Ānanda is a Sanskrit word that means bliss, joy, or supreme happiness. In spiritual traditions, it points to a state of transcendental bliss that arises from union with the Self or the Divine. More than an emotional feeling, Ānanda represents the inherent bliss of existence itself — the power of the Divine expressed as joy.
The term Ānanda is central in Vedantic philosophy. It is part of the triad Sat–Cit–Ānanda: Sat (absolute being), Cit (consciousness), and Ānanda (bliss). Together, they describe the essential nature of ultimate reality, Brahman.
In this vision, bliss is not a temporary experience but the eternal nature of the Self. Hindu scriptures affirm that to realize one’s true nature is to experience Ānanda. The term also appears in Buddhist and yogic traditions, describing states of deep meditative absorption.
When I use the word Ānanda, I refer to the transcendental quality of bliss that is beyond mental or emotional fluctuation. It is the resonance felt when the heart aligns with truth. In devotional paths (Bhakti Yoga), Ānanda is the overflowing joy of communion with the Divine. In my work, it marks the dimension of sacred joy that awakens when one reconnects with the essence of being.