In his teachings, Sahajanand Swami reveals five eternal and distinct entities: Purushottam, Akshar, maya, ishwars, and jivas. Jivas and ishwars are souls who, until liberated, are bound by maya, a deluding force that induces attachment to the body and the world, resulting in rebirth. Akshar is eternally beyond maya and devoted to Purushottam, or God. Souls who seek to transcend maya must first associate and identify with Akshar incarnate to attain the virtues of Akshar necessary for liberation from maya. In the liberated state, the souls offer exclusive devotion to Purushottam.
