Atmas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Plural form referring to spiritual selves or individual souls in Hindu philosophy ; multiple expressions of the essential self or inner being ; a number of entities regarded as the true, eternal essence within living things
  2. Denoting several inner selves or souls believed to be the immortal essence according to certain Eastern spiritual traditions ; multiple manifestations of the fundamental life principle ; various distinct centers of consciousness considered eternal
  3. Used to indicate more than one core self or spirit in Hindu and yogic teachings ; a collection of entities that embody the true, undying inner nature of living beings ; the plural for the deepest unchanging principle of existence

Etymology: The noun in question appears to be "atmas," which is not a common English word and does not readily correspond to a standard term in widely known English lexicons. It is possible that it is a transliteration or a variant of a word from another language, especially from Sanskrit or related Indic languages, where the root "ātman" carries significant philosophical meaning. In Sanskrit, "ātman" refers to the self or soul, a foundational concept in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain philosophies. The term signifies the inner essence or the true self beyond the physical form and ego. The plural form in classical Sanskrit would be "ātmāḥ," which might be transliterated in various ways depending on the system used, potentially rendering something like "atmas" in English texts. If this plural form is the root for the word, it entered English primarily through scholarly and religious studies beginning in the 18th and 19th centuries during the colonial and academic engagement with Indian philosophy. These studies introduced many Sanskrit terms into English, especially concerning spiritual and metaphysical concepts. Without more context, it is difficult to ascertain a precise English etymology or usage history for this specific form. However, its lineage clearly ties back to the ancient Sanskrit root "ātman," which remains a critical concept in many spiritual traditions and has influenced English vocabulary related to philosophy and spirituality through translations and interpretations of Indian texts.