In Jainism, "aatama" (also spelled "atma" or "ātman") means the soul or the self. It is considered the true essence of every living being. According to Jain philosophy, every living entity—from the tiniest microorganism to the highest spiritual beings—possesses an aatama.

Key points about aatama in Jainism:

• Eternal and Individual: The soul is eternal (without beginning or end) and distinct for each living being.
• Consciousness: The aatama is characterized by consciousness (chetana) and knowledge (jnana).
• Bondage and Liberation: Souls are bound by karma due to ignorance and passions. Liberation (moksha) is attained when the soul is freed from all karmic bonds and manifests its pure, infinite knowledge, perception, bliss, and energy.
• Equality: All souls are fundamentally equal, though they differ in the degree of spiritual development and karmic bondage.
• Non-material: The soul is non-material and cannot be seen with physical eyes.

Understanding the true nature of aatama and striving for its purification is a central goal in Jain philosophy and practice.