Aathma

Ātma

The soul that is otherwise known as Chith, Ātma, or Jīva, is an independent entity that should not be confused with the functions of the body or its brain. It is free of thought, emotion, will, or intelligence. It is not situated in any particular part of the body. It pervades the entirety of space, throughout every atom in every living being. When an organism dies and is burnt or buried, the soul does not die. The aathma is incapable of death. It is eternal. The aathma is not visible, is incomprehensible, and is unchangeable.

The aathma is constituted by knowledge and bliss and is self-luminous.

The knowledge that constitutes the aathma is of two types, namely

i) Dharmi Jnānam

ii) Dharmabhuta Jnānam

Dharmi Jnānam helps the aathma be aware of itself at all times, whereas the Dharmabhuta Jnānam helps it know its body, the body's surroundings, all the people in the body's lifetime, and the objects beyond the body. Thus, when the body expires, the aathma loses its Dharmabhuta Jnānam. The best comparison to understand this concept is that of a luminous lantern. The aathma can be interpreted as a bright flame. The body is the fuel of the fire.

Even if the body expires, the aathma can find refuge in another vessel, which will act as fuel to the eternal flame. For the fire to be genuinely immortal, it must merge with the Paramātma. Upon merging with the Paramātma, the aathma would not require any new body and would know eternal bliss as it reached its final destination.