Question

Which of the following statements is the correct definition of Nirguna?
(A) It is the concept of a formless God.
(B) It is the concept of a formless Guru.
(C) It is the concept of spirituality.
(D) None of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: Saguna refers to the divine presence with a manifestation, whereas Nirguna means without distinction. The metaphysical concept Nirguna belongs to the orthodox Hindu philosophy of Vedanta.

Complete answer: There exists a question of whether the supreme and immanent being, Brahman (God) is to be characterized as without qualities or with qualities. While Nirguna means without qualities, Saguna is about having qualities.
- The existence of God with a formless state is Nirguna Brahman and with a form of divine manifestation is Saguna Brahman.
- Saguna Brahman is characterised by immortality, imperishability and eternity.
- Nirguna Brahman is a state of being of nonduality, which is also known as the Para Brahman as of the tradition of Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
For example, Surya is considered as Saguna Brahman by Saura, a denomination of Hinduism and Shiva is regarded as Para Brahman in Shaivism.
The options (B) C) and (D) are incorrect
 The option (A) is correct, as Nirguna is defined as the concept of a formless God.

Note: The two important individuals who attempt to explain the notions of Saguna and Nirguna are the Hindu philosophers Adi Sankara and Ramanuja. The concept of Brahman in Advaita Vedanta of Adi Sankara is that Brahman is not made up of parts, therefore Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is Atman and thus they are not two different attributes. The Visistadvaita of Ramanuja holds that Brahman has qualities, and therefore it is Saguna and rejects all talk of illusions.