Mahat-tattva
Mahat-tattva or mahat is a concept in the Samkhya philosophy of Hinduism. It is the first evolute of Prakriti, the causeless cause of the world, that is generated after Prakriti begins to evolve when its equilibrium is disturbed, which causes expansion of material energy and matter. In the process of evolution, after mahat emanates, egoity, mind, the five sense capacities, the five action capacities, the five subtle elements, and the five gross elements evolve. These are the 22 other elements that constitute the basic metaphysics of Samkhya.
Etymology
The Sanskrit terms mahat means "great", and tattva may be translated as "element".Description
In Samkhya philosophy, the creation process of the Universe starts when Purusha engages with Prakriti. Prakriti is the first principal of creation and consists of three guṇas – sattva, rajas, and tamas – which are dormant until stirred into activity by Purusha. This results in the first evolute, mahat. Ahamkara is the "I-ness" and is created from mahat. Ahamkara further gives rise to manas, five jnanendriyas, five karmendriyas, five tanmatras, and five bhutas. These are the 22 other elements that constitute the basic metaphysics of Samkhya. These elements are divided into two groups: psychic and physical. The psychic elements not only play psychological roles, but also have cosmic functions. Mahat is an example of such an element. In its cosmic form, it is the cause of the 22 elements that evolve from it; in its cognitive form, it is termed buddhi, or intellect. Each self is in contact with an intellect, buddhi, that stores the mental imprints that the self has gained on account of its experiences in the world. Buddhi has eight forms: virtue and vice , knowledge and ignorance, non-attachment and attachment , and power and absence of power.Literature
Puranas
In Bhagavata Purana Canto 3, Chapter 5, Verse 27, mahat is described as:And translated by Swami Prabhupada as: