The Mystery of the Soul: Exploring Ātman in Vedas, Upanishads and Ayurveda

In the Indian spiritual and philosophical tradition, the concept of Ātman—commonly translated as the “Soul” or “Self”—stands as one of the most profound and essential truths. Unlike many Western interpretations that view the soul primarily through religious or psychological lenses, Indian thought treats the Ātman as eternal, indivisible, formless, and beyond the physical and mental planes. 

The Upanishads, the Vaidik scriptures, and Āyurveda all delve deeply into the nature of the Ātman, its relation to the body, mind, universe, and the Supreme Reality. This article explores the idea of the soul from these sacred perspectives and attempts to synthesize a holistic understanding of the Ātman. 

In Sanskrit, “Ātman” (आत्मन्) literally means “Self” or “Essence.” It is not just the personal soul, but the innermost essence of all beings, a spark of divine consciousness that is eternal (nitya), unchanging (nirvikāra), and infinite (ananta). 

“Ātmanā vindate vīryam.” 

– Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (By the Self one obtains strength.) 

The Ātman is not created nor destroyed. It is neither born nor does it die. It is beyond birth, death, pleasure, and pain. 

It is the observer, the silent witness of all experiences—mental, emotional, and physical. 

Ātman in the Upanishads (The Wisdom of the Seers): 

The Upanishads, also known as Vedānta (the end or culmination of the Vedas), offer the most refined explanations of the Ātman. 

Key Teachings: 

Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad (1.4.10): 

• “Āham Brahmāsmi” – “I am Brahman.” 

• Here, the individual soul (Ātman) is declared to be non-different from the Brahman, the Supreme Universal Consciousness. 

Chāndogya Upanishad (6.8.7): 

• “Tat tvam asi” – “That thou art.” 

• The essential teaching that your inner self is not separate from the cosmic consciousness. 

Kaṭha Upanishad (2.2.13): 

• “Nityo’nityānām cetanaś cetanānām…” 

• “The eternal among non-eternals, the consciousness among the conscious…” 

• This shows that the Ātman is the pure awareness behind all manifestations. 

Four Main Ideas About Ātman in Upanishads: 

• Nitya (Eternal): Never born, never dies. 

• Nirguṇa (Without attributes): Beyond qualities or form. 

• Sākṣī (Witness): Observer of all mind-body experiences. 

• Ānanda (Bliss): Its true nature is peace and joy. 

3. Ātman in Ayurveda (Soul and Health): 

Āyurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, also acknowledges the Ātman, though from a holistic and healing perspective. It views human life as a combination of Body (Śarīra), Mind (Manas), Senses (Indriyāni), and Soul (Ātman). 

Key Concepts: 

• Prakṛti (Body-Mind Constitution) is guided by the tridoṣas (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha), but life is only possible when Ātman is present. 

• Consciousness (Caitanya) or Jīvātman pervades the body and animates it. 

• Health is considered true alignment with the inner Ātman. Disease arises from forgetting one’s true Self and becoming entangled in ego and material cravings. 

Ayurvedic Quote: 

“Śarīra indriya sattva ātmā saṃyoga dhāri jīvitam.” 

– Charaka Saṁhitā 

(The combination of body, senses, mind, and soul is what sustains life.) 

Ayurveda sees mental and physical illness as often rooted in spiritual disconnection from the Ātman. Therefore, treatments include not just herbs and diet but also meditation, mantra, and self-realization practices. 

4. Ātman in Vaidik Literature and Rituals: 

In the four Vedas—Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and Atharvaveda—the Ātman is mentioned in hymns that praise the universal Self, known as Puruṣa, Hiraṇyagarbha, or Brahman. Though the earlier Vedas focus more on ritual and cosmic order, the seeds of spiritual inquiry into the soul are already present. 

Vedic Insights: 

Ṛgveda (10.90): 

• Describes the Puruṣa Sūkta, where the entire universe emerges from the cosmic Self (Puruṣa), which is none other than the universal Ātman. 

Atharvaveda (10.8.44): 

• “Ātmaivedam sarvam.” – “Ātman is indeed all this.” 

• This line emphasizes the non-duality of existence. 

Vaidik Rituals: 

• Yajña (Sacrifice): Intended not just for material benefit but for purifying the soul and connecting with the Supreme. 

• Sandhyā-Vandana: Daily Vaidik rituals include Ātma-namaskāra—salutation to the inner Self. 

• Mantras like “So’ham” (“I am That”) and “Aham Brahmāsmi” are used to merge the mind with the higher Ātman. 

5. Ātman vs Jīvātman (Individual and Universal Soul): 

A key distinction made in Vedānta is between: 

• Ātman (Universal Self) – The unchanging, indivisible Self in all beings. 

• Jīvātman (Embodied Self) – The individualized consciousness that, due to Māyā (illusion), identifies with the body and mind. 

When the Jīvātman realizes its identity with the Paramātman (Supreme Self), liberation (Mokṣa) is attained. Until then, it remains trapped in Samsāra (cycle of birth and death). 

6. Realizing the Ātman (The Goal of Indian Life): 

In Indian philosophy, especially in Sanātana Dharma, the purpose of human life is to realize the Ātman and its unity with Brahman. This realization leads to Mokṣa, freedom from suffering and rebirth. 

Paths to Realization (as per Bhagavad Gītā and Upanishads): 

Jñāna Yoga – Knowledge and self-inquiry (Who am I?) 

Dhyāna Yoga – Meditation to transcend the ego-mind 

Karma Yoga – Selfless action to purify the heart 

Bhakti Yoga – Loving devotion to the Divine, seeing God in all 

The Upanishads stress Neti-Neti (not this, not this) to point out what the Ātman is not—until what remains is pure, self-luminous awareness. 

According to the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha and other Vaidik texts, the fundamental ignorance (Avidyā) of mistaking the body and mind for the self is the root of all suffering. Liberation comes through Viveka (discrimination) between the real (Ātman) and the unreal (body, thoughts, ego). 

“You are not the body, nor the mind. You are the eternal witness.” 

– Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 

The Indian Upanishads, Ayurveda, and Vaidik traditions present the Ātman not as a belief but as the core truth of existence, to be known directly. It is the Self that shines through all experiences, untouched by birth or death, and is the eternal witness within all beings. 

To know the Ātman is to transcend suffering, rediscover the Self, and live in harmony with the cosmos. As the Muṇḍaka Upanishad says: 

“The Self is not known through study, nor through intellect, nor through much learning. It is revealed to the one who longs for it, whom it chooses.”