Om Tat Sat ( sa, ओम् तत् सत्, ) is the group of three

mantras A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

found in verse 17.23 of the Bhagavad Gita. "Om Tat Sat" is the eternal sound-

pranava ''Om'' (or ''Aum'') (; sa, ॐ, ओम्, Ōṃ, translit-std=IAST) is a sacred sound, syllable, mantra, or an invocation in Hinduism. ''Om'' is the prime symbol of Hinduism.Krishna Sivaraman (2008), ''Hindu Spirituality Vedas Through Ved ...

. "Om Tat Sat" represents the unmanifest and absolute reality. The word "reality" here means total existence. God, reality, existence, Para Brahman and the Absolute, are all synonymous terms pointing to one Supreme Being. In the seventeenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, from verses 23 to 28,

Lord Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of ...

discussed the meaning and importance of the mantra ''Om Tat Sat''. He said that ''Om Tat Sat'' is actually a threefold name of the Supreme Soul with which, at the start of the universe, the

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...

Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...

and

Yajna Yajna ( sa, यज्ञ, yajña, translit-std=IAST, sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering) refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras.SG Nigal (1986), Axiological Approach to the Vedas, Northern Book ...

were made.

The words “Om Tat Sat” have been declared as symbolic representations of the Supreme Absolute Truth, from the beginning of creation. From them came the priests, scriptures, and sacrifice. (17.23) Therefore, when performing acts of sacrifice, offering charity, or undertaking penance, expounders of the Vedas always begin by uttering “Om” according to the prescriptions of Vedic injunctions. (17.24) Persons who do not desire fruitive rewards, but seek to be free from material entanglements, utter the word “Tat” along with acts of austerity, sacrifice, and charity. (17.25) The word “Sat” means eternal existence and goodness. O Arjun, it is also used to describe an auspicious action. Being established in the performance of sacrifice, penance, and charity, is also described by the word “Sat.” And so any act for such purposes is named “Sat.” (17.26-17.27) O son of Pritha, whatever acts of sacrifice, charity, or penance are done without faith, are termed as ''“Asat.”'' They are useless both in this world and the next. (17.28)

Om

Om is a symbolic representation of the impersonal aspect of God, the Supreme One. It refers to the formless

and is the primordial sound that pervades creation.

Tat

This word means everything belongs to God, and by keeping that in mind, the people seeking liberation selflessly do the

yajna Yajna ( sa, यज्ञ, yajña, translit-std=IAST, sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering) refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras.SG Nigal (1986), Axiological Approach to the Vedas, Northern Book ...

tapas A tapa () is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as ''chopitos'', which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas). In so ...

& dana without desire of any fruits of the actions.

Sat

This word represents all the actions & duties which are performed with truthfulness and related to the eternal truth. It is also said the everything present in

& dana are considered as "Sat", as well as actions meant solely for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

References

{{reflist Hindu mantras Om mantras