jiiva
Jiiva, often transliterated jiva, is a Sanskrit term meaning life or living being. In Indian religious and philosophical traditions it denotes the individual soul or life-principle—an entity that experiences birth, death, and rebirth within the cycle of karma. The word is used across Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, with nuanced meanings in each tradition, and it also serves as a common personal name in South Asia.
In Hindu thought, the jiva is the embodied self (jīvātman) that is bound by karma and experiences
In Jainism, jiva is the sentient, living substance found in all beings, possessing consciousness and the capacity
In Sikhism, jiva refers to the individual soul created by God. Liberation (mukti) comes through devotion to
As a name, jiiva is used in Indian languages, reflecting the root meaning of life or living