Tattva

Tattva is a Sanskrit word meaning 'thatness', 'principle', 'reality' or 'truth'. [ "tattva - of the truth" from [http://vedabase.net/bg/2/16/en1 BG 2.16] ] According to various Indian schools of philosophy, a tattva is an element or aspect of reality conceived as an aspect of deity. Although the number of tattvas varies depending on the philosophical school, together they are thought to form the basis of all our experience. The Samkhya philosophy uses a system of 25 tattvas, while Shaivism recognises 36 tattvas.

Tattvas in Samkhya

The Samkhya philosophy regards the Universe as consisting of two eternal realities: "Purusha" and "Prakrti". It is therefore a strongly dualist philosophy. The "Purusha" is the centre of consciousness, whereas the "Prakriti" is the source of all material existence. The twenty-five tattva system of Samkhya concerns itself only with the tangible aspect of creation, theorizing that "Prakriti" is the source of the world of becoming. It is the first tattva and is seen as pure potentiality that evolves itself successively into twenty-four additional tattvas or principles.

Tattvas in Shaivism

In Shaivite philosophy, the tattvas are inclusive of consciousness as well as material existence. The 36 tattvas of Shaivism are divided into three groups:;Shuddha tattvas:The first five tattvas are known as the "shuddha" or 'pure' tattvas. They are also known as the tattvas of universal experience.;Shuddha-ashuddha tattvas:The next seven tattvas (6–12) are known as the "shuddha-ashuddha" or 'pure-impure' tattvas. They are the tattvas of limited individual experience.;Ashuddha tattvas:The last twenty-four tattvas (13–36) are known as the "ashuddha" or 'impure' tattvas. The first of these is "prakriti" and they include the tattvas of mental operation, sensible experience, and materiality.

Tattvas in Vaishnavism

Within Puranic literatures and general Vaishnava philosophy "tattva" is often used to denote certain categories or types of being or energies such as :

;Vishnu-tattva:Any incarnation or expansion of Vishnu.;Jiva-tattva:The living souls (jivas). ;Mahat-tattva:The total material energy (prakrti).

In Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy that there are a total of five primary tattvas described in terms of living beings, which are collectively known as the Pancha Tattva and described as follows:

ee also

*Mahabhuta
*Achintya Bheda Abheda
*Tattva vision
*Tat Tvam Asi

Footnotes

References

* Prasad, Ram (1997). "Nature's Finer Forces: The Science of Breath and the Philosophy of the Tattvas". Kessinger. ISBN 1-56459-803-9
* Ramacharaka Yogi (1997). "Science of Breath". Kessinger. ISBN 1-56459-744-X
* Singh, Jaideva (1979). "Siva Sutras: The Yoga of Supreme Identity". Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas.

Further reading

* Swami Satyananda Saraswati. "Tattva Jnana". Devi Mandir. ISBN 1-877795-62-3.

External links

* [http://www.vedabase.net/t/tattva Uses of 'tattva' in Puranic and Gaudiya Vaishnava literature]