What is Atman?

Upanishads and Gita explain to us the concept of Atman. Atman is present in each one of us and is directly connected to the Isha. Isha is the controller and transformer of the universe. The whole panorama of manifestation is nothing other than Shiva's self-consciousness. The source of the universe is one. The manifestation leads to a chain of cause and creation. This cause and creation are not separate but same. You must have heard of a term "Aham Bramhasmi" meaning "I (atman) is bramhan (universe)". The spiritual journey is all about leaving behind ignorance and lower knowledge to know bramhan. Frankly speaking, lower knowledge is just an outcome of ignorance. When the sense and mind stop dominating the body and thoughts, atman takes over. This atman is the complete and absolute knowledge of bramhan. The universe is a web of creation that is in motion (Jagat) and which manifested all sides in all immensity and diversity. Atman is not just dwelling in humans but all living beings of this world. But this Atman is not separate from the source of origin. According to Upanishads, the universe is manifested into stages. The topmost stage is where there is no form but still, Isha exists. The lowest consciousness is to get attached to Maya (material or illusive world) and not recognizing the highest consciousness. Jiva (atman) is a lower consciousness compared to the shiva's consciousness. A child is extremely conscious when born. He is not attached to the material world. As time goes by, the child begins surrounding himself with layers of impurity. Here impurity only signifies attachment with Maya and stick to Doshas. Yogic practices help humans knowing the highest knowledge. When the highest knowledge is achieved, the yogi becomes yukta. When Shiva's energy assumes the state of limitation as Jiva, his free and spontaneous karma binds him to ordinary human karma. Thus the limiting energy (jiva) remains in the web of cause and effect of the manifestation of the universe. The biggest difference between jiva and isha is purity and impurity, oneness and multiplicity. Jiva's consciousness is tainted with attachment to objectivity which itself is imperfect. The deepest state of meditation brings out jiva from the power of Maya. The highest consciousness is just a size of the thumb. Many great Rishis had written their experience of how big and powerful atman is.

"Jiva's atman is just a fraction of the hundredth part of the tip of the hair, again divided hundred times, partakes of infinity" (Shwetashvatara Upanishad 5.9)

When the atman is not identified with the source of the universe, the human experiences "I" with objects. The atman is neither male nor it is female and neither neuter. It has no thirst, no hunger, no desire. Desire is craved by the 5 senses of human. It has no age. it is born out from the source and goes back to the source. No death no birth. When atman takes a form, it identifies itself with the objects just like water-filled in a glass. Atman is formless and true identity is only with the universe.