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavan used the term BRAHMAN or BRAHMAM to denote our final target in many slokas of Bhagavad Gita.
For example, in the sixth chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna has explained attaining the ways and means of attaining the Brahmam.
(Who & What were existing before all these Creations? READ HERE!)
In some places, He mentiones as “ME”, “I”, etc., instead of Brahmam. Even in the nearby slokas, He has mentioned Brahmam and ME to mean similarly.
When I went further on the concept of Brahmam or Brahman, I had many observations.
For the basic understanding of the devotees, I first like to tell the following:
The three forms of supreme – Krishna, Paramathma and Brahmam – All these three originates from KRISHNA ONLY. This post explains how.
When Krishna is worshipped as SAGUNA Person, He is Krishna. This does not mean Krishna is in either satva guna or rajo guna or thamo guna. These three gunas are created by the material nature, ie, Prakruti and imparted into the living entities when they take bodies in the material planets.
Krishna is not the Person of the Material world. He resides in the Spiritual planet and He expands throughout the creations, but, still not affected by the three gunas (modes).
Instead, Krishna is in Pure SUDHDHA SATVA GUNA that is not existing in material creations. It is only with Krishna.
So, Krishna means a Person with Suddha Satva Guna.
Only the Bhakti Yogis, ie, the devotees who worship Krishna’s Beautiful form gets Krishna in His Personal or SAGUNA form by going back to His kingdom called Goloka Vrindhavana.
Learned men understand the Divine to manifest in three aspects, which are known as His all-pervading formless aspect, His aspect as the Lord of the heart, and his aspect as the Supreme Person.
(WORSHIPING KRISHNA AS A PERSON AND AS PARAMATHMA – COMPARISON! READ HERE!)
(1) BRAHMAM or BRAHMAN (NOT BRAHMA DEVA)
The non-differentiated (FORMLESS) NIRGUNA aspect of the SUPREME PERSON is known as Brahman or Brahmam. This all-pervading spiritual aspect stands as the support for all the worlds, and whatever exists is known to be of Brahmam only in its various manifestations.
When Krishna expands as NIRGUNA form, the brightness or space emanating from His body, He is called BRAHMAM or BRAHMAN.
Those Gnana Yogis or dhyana yogis who are more interested in attaining the True Knowledge about the Supreme truth, but does not have longing for Krishna’s beautiful form, attain this state of Brahmam.
Interestingly, Krishna uses the term BRAHMAM Six times in a single sloka (4-24):
Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir Brahmagnaw Brahmana Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samadhina
Those who attained BRAHMAM have no option of taking part in the lilas of Krishna because in the Nirguna Brahmam, he (soul) loses all his identity and becomes dormant.
Whereas, the Bhakti Yogis who attained Krishna’s Personal form are very active in the service of Krishna.
(CREATIONS BY KRISHNA : BRAHMAM & INTERMEDIATE WORLDS! READ HERE!)
(2) BHAGAWAN (KRISHNA)
The ultimate / TOPMOST/ SAGUNA FORM of the Supreme Person is known as Krishna, the Person. He is transcendent as well as permanently pervading and sustaining the universe. He is situated in His own kingdom and at the same time He is pervading everywhere through His infinite manifestations. This Supreme Person is the ultimate master, friend, father, son and beloved of all living entities. Because of His causeless mercy, He manifests to everyone in accordance with their desires to serve Him, while remaining at the same time in His supremely attractive form of Krishna.
A prayer in Brahma Samhita says:
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose non-dual, perfect and eternal forms are unlimited, who is the original ancient person, yet in his blossoming youth, and who is beyond access for the Vedas, but very near to those with a pure, devoted heart.”
(What is the difference between GOD and LORD? READ HERE!)
(3) PARAMATHMA (THE SUPERSOUL)
The localized aspect of the Supreme Person is known as Paramatma who is the Lord of the heart. This aspect of the Supreme Person has expanded within the hearts of all living entities, invoking inspiration, knowledge and forgetfulness in them. He is the silent witness in our hearts, the impartial overseer who approves and permits everyone’s activities, and the one who keeps the world turning in accordance with the deeds of all living entities. He is an expansion of the Supreme Person for the maintenance of the cosmic manifestation.
