Verse 23
“Om Tat Sat”: this has
been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that were created
formerly the Brahmanas, the Vedas and the sacrifices.
The Supreme
Being—Brahman, the Absolute—is designated as Om Tat Sat in a threefold
definition or description. Knowers of the Vedas,
known as Brahmanas, and the Veda mantras, and the yajnas or sacrifices, are all purified and consecrated by the recitation of
this mystic symbol Om Tat Sat.
The threefold
description of Brahman as Om, Tat and
Sat is always recited in all religious performances—during the study of the Vedas, at the conclusion of sacrifices
or yajnas, and whatever rituals that Brahmanas, that is, the knowers of the Vedas, may undertake. Sacrifices (yajna), charities (dana), austerities (tapas), are undertaken by people according to the rules and regulations of
the scriptures and as laid down by knowers of Brahman, beginning with the chanting of OM.
OM
Taittiriya
Upanisad
says “om iti brahman om iti
sarvam”, OM is synonymous with the Brahman. OM is understood to be the vibratory cause and spiritual
substance of existence. OM is the transcendental sound vibration chanted before
commencing every Vedic activity.
The Mundaka
Upanisad II.II.VI beginning: om ityevam dhyavatha
atmanam states: One should meditate upon OM as representing the
Supreme Lord.
The Chandogya
Upanisad beginning sa ya esho anima
itad states: That which is the fundamental cause of all
existence, which is the spiritual substratum of all existence, which is
referred to as Thou art that, is the Brahman
which manifests from OM whose source is the Supreme Lord.
The pranava
OM is declared to be the name for the personal aspect of the Supreme Lord. Pranava means first breath and is the
transcendental sound vibration OM commencing all Vedic rites.
TAT
The term Tat
is used in our scriptures to indicate the Eternal Goal, the Changeless and the
Ever-perfect. In the famous grand declaration of the Vedas, "Tat-twam-asi”, the term 'Tat' indicates that from which
everything has come, in which everything exists and into which everything
merges back in the end.
SAT
Sat means 'Existence’. The
"Principle of Existence" functioning through all things perceived,
felt, and thought of in our everyday life --- is called Sat.
OM TAT SAT
With respect to the Vedic rituals ,these
threefold designations represent the Brahmanas,
the Vedas and Vedic yagnas.
OM represented the Brahmanas, TAT represents the Vedic scriptures and SAT represents
the performance of Vedic yagnas for
the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. Therefore the three words OM TAT SAT are
paramount in creation and eternally praiseworthy.
The Eternal Reality, indicated in the triple
designation of Brahman, "Om Tat Sat", is the Source
from which all castes, the Vedas and the sacrifices proceeded, even at the time
of Creation. All super-impositions can only arise from, exist in and disappear
into that which is their own substratum.
Love.
