Para, parā
By Swami Harshananda
Para, parā means ‘the highest’.
This word is used in two senses:
- The other
- The highest
In the latter sense it can be used in all the three genders. However in the tantras,[1] the word parā is used in a technical sense, to indicate the original or the primary state of vāk or speech, the other three states being paśyantī, madhyamā and vaikharī. In the parā state, speech or speech energy is in the potential, non-manifested state. In the paśyantī state, the desire to speak is getting manifested. In the madhyamā, the thought patterns and sentences have already evolved. In the vaikharī, the last stage, it is expressed as vocal speech.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore
By Swami Harshananda
Parabrahman literally means ‘Brahman the Absolute the Highest’.
Treatises of Vedānta describes the God, the Absolute, as ‘Brahman’ or ‘Parabrahman’.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore