HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "tattva"

Word

Tattva

Sanskrit

तत्त्व

IAST

tattva

In General

According to Sankhya philosophy Purush is the maha tattva, the fundamental element that cause the Prakriti to evolve. Prakruti or the nature consists of 24 tattvas or physical entities which depend on Purusha for their existence. But Purusha is independent of Prakriti. The 24 tattvas of Prakriti are said in five sets are:

1. Five gross elements (Pancha Bhuts): Pruthvi(earth), Jala(water), Teja(fire), Vayu(air), and Akasha(space).

2. Five subtle elements (Pancha Tanmatras): sound (Shabda), touch (Sparsha), sight (Roopa), taste (Rasa), and smell (Gandha).

3. Five motor organ systems (Karmendriyas): speech organ (Mukh), hands (Hastha), legs (Pāda), excretory organ (Pāyu), and reproduction organ (Upastha).

4. Five sensory organ systems (Gnanendriyas): organ for sound (ear - Karna-Indriya), organ for touch (skin - Sparsh-Indriya), organ for seeing (Eyes – Chakshu-Indriya), organ for taste (Tongue – Jihva-Indriya), and organ for smell (Nose – Nasika-Indriya).

5. Four inner operative or intellectual systems (Antahkarana): Chitta(primordial Prakriti), Buddhi (intellect), Ahamkara(ego), and Manas(mind).

Veda

The ultimate truth behind the perishable material things is always been a secret. To the Upanishads the Ultimate Truth, the Brahman is the Tattva.

Related entries found !

Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana
Tattva , Shivite 36तत्त्वtattva

The phinominal world is an expression of Prakriti expressing itself by some tattvas....

The ultimate truth behind the perishable material things is always been a secret. To the...

Read More
Tattvavaisaradi TattvavaiśāradiOne of the commentary of Yogasutra of Patanjali is called as Vyasa Bhasya. Tattvavaisaradi is a... Read More
Tattva , Shivite 36तत्त्वtattva

The phinominal world is an expression of Prakriti expressing itself by some tattvas....

The ultimate truth behind the perishable material things is always been a secret. To the...

Read More
Tattvavaisaradi TattvavaiśāradiOne of the commentary of Yogasutra of Patanjali is called as Vyasa Bhasya. Tattvavaisaradi is a... Read More
Yogatattva Upanishad योगतत्त्वोपनिषद् yogatattva upaniṣhadYogatattva Upanishad is a minor Upanishad from Krishna Yajur Veda. It has 142 metrical verses.... Read More