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).