A Beginner’s Journey
What Is the Relationship Between the Soul and God?
Who am I?
Sri Vaishnavism gives a simple yet profound answer: I am a jīva—the individual soul—not merely the body or the mind.
The jīva is eternal, conscious and distinct from God. Yet it is never independent of Him.
Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Being, and the jīva belongs to Him.
Sri Vaishnavas describe this relationship as śeṣa–śeṣi: the jīva is śeṣa, existing for the sake of the śeṣi, Bhagavān.
This does not mean that the soul loses its individuality or becomes God. Even in liberation, the soul remains itself—loving, knowing and serving Bhagavān.
And this is where two beautiful words come together:
Bhakti — loving God.
Kainkaryam — serving Him.
The journey is therefore not about becoming God.
It is about discovering:
“I belong to Him.”
And finding joy in that eternal relationship.
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