Paribhāṣā

Parama Sāttvikā

பரம ஸாத்விகர்

Also known as: parama-sattvika, parama satvika, supremely sattvic

Meaning

One who is supremely (*parama*) established in the quality of *sattva* — pure, luminous, and spiritually refined; a person of the highest *sāttvika* character whose thought, speech, and action are unclouded by *rajas* or *tamas*.

Detailed Explanation

Parama Sāttvikā — The Supremely Pure and Luminous

Parama sāttvikā ('the supremely sāttvika') is an honorific applied to highly evolved Bhāgavathas and Āchāryas whose entire being — thoughts, words, and deeds — is saturated with the quality of sattva (purity, luminosity, clarity) with no admixture of rajas (passion, agitation) or tamas (inertia, darkness).

The Three Guṇas: Sāṃkhya-Vedānta teaches that all of prakṛti is composed of three qualities (guṇas): sattva (purity, illumination), rajas (activity, passion), and tamas (inertia, ignorance). In most beings these are mixed. The parama sāttvikā has transcended the ordinary mixture — their sattva is so predominant as to approach the nirguṇa (quality-transcending) state of pure spiritual being.

Marks of Parama Sāttvikā: Calm and equanimous in all circumstances, free from anger and desire, naturally drawn to truth, service, and the good of others; their company purifies, their speech illumines, their very presence elevates those around them. The Āzhvārs describe such souls as 'dwelling in Bhagavān even while in this world.'

In Āchārya Literature: Great Āchāryas like Nampillai and Bhaṭṭar are described as parama sāttvikā — their responses to difficult situations, their treatment of disciples and opponents alike, and their constant orientation toward Bhagavān all reflect this supreme sāttvika quality.

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