ESSAYS

Svabhava means “one’s own nature.” In worldly life it refers to tendencies shaped by gunas. In Vedanta, one’s absolute svabhava is identical with svarupa — Brahman, pure existence-consciousness-limitlessness.

Svarupa means intrinsic nature. In Vedanta, it is pure consciousness, limitless being, fullness. While colloquially it can mean temperament or inclination, true svarupa belongs only to the Self, not to conditioning.