Tanmātrā — The Subtle Sense-Elements
Tanmātrā (Sanskrit: tat = that/subtle + mātrā = measure/only; 'that alone' or 'subtle only') refers to the five subtle sense-objects that exist prior to and as the basis of the five gross material elements.
The Five Tanmātrās:
- Śabda tanmātrā — subtle sound → gives rise to ākāśa (ether/space)
- Sparśa tanmātrā — subtle touch → gives rise to vāyu (air)
- Rūpa tanmātrā — subtle form/sight → gives rise to agni (fire)
- Rasa tanmātrā — subtle taste → gives rise to āpas (water)
- Gandha tanmātrā — subtle smell → gives rise to pṛthivī (earth)
The Evolutionary Sequence: In the Sāṅkhya cosmology accepted by Viśiṣṭādvaita, the evolution of Prakṛti proceeds: Mūla Prakṛti → Mahat/Mahān → Ahaṅkāra → five tanmātrās → five mahābhūtas (gross elements) → five jñānendriyas (sense organs) + five karmendriyas (action organs) + manas (mind). The tanmātrās are the 'templates' from which gross material elements are generated.
In Worship: The five sense-objects presented in worship — incense (dhūpa = smell), lamp (dīpa = sight), food (naivedya = taste), flowers (puṣpa = touch), bells (ghaṇṭā = sound) — correspond to engaging all five tanmātrās in service to Bhagavān.