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The 36 Tattvas
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Shiva
By Jayaram V
History Of Saivism
Tattvas are parts or principles or aspects of nature. Their presence or absence, combination and
permutation play an important role in the creation of the diversity of worlds, their objects and
Evolution Of Saivism
beings, individual bodies, limbs and organs. In short their aggregation and segregation constitute
Saivism In Southern
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India
Siva and Vishnu
Video
Sects Of Saivism
Saiva Siddhanta
One of the most popular expressions found in the Upanishads is "Tattvamsi" which means "Thou
Vira Saivism
Kashmiri Saivism
art That", which is used in many schools of yoga as a meditative mantra. Tat means "that" tvam
Gorakhnatha Saivism
means "you" or "the individual". Thus tattvam means that which is both transcendental and
Pasupatha Saivism
The Ganapatya Sect
Whether they belong to Hinduism or not, Indian philosophers have been familiar with the
concept of tattvas since ancient times. It is difficult to find an Indian school of philosophy that do
not deal with this subject. Even the atheistic schools talk about it. So important is the concept
that even Jainism and Buddhism have their own version of tattvas.
Saiva Texts
The Samkhya school of Hinduism made the concept of tattvas their central philosophy while
Devi Gita
detailing the process of creation. The Samkhya school of philosophy identifies 24 tattvas that are
used in creation. In Samkhya there is no divine element or para tattva. The Vedanta school of
Shakti as Mantra
The Siva Sutras
philosophy accepts these 24 tattvas with some improvements. They also recognize a supreme or
tattva as the highest. Beyond Siva tattva is the atattva, which is not counted among the 36. The
Goddess
Worship Of The World
Mother
Eightfold Yoga and
Mantra Siddhi
divine tattva which is absent in the Samkhya. Saivism identifies 36 tattvas and considers Siva
Siva (Chit)
Shakti (Kriya)
Kshamapana Stotram
Ardha Nareeswara
Ashtakam
Bilwashtakam
Chandrasekharashtakam
Chidambareswara
Stotram
Daridraya Dahana Shiva
Stotram
A Prayer to Kalabhairava
Lingashtakam
Shiva Nama
Malyashtakam
Shiva Mangalashtakam
Margabandhu Stotram
Maha Mrityunjaya
Stotram
Nathopadesa Storam
Shiva Panchakshara
Stotram
Parameshwara Stotram
Pasupathyashtakam
Pradosha Mahatmyam
Shiva Raksha Stotram
Satha Rudriyam
Shiva Sadakshara
Stotram
Atattva - ParaSiva or formless absolute Brahman who is beyond all the tattvas, symbolized by
sivalinga, experienced in the state of samadhi
Prayers
108 Names of Lord Shiva
Shiva Aparadha
Siva Linga
by N. K. Singh
2004 - 213 pages
books.google.com
11
Maya
Kaala (time)
Niyati (space)
Raga (passion)
10
Kala (power)
1- 5 are
Iswaratattvas.
They belong
to the pure
worlds.
6-10 are
Shaktitattvas.
11-16 are
recognized
as
atma-tattvas
.
17 - 36 are
prakrititattvas.