Paramathma form is the minute form of Krishna who resides in our hearts as witness for all our actions. He decides and approves our next destination after death. He helps in all our desires whether it is material or spiritual.
Dhyana yogis meditate this Paramathma form also. When this Paramathma form is mediated, he can also advance to the level of worshiping the beautiful form of Krishna.
But, a Gnana Yogi does not target loving service to Krishna. A Gnana Yogi can not enter into the lilas of Krishna in His kingdom.
Hope these basic details are sufficient to understand Krishna, Brahmam and Paramathma – the three forms of Supreme!
All these three forms denote the three forms of Supreme truth.
The Personal form of Supreme Truth is KRISHNA.
The NIRGUNA form of Supreme Truth is BRAHMAM.
The Supreme truth remaining within the athma is PARAMATHMA.
(Krishna, His Expansions & Avatars – Differences! Whom to worship? READ HERE!)
Krishna Paramathma and Brahmam – Who is the source?
Now it is time to see who is the source among Krishna, Paramathma and Brahmam?
Krishna was alone before the creation. He will be alone after annihilation/ dissolution of everything.
So, Krishna must be the source among these three forms of Supreme..
Which form? Saguna Person or Nirguna Brahmam or Paramathma?
(1) He Himself says in Bhagavad Gita (7-6):
“Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution”
(2) Bhagavad Gita (10-8):
“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.
Here, Krishna uses “AM”. So, He denotes His personal form.
(3) Bhagavad Gita (9-16):
“I am the father of this universe, the mother….”
Note: FATHER means A PERSON.
(Athma (Soul) and Paramathma (Supersoul)- Differences! READ HERE!)
(4) SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM 2-9-33:
“Brahma it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Supreme Lord.”
(4) SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM 11-28-19:
“Gold alone is present before its manufacture into gold products, the gold alone remains after the products’ destruction, and the gold alone is the essential reality while it is being utilized under various designations. Similarly, I alone exist before the creation of this universe, after its destruction and during its maintenance.”
(4) SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM (6.4-47-48):
“Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, I alone existed with My specific spiritual potencies. Consciousness was then unmanifested, just as one’s consciousness is unmanifested during the time of sleep. I am the reservoir of unlimited potency, and therefore I am known as unlimited or all-pervading. From My material energy the cosmic manifestation appeared within Me, and in this universal manifestation appeared the chief being, Lord Brahma, who is your source and is not born of a material mother.”
Now, it is very clear, among the three forms of supreme – Krishna, Paramathma and Brahmam, Krishna as a person is the source. Brahmam, Paramathma, etc, are His forms and expansions.
Finished. No need for doubts further.
Right?
(Krishna and 3 Vishnus – Mahavishnu, Garbhodakasayi, Ksirodakasayi – Relationship! READ HERE!)
WHAT IS CALLED AVATAR? WHY KRISHNA TAKES AVATARS?
The original Supreme Person, Krishna, is not only the Svayam Bhagavan (the Supreme Person Himself), but the Lila Purusottama (the Supreme Enjoyer of Pastimes) also. To taste the full variety of loving exchanges with His devotees, He manifests various forms in both the material and the spiritual worlds.
Within the spiritual world, the Lord manifests Himself in His original form, and also in multiple forms.
When the Lord manifests Himself in the material world, the form which He displays is called “avatara”, or “descent”, that which descends from the world beyond. These avataras are classified under several categories in accordance with Their purpose.
The general purpose of the descents or avatara is threefold, namely (1) to bring joy to His devotees, (2) to destroy wicked elements in the world, and (3) to re-establish the principles of religion.
(READ THE TYPES OF AVATARS (INCARNATIONS) OF KRISHNA or VISHNU – COMPLETE DETAILS! READ HERE!)