Jiva

Jiva

"a living being", "one who breathes, has vital forces"

Any living being in the material universe, including humans. This concept is considered by various philosophical schools of India in different ways. In Naths tradition, jiva is a living being bound by the limitations of the material world, this concept includes not only the physical body, but also mental functions (antahkaran, etc.). The eternal Atman identified with such a jiva is called jivatman.