Tajjalān is one of the few enigmatic methods in Hinduism employed by the Upanishadic seers to describe Reality or Brahman. It is a cosmological approach to the problem of Reality in the context of creation etc.
Tajjalān (Sanskrit: तज्जलान्) is an adjective, which means – 'absorbed and breathing in that', 'produced'.[1] It is a compound word interpreted as equivalent to taj-ja, tal-la and tad-ana that represent the attributes of Brahman.[2] It is the enigmatic method to describe Reality unlike the aphoristic method of the Mandukya Upanishad favoured in the later Sutra literature. Shandilya’s Upanishadic declaration:
All this (collectively) is Brahman, indeed: what evolves from That, what dissolves in That, what breathes or functions in That, should be closely and calmly studied…….
In Chandogya Upanishad this word first appears,[3] adopts the cryptic way for saying how God could be regarded as 'the origin', 'the end', and 'the life of all things'.[4] Creation literally refers to the beginning of the present cycle but the Vedic seers believed that creation is beginning-less and a never-ending process, and that Brahman is the essence of all that exists and does not exist.[5]Shankara gives the meaning of Tajjalān as – "From this "tad" Brahman the universe has arisen "ja", on dissolution it disappears "li" into this identical with Brahman; in the same way finally it is Brahman in whom the universe, after it is created, breathes "an" and lives - Tat-Ja-Li-An". He paraphrases tajja- with tasmad brahmano jatam because jan construed with tad-as can take the suffix da, so as to give the derivative tajja-.[6]
ImplicationsEdit
Tajjalān is a riddle that describes positively the three basic attributes of Brahman concerning explaining the process of creation etc. from the primeval Atman. Taittiriya Upanishad II.1/ III.1 proposes the Theory of the emanation of the elements from Brahman, the same Upanishad defines Brahman as Existence, Consciousness, and Infinity and declares “that alone might be regarded as the Ultimate Reality of things, from which all these beings are born, by which they live when born, to which they repair and into which they are finally resolved”, because behind the cosmos there must be an existence which must be regarded as responsible for its origin, sustenance, and absorption.[7]Shandilya, through the use of the term, Tajjalān, reveals the secret name by which Brahman should be worshipped. Badarayana defines Brahman as – जन्माद्यस्य यतः (Janamādi asaya yatah) (Brahma Sutra I.1.2)– meaning, "That (is Brahman) from which (are derived) the birth, etc. of this (universe)", in which regard Adi Shankara states that the phrase, janamādi is a bahuvrihi compound where the subject presented is apprehended along with its attributes.[8] This definition of Brahman is called, Tatasthalakshana.
SignificanceEdit
Tajjalān is the mysterious name of the universe as identified with Brahman which word summarises the three attributes of Brahman - as creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe, and presents the universe as non-different from Brahman in all three periods, past, present and future [9][10] This is the cosmological proof for the existence of God, which also means that the individual soul is non-limited in its essential nature even though owing to abundance of ignorance it acquires various names and forms to become limited. The phrase, Tajjalān, supplies the reason to explain the mahavakya - "All this is Brahman".[11] This phrase is one of the two well-known examples of the cosmological approach to the problem of Reality.[12]Shandilya’s declaration – सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म तज्जलानिति शान्त उपासीत, recommending meditation on Brahman with the aid of the word, Tajjalān, which word as a compressed formula summarizes the three attributes of the changeless Brahman, draws attention to the fact that the act of meditation (upāsita) must have an object to meditate upon.[13][14]
^Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade (1986). A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy. Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 23.
^Swami Parameshwarananda (2000). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Upanishads. Sarup & Sons. p. 73. ISBN9788176251488.
^George Cordona (1999-01-01). Recent Research in Pāṇinian Grammar. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 137. ISBN9788120816374.
^Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade (1986). A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic philosophy. Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 53.
^Adi Shankara. Brahma-Sutra-Bhasya. Kolkata: Advaita Ashrama. p. 13.
^Swami Parmeshwaranand (2000-01-01). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Upanishads:S-Z. Sarup & Sons. p. 73. ISBN9788176251488.
^Swami Nikhalananda (2003). The Principal Upanishads. Courier Dover Publications. p. 47. ISBN9780486427171.
^George Thibaut (2004-06-01). The Vedanta Sutras with the commentary by Ramanuja Part 3. Kessinger Publishing. p. 157. ISBN9781419186622.
^S.C.Sen (1937). The Mystical Philosophy of the Upanishads. Genesis Publishing (P) Ltd. p. 188. ISBN9788130706603.
^Encyclopaedia of Upanishads and its Philosophy Vol.3. Genesis Publishing. 2002. p. 752. ISBN9788177553659.
^Ananda E. Wood (1996). Interpreting the Upanishads. Islamic Books. p. 23. ISBN9788188071524.
