The soul, or "Ātman" in Sanatan Dharma (also known as Hinduism), is a central concept that represents the true essence of an individual. It is considered eternal, indestructible, and unchanging, unlike the physical body, which is temporary and subject to decay.

According to Sanatan philosophy, the soul is a fragment of the divine, a spark of the universal consciousness, or Brahman. It is pure, free from any worldly impurities, and not bound by the physical or mental attributes that define a person’s earthly existence. The soul is beyond the cycles of birth and death (samsara) and is ultimately seeking liberation (moksha), which is the realization of its unity with Brahman.

The journey of the soul involves experiencing life through different bodies across various lifetimes, governed by the law of karma (the principle of cause and effect).