SRI TATTVA SANDARBHA Vaisnava Epistemology and Ontology

Description

Language: Sanskrit Text with English Translation and Jiva - Tosani Commentary Pages: 609 About the Book Tattva Sandarbha Of The Six Sandarbhas, Tattva Sandarbha is the smallest in size, but not in importance. As its name suggests, it discusses the Reality (tattva) that is the ultimate subject to be understood and realized. Tattva also means "essence," and thus Tattva Sandarbha provides the essence of what is to be elaborate upon in the rest of the Sandarbhas. For this reason, it serves as an introduction to them and lays the foundation for entry into the subject matter of Bhagavata Purana, a detailed analysis of which follows in the rest of the Sandarbha. It does so particularly by providing the epistemological viewing frame through which Bhagavan is directly intuited, devotionally served, and established ultimately as the supreme object of divine love. The Essential Message of The Bhagavatam, or in other words, the self-disclosure of its essential truths of sambanbha, abhidheya, and prayojana, is found in the verses narrating what Srila Vyasa witnessed in the state of unmediated trance-beginning with the supreme subject, Bhagavan, who was seen to be inclusive of His own intrinsic potency as well as His subordinate extrinsic potency, maya. What was disclosed to Vyasa was not a non-differentiated Brahman being overpowered by maya and turning into many jivas. Rather, He saw that the jiva is distinct from Bhagavan and is captivated maya because of misidentifying the self as independent of Bhagavan. Vyasadeva thus saw that the cause of the jiva's suffering is this false sense of independence born of misplaced identity. In one and the same vision, the means corresponding to the inherent distinction between the jiva and Bhagavan was revealed to Vyasa.