According to Advaitic philosophy it is just the mind of the devotee that gives form and attributes to the otherwise pure and unqualifiable Absolute. While Nirguna Brahman ("The Absolute without qualities") refers to the holistic potency that animates the universe Saguna Brahman commonly refers to any of Its deitical manifestations such as Vishnu, Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Ganesh, Durga, Lakshmi, any other personal God or Goddess, i.e., God with personal form, versus the attributeless Nirguna Brahman, and even one's spiritual preceptor or Satguru.[2]
The Hindu saint, Ramakrishna analogized God with form and without form as being like ice and liquid water, as being both the same but in different states.[3]
Vaishnavism
Saguna Brahman of the various schools of Vaishnavism means Brahman with infinite attributes, including form. Saguna Brahman is immortal, imperishable, eternal, and thus the basis of the impersonal Nirguna Brahman, as clearly stated in the Bhagavad Gita. The personal form indicated is generally Narayana, or Krishna, or Vishnu. Practically all schools of Vaishnavism adhere to this viewpoint.
The Hindu saint Surdas was born blind, but through intense devotion (Bhakti Yoga), could see the Lord all the time.
Other
Goddess Shakti (or Durga, Kali, Gayatri etc.) is seen as the Saguna Brahman in Shaktism. Shiva is the Saguna Brahman of Shaivism. It is also understood that worshipers of a particular personal form of God or Goddess as supreme may see other personal forms as plenary portions or expansions or aspects of Brahman.
References
↑ The Shambala Encyclopedia of Yoga (p. 247), by Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., ISBN 1-57062-137-3
↑ Meditation and Mantras, by Swami Vishnu-Devananda (p. 61-75), ISBN 81-208-1615-3
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