Brahman in Hinduism, the ultimate reality, possessed of being, consciousness, and bliss, dependent on nothing else for existence. Brahman is conceived as a personal deity (Brahma) in Vis’istadvaita and Dvaita Vedanta and as apersonal and qualityless in Advaita Vedanta, in which ‘being, consciousness, and bliss’ are interpreted negatively. While Brahman is conceived as saguna or ‘with qualities’ in Vis’istadvaita and Dvaita, for Advaita Brahman is nirguna or qualityless. For Vis’istadvaita, ‘Brahman’ secondarily refers to the world dependent on Brahman strictly so called, namely all minds and material things that constitute Brahman’s body. For Advaita, each apparently individual mind (or other thing) is identical to Brahman; Dvaita does not construe the world, or anything else, as Brahman’s body. Enlightenment, or moksha, with its consequent escape from the cycle of rebirths, for Advaita involves recognizing one’s identity with nirguna Brahman, and for Dvaita and Vis’istadvaita involves repenting and forsaking one’s sins and trusting a gracious Brahman for salvation. See also HINDUIS. K.E.Y.