Bhagavad Gita, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda

Purusha (spirit, Jiva, Knower Field) Gita



Purusha (Bhagavad Gita): Eternal Universal Principle, indestructible, formless and Omnipresent

Bhagavad Gita Course - Bhakti Yoga Course

In Chapter 13- The Yoga of the Field (body or Prakriti) and the Knower of the Field (Purusha) - Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga - of the Bhagavad Gita, we find the term Purusha (spirit, Knower of the Field), the Eternal Universal Principle, indestructible, formless and Omnipresent (Universal Form).

In several chapters of the Bhagavad Gita we find references a Purusha:

  1. Yoga of the Supreme Being. It is necessary to indicate that in Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita - The Yoga of the Supreme Being (Purushottama Yoga), precisely we see the term Purushottama or Supreme Being  
  2. Knowledge of Brahman
  3. Parabrahman
  4. Royal Knowledge

Purusha is a term used also in the Yoga Philosophy, Raja Yoga and the Sutras of Patanjali.

In verse 20 of this chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains the relationship between Prakriti, Purusha and the Gunas:

Sri Krishna say to Arjuna:
«You must know that Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (spirit) are beginningless; that all modifications and Gunas are born from Prakriti» Bhagavad Gita 13-20.

Purusha is the «cause of the experience of pleasure and pain»:

«Prakriti is described as the cause in the creation of the effects generated by the causes; Purusha is described as the cause of the experience of pleasure and pain» Bhagavad Gita 13-21.

Verse 22 explains to us that Purusha resides in Prakriti and is the one who experiences the Gunas:

«For Purusha, residing in Prakriti, experiences the Gunas born of Prakriti; attachment to these Gunas is the cause of their birth in both good and bad wombs.» Bhagavad Gita 13-22.

And we see the Path of Moksha, of liberation:

«He who thus knows Purusha and Prakriti with his Gunas is not born again, no matter how he lives and acts.» Bhagavad Gita 13-24.

Bhagavad Gita Concepts.

Bhagavad Gita in Spanish Purusha Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita in Portuguese Purusha.

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Bhagavad Gita: Yoga of the Distinction between the Field and the Knower of the Field


For Swami Sivananda.

«Krishna asks us to see and know the difference between the Field (body or Prakriti) and the Knower of the Field (spirit or Purusha), and thus attain the Self. This is the teaching and message of this illuminating discourse.» Sri Swami Sivananda.

For Gandhi.

« Prakriti in common language is Maya (illusion). Purusha is Jiva. Jiva, acting according to his nature, experiences the fruit of actions arising from the Three Gunas» Gandhi.

And to understand this reflection of Gandhi we turn to the wisdom of Swami Vivekananda.

«Sri Ramakrishna took Karma Yoga to a new and higher level when the Master taught: “Serve Jiva as Shiva!” (Serves the individual human being as well as the Divine Being)» Swami Vivekananda.

The rest of this summary on “Purusha in the Bhagavad Gita” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

Bhakti Yoga Course (Philosophy Devotion, Heart to feel) Bhagavad Gita


Bhagavad Gita Book (Yoga of Wisdom, Gandhi, Sivananda) Pedro Nonell




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