Purusha, in Hindu philosophy, is the cosmic self, spirit, or consciousness, regarded as the universal principle that pervades and transcends the material world. In various schools of thought, particularly in the Sankhya and Vedanta traditions, Purusha is seen as the eternal, unchanging essence that exists beyond the physical and mental realms, distinct from Prakriti, the dynamic material energy or nature. Purusha represents the pure consciousness that witnesses and experiences reality without being affected by it, often associated with the ultimate truth or ब्रह्मन् Brahman, and is considered the source of individual souls (jivas) as well as the foundation of all existence, underscoring the belief in the unity of all life within the cosmic order.