Brahman

==== Nirguna  and Saguna Brahman ====
{{anchor | Saguna | Nirguna | Saguna and nirguna | Saguna and Nirguna | Saguna and nirguna brahman | Saguna and Nirguna Brahman }}

Brahman, the ultimate reality, is both with and without attributes. In this context, [[Para Brahman]] is formless and [[omniscient]] [[Ishvara]] - the god or [[Paramatman]] and [[Om]], where as [[Saguna Brahman]] is manifestation or [[avatara]] of god in personified form.

While Hinduism sub-schools such as Advaita Vedanta emphasize the complete equivalence of ''Brahman'' and ''Atman'', they also expound on ''Brahman'' as ''[[saguna Brahman]]''—the ''Brahman'' with attributes, and ''[[nirguna Brahman]]''—the ''Brahman'' without attributes.<ref name="dx.doi.org">{{Cite journal | doi=10.7825/2164-6279.1250|title = Hierarchies in the Nature of God? Questioning the "Saguna-Nirguna" Distinction in Advaita Vedanta| journal=Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies| volume=14 |issue=7 |pages=1–6|year = 2001|last1 = Rambachan|first1 = Anantanand|doi-access=free}}</ref> The ''nirguna Brahman'' is the ''Brahman'' as it really is, however, the ''saguna Brahman'' is posited as a means to realizing ''nirguna Brahman'', but the Hinduism schools declare ''saguna Brahman'' to be a part of the ultimate ''nirguna Brahman''<ref name=williamw/> The concept of the ''saguna Brahman'', such as in the form of [[avatar]]s, is considered in these schools of Hinduism to be a useful symbolism, path and tool for those who are still on their spiritual journey, but the concept is finally cast aside by the fully enlightened.<ref name=williamw>William Wainwright (2012), [http://stanford.library.usyd.edu.au/entries/concepts-god/ Concepts of God], ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', Stanford University, (Accessed on: 13 June 2015)</ref>