Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 91

The Upanişadic Thought-Current Regarding the Nature of Soul
83
Upanişads and other scriptural texts he submits that souls are certainly atomic-sized as well as infinite in number, but being something independent and eternal they constiuute neither a transformation of Brahman, nor an effect of it, nor a portion of it. Thus even at that time when they are free from ignorance souls experience the lordship exercized over them by Brahman or Vişnu.
Among the Saivas who have undertaken philosophical speculation independently and without basing themselves on Vedas or Vedānta there is current a doctrine called pratyabhijñādarśana. On its showing the Supreme Brahman itself is Śiva and there is nobody superior to it-so that it is also called 'anuttara (-having nothing superior to itself). It is this anuttara Brahman which, of its own will, brings to manifestation an infinite number of souls as also the world. Thus these souls are in essence non. different from Śiva Himself.