October 14, 2023
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Tajjalan is one of the few enigmatic methods in Hinduism employed by the Upanishadic seers to describe Reality or Brahman It is a cosmological approach to the problem of Reality in the context of creation etc Contents 1 Meaning of Tajjalan 2 Implications 3 Significance 4 ReferencesMeaning of Tajjalan EditTajjalan Sanskrit तज जल न is an adjective which means absorbed and breathing in that produced 1 It is a compound word interpreted as equivalent to taj ja tal la and tad ana that represent the attributes of Brahman 2 It is the enigmatic method to describe Reality unlike the aphoristic method of the Mandukya Upanishad favoured in the later Sutra literature Shandilya s Upanishadic declaration सर व खल व द ब रह म तज जल न त श न त उप स त sarvam khalvidam brahman tajjalan iti shanta upasita All this collectively is Brahman indeed what evolves from That what dissolves in That what breathes or functions in That should be closely and calmly studied Chandogya Upanishad III 14 1 In Chandogya Upanishad this word first appears 3 adopts the cryptic way for saying how God could be regarded as the origin the end and the life of all things 4 Creation literally refers to the beginning of the present cycle but the Vedic seers believed that creation is beginning less and a never ending process and that Brahman is the essence of all that exists and does not exist 5 Shankara gives the meaning of Tajjalan as From this tad Brahman the universe has arisen ja on dissolution it disappears li into this identical with Brahman in the same way finally it is Brahman in whom the universe after it is created breathes an and lives Tat Ja Li An He paraphrases tajja with tasmad brahmano jatam because jan construed with tad as can take the suffix da so as to give the derivative tajja 6 Implications EditTajjalan is a riddle that describes positively the three basic attributes of Brahman concerning explaining the process of creation etc from the primeval Atman Taittiriya Upanishad II 1 III 1 proposes the Theory of the emanation of the elements from Brahman the same Upanishad defines Brahman as Existence Consciousness and Infinity and declares that alone might be regarded as the Ultimate Reality of things from which all these beings are born by which they live when born to which they repair and into which they are finally resolved because behind the cosmos there must be an existence which must be regarded as responsible for its origin sustenance and absorption 7 Shandilya through the use of the term Tajjalan reveals the secret name by which Brahman should be worshipped Badarayana defines Brahman as जन म द यस य यत Janamadi asaya yatah Brahma Sutra I 1 2 meaning That is Brahman from which are derived the birth etc of this universe in which regard Adi Shankara states that the phrase janamadi is a bahuvrihi compound where the subject presented is apprehended along with its attributes 8 This definition of Brahman is called Tatasthalakshana Significance EditTajjalan is the mysterious name of the universe as identified with Brahman which word summarises the three attributes of Brahman as creator preserver and destroyer of the universe and presents the universe as non different from Brahman in all three periods past present and future 9 10 This is the cosmological proof for the existence of God which also means that the individual soul is non limited in its essential nature even though owing to abundance of ignorance it acquires various names and forms to become limited The phrase Tajjalan supplies the reason to explain the mahavakya All this is Brahman 11 This phrase is one of the two well known examples of the cosmological approach to the problem of Reality 12 Shandilya s declaration सर व खल व द ब रह म तज जल न त श न त उप स त recommending meditation on Brahman with the aid of the word Tajjalan which word as a compressed formula summarizes the three attributes of the changeless Brahman draws attention to the fact that the act of meditation upasita must have an object to meditate upon 13 14 References Edit Spoken Sanskrit Dictionary Monier Williams 2003 07 01 Indian Wisdom or Examples of Kessinger Publishing p 112 ISBN 9780766171985 Swami Gambhirananda Chandogya Upanishad Kolkata Advaita Ashrama p 208 Verse 14 1 Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade 1986 A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy Mumbai Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan p 23 Swami Parameshwarananda 2000 Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Upanishads Sarup amp Sons p 73 ISBN 9788176251488 George Cordona 1999 01 01 Recent Research in Paṇinian Grammar New Delhi Motilal Banarsidass Publishers p 137 ISBN 9788120816374 Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade 1986 A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic philosophy Mumbai Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan p 53 Adi Shankara Brahma Sutra Bhasya Kolkata Advaita Ashrama p 13 Swami Parmeshwaranand 2000 01 01 Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Upanishads S Z Sarup amp Sons p 73 ISBN 9788176251488 Swami Nikhalananda 2003 The Principal Upanishads Courier Dover Publications p 47 ISBN 9780486427171 George Thibaut 2004 06 01 The Vedanta Sutras with the commentary by Ramanuja Part 3 Kessinger Publishing p 157 ISBN 9781419186622 S C Sen 1937 The Mystical Philosophy of the Upanishads Genesis Publishing P Ltd p 188 ISBN 9788130706603 Encyclopaedia of Upanishads and its Philosophy Vol 3 Genesis Publishing 2002 p 752 ISBN 9788177553659 Ananda E Wood 1996 Interpreting the Upanishads Islamic Books p 23 ISBN 9788188071524 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tajjalan amp oldid 1176537008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
