Mahat-tattva, Pradhāna, and Prakṛti

The mahat-tattvamahat-tattvamuh-HUT TUT-vuhThe total material principle from which the cosmic manifestation unfolds. is the total material principle from which the cosmic manifestation develops. Pradhāna refers to unmanifest material nature in potential form, while prakṛtiprakṛtiPRUH-kri-teeMaterial nature, functioning through the three guṇas. is material nature functioning through the three guṇasguṇasGOO-nuhzThe three qualities (sattva, rajas, tamas) structuring material nature.: sattva, rajas, and tamas. These definitions follow the chart's own explanatory tradition; other VaiṣṇavaVaiṣṇavaVYSH-nuh-vuhA devotee or tradition centered on Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme. and Sāṅkhya-adjacent texts sometimes draw the boundaries between these terms differently.

Shown below the VirajāVirajāvi-ruh-JAHThe river marking the boundary between spirit and matter. boundary and around the causal-material region

Material causal principles under the Lord's control

The chart is showing that matter has an origin and a structure; it is not an independent reality outside the divine order.