Nirvana

Nirvāṇa (neer-VAH-nə, -⁠VAN-ə, nur-; Sanskrit: निर्वाण nirvāṇa [nɪɽʋaːɳɐ]; Pali: nibbāna; Prakrit: ṇivvāṇa; literally, “blown out”, as in an oil lamp) is a concept in Indian religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism) that represents the ultimate state of soteriological release, the liberation from duḥkha and saṃsāra

In Indian religions, nirvana is synonymous with moksha and mukti

All Indian religions assert it to be a state of perfect quietude, freedom, highest happiness as well as the liberation from attachment and worldly suffering and the ending of samsara, the round of existence

However, non-Buddhist and Buddhist traditions describe these terms for liberation differently

In Hindu philosophy, it is the union of or the realization of the identity of Atman with Brahman, depending on the Hindu tradition

In Jainism, nirvana is also the soteriological goal, representing the release of a soul from karmic bondage and samsara

In the Buddhist context, nirvana refers to realization of non-self and emptiness, marking the end of rebirth by stilling the fires that keep the process of rebirth going

To achieve this status, one has to get rid of three psychological evils – Raga (greed, desire), Dwesha (anger) and Moha (delusion)