Trikāla Jña — The One Who Knows Past, Present, and Future
Trikāla jña (Sanskrit: tri = three + kāla = time + jña = knower; 'one who knows the three times') designates a being with perfect omniscience across time — knowing what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen, with complete accuracy and completeness.
As a Divine Attribute: Trikāla jñatva (the quality of knowing all three times) is one of Bhagavān Śrīman Nārāyaṇa's defining qualities within His sarvajñatā (omniscience). 'Bhagavān, as the antaryāmī of all beings and all creation, knows the karma of every soul across all its past lives, its present state, and its future trajectory. No knowledge is concealed from Him.'
In Relation to Āchāryas and Saints: The tradition attributes trikāla jñatva in a qualified sense to great Āchāryas and yogis who have been granted special jñāna śakti (power of knowledge) by Bhagavān's grace. Nammāzhvār is described as having received extraordinary knowledge directly from Bhagavān — including vision of past, present, and future. This is understood as Bhagavān's gift, not the Āzhvār's own achievement.
Significance for the Prapanna: The prapanna's comfort lies in knowing that the trikāla jña Bhagavān is their protector. 'My situation — all of my past karma, my present struggles, my future liberation — is fully known to Bhagavān. Nothing is hidden from the one who has taken responsibility for me. He knows exactly what I need and when.'