Purushottama

"Purushottama" (Sanskrit: पुरुषोत्तम from पुरुष, purusha "spirit" or "male" and उत्तम, uttama, "highest") means "Supreme Purusha," "Supreme Being," or "Supreme God." Its deeper symbolic meaning is "One who is the Supreme Purusha beyond the Kshara (Destroyable — i.e., Prakṛti) and Akshara (Undestroyable — i.e., Atman)."

For the 1992 Indian film, see Purushotthama (film).
For Purushottam Maas, the extra month in the Hindu calendar, see Adhik Maas.

Purushottama is also one of the names of Lord Vishnu and appears as the 24th name of Lord Vishnu in Vishnu Sahasranama of the Mahabharata. According to the Bhagavad Gita, Purushottam is explained as above and beyond kshar and akshar purushas or as an omnipotent cosmic being. The Purushottama was explained by the integral philosopher Haridas Chaudhuri (1913–1975) as representing that ineffable phenomenon that lies even beyond the undifferentiated Godhead. Lord Rama as an avatara of Lord Vishnu is called Maryada Purushottama, whereas Lord Krishna as an avatara of Lord Vishnu is known as Leela or Purushottama.

Purushottam is often misinterpreted as "Foremost Amongst All Men." The most appropriate word for this concept in Sanskrit literature is "Narottam," which is used for Arjun in the Mahabharat.

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