Nirgun and Sargun


Nirgun 'and Sargun' is terminology used within Sikhism to refer to the ineffable and the manifest nature of God. There is no dichotomy in the nirgun and sargun nature of God, as there only One.Within Hinduism, they are adjectives, indicating God's transcendence of all qualities, properties, and predicates or God's possessing qualities.

In the Guru Granth Sahib

Before creation, God existed all alone as Nirgun in a state of Sunn Samadhi, deep meditation, as says Guru Nanak.
Then God willed, created the universe, and diffused into nature as ''Sargun.''

In Indian philosophy

The Sikh view of the dual nature of Absolute God runs parallel to Shankara's Vedic (Saguna and Nirguna) Brahman conception, as well as the tradition of Indian philosophy in general. Saguna is the divine with form, Nirguna without form. Advaita sees Nirguna Brahman as the ultimate reality.