[Advaita-l] Beyond Saguṇa: Śaṅkara’s Philosophical Intent Behind the Terms ‘Iśvara’ and ‘Parameśvara’

[V Subrahmanian]

Shankara has employed the term 'Parameśwara and 'Īśwara' quite frequently
in the Prasthana traya bhashya.  By these two terms one is likely to
conclude that he is referring to saguna brahman only in those instances.
However, a careful reading of these instances reveals that on quite many
occasions these terms convey undisputedly the Nirguna, Nirvishesha,
Nirupadhika Brahman. To understand this, it would be beneficial to first
examine those instances where *Shankara determines that the Brahman of the
Upanishads is Nirguna, Nirvishesha alone and not anything else.* The
statements of saguna Brahman in the Upanishads, Shankara avers, is only an
expression of avidyā.


This study reveals that Shankara uses the terms ‘Iśvara’ and ‘Parameśvara’
as a synonym for Nirguna Bahman. Below is an article that cites several
Bhashya passages that highlight the NB nature of the terms ‘Iśvara’ and
‘Parameśvara’:


https://adbhutam.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ishwara-parameshwara-usage-in-bhashyam.pdf

warm regards
subbu