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[[da:Brahman]]
[[fr:Brahmane]]
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In this article, '''Brahman''' refers to the unchanging reality behind everything in [[Vedanta]] [[Hinduism]]. '''Brahman''' is also an alternate spelling of [[Brahmin]], the highest of the four [[caste]]s, or 'varnas' in the Indian caste system.
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The word '''Brahman''' is derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word for power, specifically the power of ritual and sacrifice to change the material world. Hence, the secondary meaning of the word which refers to the highest caste of [[Hinduism]], the [[Brahmin| Brahmins]], who have such powers.

In the [[Vedanta|Vedantic]] schools of [[Hinduism]], as found in the sacred writings of the [[Upanishad]]s, the word refers to the ultimate, unchanging [[reality]] that lies behind all the objects and activities of the external world. It is composed of pure being and consciousness and to some extent may be called the "world soul."

Brahman is the source of the universe. Viewed as divine intelligence, it pervades all beings, including the individual soul. Thus the many [[Hindu]] deities are manifestations of the one Brahman. In the earliest religious texts, the [[Veda]]s, all the [[god]]s are seen as issuing from Brahman:

<center>
<i>Great indeed are the Gods who have sprung out of Brahman.</i>
Atharva Veda 
</center>

Philosophers of the [[Upanishad]]s identify Brahman, the world soul, with [[atman]], the inner essence of the human being, or the human soul. In the Hindu pantheon, Brahman is identified with Brahma of the Hindu [[Trimurti|trinity]] of Brahma (the Creator), [[Vishnu]] (the Preserver) and [[Shiva]] (the Destroyer).

While Brahman lies behind the sum total of the objective universe, the human mind boggles at any attempt to explain it with only the tools provided by reason. Brahman is beyond the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination.

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====References====
* Adapted from the [[Wikipedia]] article, "Brahman" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman], used under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]