Sanskrit Letters

This group is also called the Tavarga Class of Letters, as the group prior to this one. The presiding deity is Vaisnavi, however, not Kaumari as in the previous set of five. The five letters are the same but maintain linquistic differences and a diacritical markings.

This second class of Tavarga Letters are the instruments of sensing or five cognitive senses, called jnanendriya, the nature of sattva guna, in the Saivite Tradition. Sattva guna is a quality of purity. It is also described as "quiescent, rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of Pure Consciousness." [1]

Each of these tattvas are represented by a subtle and physical aspect such a seeing and eyes, smelling and nose. As all previous letter classes, they are also found in asuddha maya: magnetic-gross energy, the plane called by Bhuvarloka - "plane of the atmosphere," in Pratishthakala, the realm of the intellect and instinct. Although these letters are found in the same energy field, the associations rise a notch higher from lower astral to mid astral levels, and move from Bhuvarloka: the plane of atmosphere, to Svarloka: the celestial plane.

Tavarga: ta, tha, da, dha, na
	Tattva 21. Smelling Tattva - ghrana: limited power of smelling. The next five tattvas are also on the other side of the gap between earth and the elements as were the previous (22-35). They are no longer a matter of solids, as in the earth tattva. Internal consciousness has become intellect and instinct. The plane changes from earth-bound souls to a world of ancestors in the plane of the atmosphere. For the Saivite this world of antarloka is the subtle or astral plane where the cycle of reincarnation (samsara) takes place. The svadhishthana (one's own base) chakra, meaing 'reason' is the chakra. These five tattvas are the organs of perception (jnanendriyas).
	Tattva 20. Tasting Tattva - Jihva: limited power of tasting. (Same as Tattva 21)
	Tattva 19. Seeing Tattva - Chakshu: limited power of seeing. (Same as Tattva 21)
	Tattva 18. Feeling Tattva - Tvak: limited power of feeling by touch. (Same as Tattva 21)
	Tattva 17. Hearing Tattva - Srotra: limited power of hearing. (Same as Tattva 21)

References:
Riviere, J. Marques, Tantrik Yoga: Hindu and Tibetan, Book Faith India, Delhi
Singh, Jaideva, "Siva Sutras" (1979) Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited
Subramuniyaswami, Satguru Sivaya, "Dancing With Siva" (1993) Himalayan Academy

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