Tātparyam — The Essential Import
Tātparyam (Sanskrit: tātparya — purport, intended meaning) refers to the deeper intended meaning of a scriptural or textual statement — the author's or text's primary aim, beyond mere grammatical or literal sense.
In hermeneutics (mīmāṃsā), tātparyam is the criterion for deciding the primary meaning of a Vedic injunction or statement when multiple interpretations are possible. The tātparyam of a text is revealed by its overall context (prakaraṇa), consistent teaching, and the tradition of commentary (vyākhyāna paramparā).
In Śrī Vaiṣṇava practice, understanding the tātparyam of the Dvaya Mantra, Carama Ślōka, and Thiruvāimozhi is the central task of initiated learning. The Āchārya reveals the tātparyam of the rahasyams to the qualified disciple at the appropriate time.
In Yathīndra Pravaṇa Prabhāvam, Māmunigaḷ's commentary on Thiruvāimozhi — the Īḍu Muppaththārāyiram — is celebrated for illuminating the tātparyam of Nammāzhvār's pāsurams with unparalleled depth.