Ātman is a Sanskrit word that refers to the Self or self-existent essence of individuals, as distinct from ego, mind and embodied existence. Atma means the spirit soul who is connected with matter in the material world. All the species of life that exist here are due to atma and matter.
According to charana samhitha the aatma has following qualities:
- Eternal (shashvata)
- Free from diseases (aruja)
- Does not have any age (ajara)
- Immortal (amara)
- Does not undergo decay (akshaya)
- Impenetrable (abhedya)
- Unbreakable (achhedya)
- Unperturbable (alodya)
- Omnipresent (vishvarupa)
- Omnipotent (vishvakarma).
- It is invisible (avyakta), neither has a beginning nor an end (anadi-nidhana) and is imperishable (akshara). [Cha.Sa Sharira Sthana 3/8]
- The soul is omnivagant / omnipresent (can move anywhere and everywhere), sustains all bodies, performs all actions, and takes all forms.
- It is the source of consciousness, transcending all senses, as it is always associated (with intellect etc.), it gets involved in feelings like attachment etc. [Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 2/32]
Atma or the soul is located in the heart with mind. This is the supreme site of consciousness.
- Life begins with the entry of consciousness during the process of conception or the union of sperm and ovum. The consciousness associated with embryo is also called as garbhatma or antaratma.
- Consciousness (chetana) constitutes sixth structural component (dhatu) of a living being with five mahabhuta.
Adhyatma means tattva or absolute truth.
Atma is the supreme which controls all faculties like mind, intellect, and sense organs. Hence the control over diet and lifestyle habits is directly related with atma. A person desiring to live the full span of life should remain in self-control and live with great caution assuming that he is constantly surrounded by the foes to his health. Atmavan word is used for a wise man who has self-control. Atma is one of the components of adhyatma dravya samgraha (absolute elements). The other elements are mind, sense organs, their objects and intellect. These are responsible for all auspicious and inauspicious deeds.
Knowledge or realization of self (Atmavijnana) is considered as one of the preventive measures of exogenous and endogenous disease.
Self-realization is an important process in attaining salvation.