Sat (Sikhism)

Sat (Sanskrit: ) is a Sanskrit word meaning "the true essence and that "which is unchangeable" of an entity, species or existence.Sat is a common prefix in ancient Indian literature and variously implies that which is good, true, virtuous, being, happening, real, existing, enduring, lasting, essential. In ancient texts, fusion words based on Sat, refer to "Universal Spirit, Universal Principle, Being, Soul of the World, Brahman".

It can simply be said to be the present participle of the root as "to be" (PIE ; cognate to English ).

The concept is famously expressed in a mantra found in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (1.3.28),

Sat is the root of many Sanskrit words and concepts such as sattva "pure, truthful" and satya "truth". As a prefix, in some context it means true and genuine; for example, sat-sastra means true doctrine, sat-van means one devoted to the true. At a suffix, in some context it implies time; for example, panka-sat which means fifty years.

The negation of sat is asat, a combination word of a and sat. Asat refers to the opposite of sat, that is delusion, distorted, untrue, fleeting impression that is incorrect, invalid and false.

Sat has several meanings or translations:

Sat may also refer to Citsvaru'pa, the Supreme consciousness, or Parama Purusha, the Supreme Being. "Sat" is one of the three characteristics of Brahman, as described in sat-chit-ananda.

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