Through
them
Prakriti
manifests
gross
bodies,
organs,
senses,
senseobjects and
other things
of gross
material.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Related Links
The 36 tattvas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An Introduction to Tattvas
The 36 Tattvas
Smkhya Tattvas
The Samkhya Philosophy and 24 Principles of
Creation
The Wheel As A Symbol Of Creation With God As Its
Hub
Kapila and the Samkhya yoga
The Sankhya Philosophy of Kapila
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http://www.saivism.net/articles/tattvas.asp
Sadasivashtakam
Shiva Sahasra Namam
12
Purusha
13
Buddhi (wisdom)
14
Ahamkara (ego)
Shivashtakam
15
Manas
Shiv Chalisa
16
Prakriti
Samkarashtakam
Sasakti Shiva Navakam
Shiva Mahimnah
Stotram
17-36
Five Gnanendriyas
The 5 Gnanendriyas
17 Srotra
18 Tvak
Lord Siva
Vaidyanatha Ashtakam
19 Chakshu
Vaidyanatha
20 Jivha
Five Karmendriyas
The 5 Karmendriyas
23 Pani
24 Pada
25 Payu
26 Upastha
Five Tanmantras
22 Vak
27-31
21 Ghrana
Namaskaram
22-26
The 5 Tanmantras
27 Shabda
28 Sparhsa
29 Rupa
30 Rasa
31 Gandha
32-36
Five Mahabhutas
The 5 Mahabhutas
22 Akasha 33
23 Vayu 33
24 Agni 34
25 Apa 35
26 Prithvi 36
Does it matter whether there are twenty-five or thirty-six Tattvas? The answer is that it does
matter. Lord Shiva is the Lord of Yoga and His tradition teaches that the Tattvas are 36 in
number. For the sake of harmony and unity, all Yogic traditions must agree with this.
However, there is another important reason. The number "36" is a sacred number which has a
special meaning in Yoga. Indeed, it has many different meanings or one meaning with many
different facets, like a diamond. Strictly speaking, this must be revealed by the Teacher to the
disciple. We may nevertheless disclose some of it so that the seeker may acquire a taste of the
infinitely profound, unsurpassed and incomparable Wisdom of Yoga Dharma.
1) "30" represents the Moon (the thirty-day lunar month of the Indian calendar is called "Maasa"
or "Moon", in Sanskrit) which is the symbol of Lord Shiva; and "6" represents the Six Disciplines
of Yoga (physical postures, breath-control, detachment, concentration, meditation, union with
Shiva); the Six Paths (Shadadhvaa: mantra, varna, pada, kalaa, tattva, bhuvana); and the Six
Chakras or Sthalas; which are the Path that leads to Shiva.
2) By further applying the Yogic method of numerological interpretation, "36" will be explained
as follows. "3" signifies that Shiva is Three-times the Greatest: He is the Greatest on Earth (the
Terrestrial Plane); the Greatest in the Air (the Astral Plane); and the Greatest in Heaven (the
Celestial Plane).
"6" is made up of "5" and "1" . "5" signifies that Shiva is the Lord of the Five Divine Powers
(Intelligence, Bliss, Will, Knowledge and Action) and the Performer of the Five Divine Acts
(Creation, Preservation, Dissolution, Obscuration and Illumination or Salvation).
"1" (One) signifies that the Supreme Lord is the All-Powerful, Unique, Ever Existing One Who
alone exists and Who holds the totality of all things within Himself. Therefore, "5" and "1", being
inseparable, are taken together as "6". Thus by writing "3" and "6" we arrive at the sacred
number "36". This is the innermost, secret meaning.
3) In terms of external reality which is the domain of multiplicity, when multiplied by the base
"10", it yields "360" which is the number of days in a year; the number of degrees in a circle,
etc. It stands for the Totality of Being or All-Encompassing Supreme Reality Itself.
In brief, it represents a symbol of completeness. In practice, therefore, the number "36" (or
360) symbolises man's (and the World's) Revolution or Completion of the Circle of Life and
return to the original Point of departure.
This Spiritual Revolution is not a return to the past but a return to the Ever Present, Ever-Living
Truth that nourishes all life. It is a return that must be urgently effectuated by the modern World
for the Salvation of all Souls and the Establishment of Divine Life on Earth.
Finally, if we add "3" and "6", we obtain the number "9". "Nine" ("Nava") in the Sanskrit
Language, also means "New", thus indicating the advent of a New World Order based upon the
Eternal Principle of All-Encompassing Unity and Harmony, that is to say, the Supreme Eternal
Law of Heaven (Sanatana Dharma) which must prevail over all other laws as Shiva (the Supreme
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