Tattva Śuddhi

Meaning

Tattva Śuddhi (तत्त्व शुद्धि) means “purification of the principles” or “purification of the elements”. Tattva are the categories or principles that compose reality according to Sāṅkhya and Tantra; śuddhi means purification, cleansing.

This tantric practice works with the five mahābhūtas (great elements) that constitute the body: earth (pṛthivī), water (āpas), fire (tejas), air (vāyu) and space (ākāśa). Through visualization and mantra, the impressions (saṃskāras) associated with each element are purified.

Philosophical foundation

Sāṅkhya enumerates 25 tattvas (principles), from prakṛti (primordial nature) to puruṣa (consciousness). The five bhūtas (elements) are the densest tattvas — those forming the physical body.

According to this view:

• Earth — bones, muscles, skin
• Water — blood, fluids, secretions
• Fire — temperature, digestion, metabolism
• Air — breathing, movement, nervous system
• Space — cavities, ears, internal voids

Each element is associated with a lower chakra:

Element	Chakra	Shape	Color	Bīja
Earth	Mūlādhāra	Square	Yellow	LAṂ
Water	Svādhiṣṭhāna	Crescent moon	White	VAṂ
Fire	Maṇipūra	Inverted triangle	Red	RAṂ
Air	Anāhata	Hexagon (two triangles)	Smoke blue	YAṂ
Space	Viśuddha	Circle	Violet/black	HAṂ

The practice

Tattva śuddhi is a complex sādhanā (spiritual practice), traditionally transmitted through initiation. Here the general framework is described.

Preparation

1. Stable āsana (siddhāsana or padmāsana)
2. Prāṇāyāma to calm the mind
3. Complete interiorization

Bhūta Śuddhi (elemental purification)

The basic bhūta śuddhi sequence:

1. Earth (pṛthivī)

• Visualize a yellow square at mūlādhāra
• Mentally repeat: LAṂ LAṂ LAṂ
• Feel the solidity, stability, the earth of the body
• Visualize the earth element dissolving into water

2. Water (āpas)

• Visualize a silver crescent moon at svādhiṣṭhāna
• Repeat: VAṂ VAṂ VAṂ
• Feel the fluidity, cohesion, the liquids of the body
• Water evaporates into fire

3. Fire (tejas)

• Visualize an inverted red triangle at maṇipūra
• Repeat: RAṂ RAṂ RAṂ
• Feel the heat, transformation, digestive fire
• Fire is extinguished by air

4. Air (vāyu)

• Visualize a smoke-blue hexagon at anāhata
• Repeat: YAṂ YAṂ YAṂ
• Feel movement, lightness, breath
• Air dissolves into space

5. Space (ākāśa)

• Visualize a dark/violet circle at viśuddha
• Repeat: HAṂ HAṂ HAṂ
• Feel expansion, emptiness, inner space
• Space dissolves into pure consciousness

Recreation

After dissolution, elements are recreated in reverse order (from space to earth), now purified. The subtle body is rebuilt clean of negative impressions.

Complementary practices

The complete tradition may include:

• Nyāsa — placement of mantras on different body parts
• Yantra — visualization of specific geometric diagrams
• Devatā — invocation of deities associated with each element
• Prāṇa pratīṣṭha — installation of prāṇa in the purified body

Benefits according to tradition

• Purifies impressions (saṃskāras) at elemental level
• Balances the doṣas (vāta, pitta, kapha)
• Prepares the subtle body for advanced kuṇḍalinī practices
• Develops visualization capacity
• Connects with elemental energies of the cosmos
• Leads to direct experience of body as manifestation of tattvas

Important notes

⚠️ Advanced practice with supervision

Tattva śuddhi is a tantric practice that traditionally requires:

1. Initiation (dīkṣā) from a qualified teacher
2. Preparation through āsana, prāṇāyāma and basic concentration
3. Spiritual maturity to work with subtle energies
4. Regularity — it is a sādhanā, not a casual technique

Not for beginners. The elements described here are informative. Actual practice must be learned directly.

Authorized resources:

• Tattva Shuddhi — Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Bihar School)
• Tantra of the Great Liberation — Sir John Woodroffe

This technique represents the most esoteric aspect of haṭha yoga: the inner alchemy that transforms the dense body into a vehicle of pure consciousness.