Tanmatra

The Sanskrit word ‘tanmatra’ literally means subtle elements. It reflects the knowledge of atoms in ancient classics. Ayurveda being the life science has focused on the genesis of life along with the fulfillment of long healthy life. This concept of genesis of life in Ayurveda find its roots in Sankhya philosophy and Vedant Philosophy. This concept of tanmatras is reflected as the influence of Sankhya and Vedant philosophy on Ayurved.

Contributors

Section/Chapter	Concepts/Tanmatra
Authors	NawkarMadhumati S.1
Reviewer	Basisht G.2,
Editor	Deole Y.S.3
Affiliations	1DepartmentofSanskritSamhitaSiddhanta, R. T. AyurvedMahavidyalaya, Akola, Maharashtra, India 2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3Department ofKayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence emails	madhumati.nawkar@gmail.com, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	November 24, 2022
DOI	In process

Etymology

The word Tanmatra is made up of two words Tat+ Matra. Literary meaning ‘only that’. The term matra indicates the subtleness (Suksmatva)

Definition

Tanmatras are trifled, rudimentary or subtle elements from which the grosser elements (mahabhoota) are produced. The shabdadi (subject of senses/ quality of Mahabhootas) which are anudbhuta (In evolutionary stage) and can not be sensed by external sense organs are ‘tanmatras’. Only a person with highly developed senses like yogi can experience it.

Types of tanmatras

There are five sense perceptions -hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell and there are five tanmatras corresponding to the five-sense perception
These are five in number

1. Shabdatanmatra or sukshma akasha mahabhuta
2. Sparshatanmatra or sukshmavayumahabhuta
3. Rupa tanmatra or sukshmateja/agnimahabhuta
4. Rasa tanmatra or sukshmajala/aapmahabhuta
5. Gandhatanmatra or sukshmaprithvimahabhuta

Synonyms

Sukshmabhoota, avishesha, paramanu.

Concept of Tanmatra as per Sankhyaphilosophy

While describing the surge of Universe the Sankhya explains the role of tanmatra. Sankhya enlisted 25 principles behind creation of universe. These principles are classified into 4 categories according to their role in the surge.

Sr no.	Category	Name	Number
1	Mulaprakriti (origin/ creator)	prakriti	01
2	Prakriti-vikriti (creator & creation dual nature)	Mahat Ahankar Panchtanmatra	07
3	Vikar (creation)	Panchamahabhoota (Five fundamental elements) Panchajnanendrya (Five sense organs) Panchakarmendriya (five motor organs) Mind (mana)	16
4	Na prakriti navikar (neither creator nor creation)	Purusha	01

According to Sankhyas at the initial stage the two original eternal principles are mulaprakruti or avyakta (principal origin) and purusha.
Prakriti is the original state with balanced state of triguna, everything is in a mass and one thing cannot be distinguished from one another. Prakriti with the help of purusha causes the creation.
The next principle mahat (cosmic intellect) gets originated from avyakta, and this further originates ahankara (ego/ self sense of cosmos). The ahankara is of three types.

1. Sattvika: Ahankara with dominance of sattva, also known as vaikarika.
2. Rajasika: Ahankara with dominance of rajas, also known as tejas.
3. Tamasika: Ahankara with dominance of tamas, also known as bhutadi.

The tanmatras originate from tamas ahankara with the help of rajas ahankara. These tanmatras are subtle structures considered as ‘avishesha’ and are the sources of panchamahabhuta (five basic elements). The panchamahabhuta are macroscopic structures and categorized as vikara (creations). Eleven indriyas originate from satvika ahankara with help of rajasika ahankara. Tanmatras are principles/ elements with dual nature (i.e. creator and creations) originated from tamas and rajas ahankara. These tanmatras create gross elements.

Vedant philosophy

In the text ‘Vedant Sara’, in context of explaining the surge of universe, it is mentioned that Chaitanya (consciousness), when covered by tamas dominance, creates akasha. Thereafter, vayu is originates from akasha; teja originates from vayu and further jala originates from teja. Lastly prithvi originates from jala. At this time, these subtle elements (sukshmabhuta) or tanmatras are apanchikruta (singular and not quintupled)..
Panchikarana (quintiplication) is the process explained by Vedanta for the formation of gross elements from tanmatras.

Vaisheshika philosophy

According to Vaisheshika philosophy, at the initial stage, there are parmanus (atoms) of four mahabhuta (namely vayu, agni, jala, prithvi). The gross mahabhutas are created from those paramanu.