Tyāga
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Tyāga literally means ‘giving up’.
Concept of Tyāga[edit]
Tyāga or giving up is an important concept found in the scriptures. It has two aspects:
- Giving away something to someone who needs it more. It is known as dāna. It has been prescribed as a duty for the householders.
- Giving up an object feeling that it is not a necessity or even an obstacle to the way of life one has chosen. It is known as vairāgya.[1] It is an essential qualification for one who aspires after sanyāsa or monastic life.
Different Perceptions by Scriptures[edit]
- The Manusmṛti[2] forbids a householder from giving up his parents, wife and sons who depend upon him.
- The Bhagavadgītā[3] gives a general definition of tyāga as giving up the fruits of all actions. It then categorizes the tyāga of actions into three types:[4]
- Sāttvika - It consists in performing one’s prescribed duties but giving up attachment towards them as also the fruits thereof.
- Rājasika - Giving up one’s prescribed duties because they entail a lot of physical exertion is rājasika-tyāga.
- Tāmasika - If the same is done out of delusion or confused understanding, it is tāmasika-tyāga.
Avowal by Bhagavadgitā[edit]
The Bhagavadgitā, however, unequivocally declares that works like yajña,[5] dāna[6] and tapas[7] should not be given up. On the contrary it must be performed. They always have a purifying effect.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore