Monday, November 7, 2022

Can Jiva ever become Ishwara? - Brahmasutra


It is a common misconception that Self-realisation or God-realisation makes you God Himself. The word for God in Sanatana Dharma is Ishwara. The three fundamental texts which define Sanatana Dharma are the Bhagavadgita, the Upanishads, and the Brahmasutra. The proponents of Jiva=Ishwara may not know that NOWHERE in Bhagavadgita is Sri Krishna saying that Jiva can become Ishwara. In fact, he says clearly in Chapters 13, 15, and so on that Ishwara or Paramatman is different from Jiva or Atman.

What about the the Brahmasutra? There is a specific sutra at the end which clearly states that Ishwara is the Supreme Being responsible for creation, sustenance and dissolution and the liberated Jiva does not ever enjoy these powers.

See what Adi Shankara says in his Bhashya on the Sutra which clearly states that a Jiva, even if liberated, cannot become Ishwara. This translation is by Swami Vireswarananda of Ramakrishna Math. This is shared as an image above.


For your detailed study, I give below a detailed scan of another translation of Adi Shakara's Bhashya on the same Sutra.