Saakar and Niraakar
Sākār (साकार) and Nirākār (निराकार) are two fundamental concepts in Hindu philosophy and spirituality describing the nature of the divine: Sākār means "with form" . It refers to God or the ultimate reality being worshipped or conceived in a specific, perceivable form. This could be as deities (like Krishna, Rama, Shiva), idols, images, or any physical manifestation. The Sākār aspect allows devotees to relate to and focus their devotion on a tangible representation, which can make meditation and worship easier, especially for beginners[1][3][4][5]. In Hinduism, the divine forms (avatars) like Krishna, Rama, etc., are considered Sākār manifestations, but their form is believed to be divine and not made of ordinary matter[3][5]. Nirākār means "formless" . It refers to God or the ultimate reality as being without any specific shape, image, or physical attributes. The Nirākār aspect is abstract, beyond human senses, and cannot be visualized or confin...