In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Pradhānatattva (प्रधानतत्त्व, “primal cause”):—Another name for Prakṛtitattva (One of the Thirty-six Tattvas).

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Veda (wikidot): Hinduism

Pradhana-tattva: Also known as Prakrti-tattva, it represents that aspect of the Soul which, following the limitation of his consciousness, becomes unconscious and forms the Soul's first objective experience. For this reason it is called Pradhana or Primary Matter from which all objective experience arises.

Pradhana consists of the three qualities (Gunas) of Light (Sattva), Darkness (Tamas) and Activity (Rajas), the last-named being the interaction of the first two. They are experienced as pleasure, insentience and pain, respectively and together represent the sum total of the Soul's future experiences such as thoughts, emotions and sense perceptions, resting within himself in potential form.

Pradhana corresponds to what Western psychology terms a person’s “unconscious”. While every Soul has his own Pradhana (or Unconscious), the Collective Unconscious is nothing but the Mind of God which is unknown and therefore "unconscious" to the personal Soul.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Pradhana, Tattva.

Full-text: Prakrititattva.

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