A Sanskrit term describing the absolute, highest manifestation of Transcendence.
Although traditionally translated into English as "
God", this term, "Bhagavan", is used by many who wish to distance themselves from the jingoistic uses of that traditional term,
e.g., "God bless the
U.S.A", "
God is on our side", "My God is better than your god", "In God we trust", "God damn you to
hell".
It is also used to differentiate between a spiteful, smiteful, jealous deity (as mentioned in the
Bible) with an all-blissful Deity (as mentioned in the quintessential Hindu scripture, the Bhagavata Purana).