Question:
The Chāndogya Upaniṣad gives the mahāvākya – Tat tvam asi (Ch. Upa. 6:8:7), ‘That you are.’ In this ‘great statement’ what does “tat” (“that”) stand for?
The Chāndogya Upaniṣad gives the mahāvākya – Tat tvam asi (Ch. Upa. 6:8:7), ‘That you are.’ In this ‘great statement’ what does “tat” (“that”) stand for?
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In Vedanta, “tat” in “Tat tvam asi” refers to Brahman or the Absolute Self (Ᾱtman). The phrase expresses the non-duality of self and ultimate reality.
Updated On: Apr 26, 2025
- Ᾱtman (The Absolute Self)
- Īśvara (God)
- Jīva (Individual self)
- Īśvara (God) and Jīva (Individual self)
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the context of the Mahāvākya.
The phrase “Tat tvam asi” is a central Upanishadic teaching that conveys the identity of the individual self with the absolute.
Step 2: Interpret “tat”.
In this phrase:
“tat” refers to the ultimate reality, Brahman or Ᾱtman (the universal Self),
“tvam” refers to the individual self.
So, the statement implies: the individual (tvam) is identical to the universal Self (tat).
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