Question

According to Advaita Vedānta of Sankara, the Absolute (parabrahman) is unconditioned (nirupādhi), indeterminate (nirviśeṣa) and without any attribute (nirguna). The Vedāntic texts also speak of empirical and phenomenal Brahman (aparabrahman) that is conditioned (sopādhi), determinate (saviśeṣa) and with attributes (saguna). This determinate Brahman is:

• A. Īśvara (God)
• B. Jīva (Individual self)
• C. Ātman (Self)
• D. Jagat (World)

Hint:

For Vedānta questions, distinguish between absolute and phenomenal Brahman to identify the correct answer.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

In Advaita Vedānta:
- The Absolute Brahman (Parabrahman) is unconditioned (nirupādhi), indeterminate (nirviśeṣa), and without attributes (nirguna).
- The phenomenal Brahman (Aparabrahman), on the other hand, is conditioned (sopādhi), determinate (saviśeṣa), and with attributes (saguna). This conditioned Brahman is referred to as Īśvara (God).
The other terms do not fit:
- Jīva (Individual self) and Ātman (Self) are aspects of the individual soul.
- Jagat (World) refers to the material universe.
Thus, the correct answer is Īśvara (God).