Purusha (Sanskrit puruṣa, पुरुष ) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic man or Self, Consciousness, and Universal principle.[1][2][3]
In early Vedas, Purusa meant a cosmic man whose sacrifice by the gods created all life.[4] This was one of many creation theories discussed in the Vedas. The idea parallels Norse Ymir,[5] with the myth's origin in Proto-Indo-European religion.[6]
In the Upanishads, the Purusa concept no longer meant a being or cosmic man. The meaning evolved to an abstract essence of Self, Spirit and the Universal Principle that is eternal, indestructible, without form and all pervasive.[4] The Purusa concept is explained with the concept of Prakrti in the Upanishads. The universe is envisioned, in these ancient Sanskrit texts, as a combination of perceivable material reality and non-perceivable, non-material laws and principles of nature.[3][7] Material reality, or Prakrti, is everything that has changed, can change and is subject to cause and effect. Purusa is the Universal principle that is unchanging, uncaused but is present everywhere and the reason why Prakrti changes, evolves all the time and why there is cause and effect.[7] Purusa is what connects everything and everyone, according to various schools of Hinduism.
There is a diversity of views within various schools of Hinduism about the definition, scope and nature of Purusa.[2]
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[hide]푸루샤(영어: purusa/purusha, 산스크리트어: पुरुष)는 인도 신화에 등장하는 거인이다. 또는 최초의 인류인 원인(原人)을 뜻하기도 한다. 산스크리트어로는 자신, 인간 혹은 남성을 의미한다.
《리그베다》에선 푸루샤의 신체로부터 태양과 달 그리고 대지와 신 등의 만물이 태어났다고 여긴다. 또한 푸루샤의 입에선 브라만이, 팔에서는 크샤트리아가, 넓적다리에서는 바이샤가, 발에서는 수드라가 발생했다고 여겨 카스트를 설명한다.