We all know this word to mean essence of something. But the etymology is even more enlightening.
tat = it, that
-tva = suffix to denote -ness
For example,
apanatva = अपनत्व = feeling something, someone as one's own, say with a good friend
mahattvam = महत्त्वम् = greatness, importance
puMsatvam = पुंसत्वम् = manliness
So why does it-ness or that-ness mean essence?
The Supreme Divine has no gender. It is referred as 'it' or 'that'. The word that itself comes from tat.
The essence of everything is That. It.
What more indication of the depth of the language and its philosophy!
तत्त्वमसि = tat tvam asi = tattvamsi = That Thou Art!
(c) shashikant joshi । शशिकांत जोशी । ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः ।
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Namaskar Shrikant Ji !
ReplyDeleteThis TAT for the Supreme Divinity is so wondrous - beyond male and female gender -that which is THAT but beyond human comprehension.
In our Sanatana Dharma we have no conflict that the Paramaatman has no gender.
Dhanyavaad!
That also which has no name in English OHM TAT SAT
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