Ahaṅkāra

Ahaṅkāra · aham-kāra, “the making of I, the sense of self”

Grammar: masculine noun; a compound of aham (“I”) and kāra (making, the maker): “the making of ‘I'”.

Meaning: the sense of “I”; the pride by which a being takes himself to be the one who is and who acts.

In the scriptures: Pulastya Maharshi tells Nārada an ancient account, which Avyakta Brahmā told in the Ādi Purāṇa. Long ago the whole universe became one ocean; sun, moon, wind and fire perished, and a blind darkness beyond all thought spread everywhere. In it the Paramātmā remained in sleep for a thousand years. At the end of that night he took a rājasa form and created the worlds. From that creation arose Brahmā, five-faced, full of rajas, master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas; and likewise came Rudra, made of tamas, three-eyed, trident in hand, with matted hair, wearing a rudrāksha-mālā.

Then the Paramātmā created a fearsome ahaṅkāra, and it took hold of Brahmā and Rudra. Covered by ahaṅkāra, Śaṅkara said to Brahmā: “Who are you? Who created you and sent you?” Pitāmaha, also under ahaṅkāra, asked Śaṅkara the same: “Who are you? Who are your parents?” So, in ancient times, the dispute between Brahmā and Rudra began. Nārada himself was born at that time, sounding joyful notes on his vīṇā as soon as he was born (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 2).

Related terms: Rajas · Tamas · Pralaya · Ekārṇava · Kapālī

Sources

• Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 2