videhamukta

Videhamukta, or videha-mukta, is a term in Hindu philosophy describing a soul that has achieved liberation from the cycle of birth and death and has shed the body. The word comes from Sanskrit vi- (without) deha (body) and mukta (liberated). In classical discussions, a videha-mukta is someone who remains liberated after the body is discarded, residing in a state of pure consciousness beyond physical form.

In Advaita Vedanta, moksha denotes realization of the oneness of the Atman with Brahman. A key distinction is that jivanmukti refers to liberation while one is still embodied, whereas videhamukti refers to liberation at the time of death or after death, when the individual body is dropped. Variations exist in traditional texts about whether a videha-mukta retains any personal memory, experiences, or a subtler form, but the core claim is the permanent release from samsara and identification with the Absolute.

Scriptural and philosophical discussions of videha-mukti appear across Vedantic and devotional literature. It is often presented as the highest form of moksha, signaling complete freedom from karma and individual limitation. Different schools and commentators describe the state with varying nuance, but the common thread is the soul’s permanent union with or realization of Brahman beyond material existence.

See also: Moksha, Jivanmukti, Atman, Brahman, Advaita Vedanta.