brahman

Brahman is a central term in Hindu philosophy and religion, denoting the ultimate, unchanging reality that underlies and pervades the cosmos. It is described as infinite, formless, and beyond ordinary perception, yet immanent in all things as the source and ground of existence. In some traditions Brahman is conceived as a single impersonal principle (Nirguna Brahman); in others it is conceived with attributes (Saguna Brahman) and personal forms of worship.

In the Upanishads, Brahman is introduced as the all-encompassing reality that gives rise to and sustains the universe. The relationship between Brahman and the individual self is central to many schools. In Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is the only true reality; the world and the self are manifestations of Maya and not ultimately separate from Brahman. The mahavakyas, such as Tat Tvam Asi (You are That), express the identity of Atman and Brahman. Other schools, such as Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita, describe Brahman as a supreme, personal deity with attributes and a distinct relationship to the world and souls.

Brahman is also used more broadly to refer to sacred knowledge and the ritual-cum-cosmological authority of the Brahmana texts that accompany the Vedas, as well as to denote the Brahminical priestly tradition in certain contexts. In modern usage, the term is sometimes used to signify the universal principle behind all existence rather than a personal god.

Brahman is also the name of a cattle breed developed in the United States from Indian Zebu stock; the breed is valued for heat tolerance, disease resistance, and adaptability to tropical climates and is widely used in crossbreeding for beef and dairy.