ahamkara
Ahamkara, from Sanskrit aham meaning “I” and kara meaning “maker,” is a term used in Hindu philosophy to denote the ego-sense—the identification of the self with the body, mind, and possessions. It refers to the psychological principle that fabricates a sense of individuality, and is generally treated as a false or limited sense of self within many spiritual traditions.
In Samkhya and Yoga traditions, ahamkara is described as a product of prakriti (nature) that arises after
In Advaita Vedanta, ahamkara is understood as part of avidya (ignorance) that veils the true self. The
In contemporary discourse, ahamkara is often equated with ego, but in classical Indian philosophy it denotes