Brahman is the root word.
It is this word which means
brih, great / big and that which grows.
This is na-kaarantha masculine gender
which is widely used to denote the Supreme Being.
The texts use the word as Brahma also.
Here it is used as rama shabdam, a-kaaranda masculine.
The 2nd case of Brahma is Brahmam, like Ramam
This means “to Brahma”
The first god of the three gods namely
the creator is also called Brahma.
It is because of Brihattwa or
growth associated with creator Brahma.
But texts always use the term as the four-faced brahma
or brahma deva to denote this creator Brahma.
the word brahma is used.
The texts always make a distinction
when denoting the two,
the Supreme Brahman and the Brahma of the Trimoorthy.
Like in "Gurur Brahma, gurur vishnu:.."
In this verse, where the term Brahma is used to denote
the Supreme, it is qualified as "para-brahma".
A mere mention of Brahma is used
when used along with Vishnu and Maheshwara.
Thus the context must be seen to know what this brahma refers to..
But in commentaries in Sanskrit by acharyas,
we find them use the term as brahmaa,
with a dheergam on ‘a’to denote the four faced Brahma.
Wherever they mean the Supreme,
they say Brahman or Brahma.
When they mean the four-faced brahma,
they say so and write as brahmaa.
when i was reading chinamaya he used to refer to brahmaji to prevent misunderstanding!
ReplyDeleteI like the mahavakya, "Aham Brahma Asmi"
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if it is also correct to say, "Aham Brahman Asmi"?
And can I just say "Aham Brahman"? This is my favorite, but I don't know if it is proper grammar.
If you can help answer these questions I will be grateful.
-Ellis
@ Ellis,
ReplyDeleteYou want to say "Aham Brahman".
In sanskrit, it is "Aham Brahma:"
(: must be pronounced as 'ha').
Aham = I.
Brahma: = Brahman.
So if you say Aham Brahma: it means "I Brahman"
The verb is missing.
Asmi means "am".
So it is said Aham Brahma: asmi = Aham Brahmaasmi.
It means "I am Brahman".
Hope this helps.
It does help. Thank you.
ReplyDelete