jiva

Jiva is a Sanskrit term meaning “living being” or “soul.” It is used in several Indian religious and philosophical traditions to denote the individual, conscious self or the bearer of experience. The word is often employed to distinguish the living, sentient principle from non-living matter (ajiva).

In Hinduism, jiva typically refers to the embodied self, the atman that experiences birth, life, and death while being bound by karma and maya. The jiva’s true nature is considered pure consciousness, obscured by ignorance. The aim in many Hindu paths is moksha, liberation from the cycle of samsara, achieved through self-knowledge, devotion, or righteous action. Advaita Vedanta treats the jiva as a temporary identification of the self with the body and mind, with ultimate realization identifying the jiva with universal Brahman. Other Hindu traditions maintain a more distinct sense of individual jiva while still seeking union with the divine.

In Jainism, jiva is a central ontological category: an eternal, conscious soul present in all living beings, from humans to microorganisms. Jiva is inherently pure but becomes entangled in karma, which determines rebirth and suffering. Liberation (moksha) is attained by purifying the soul, shedding karmic matter, and realizing omniscience and bliss; a liberated jiva becomes siddha, freed from the cycle of rebirth.

In Buddhism, the term jiva is used less consistently and is not a core doctrinal category, since many schools deny a permanent, independent self (anatta). Some later usages describe living beings or streams of consciousness without positing an eternal essence.

Today, jiva also appears as a common given name in Indian communities.