jagatavat

Jagatavat is a Sanskrit term used in Indian philosophical discourse to denote a world-centered stance or a description of the world as the primary reference point. The word combines jagat, meaning “world” or “universe,” with a suffix that conveys likeness or characteristic, often rendered as “having the nature of” or “like.” As such, jagatavat is commonly glossed as “worldly” or “world-like.”

In metaphysical and epistemological discussions, jagatvat labels positions that treat the manifest world as the primary ground of knowledge, action, and value. The exact sense varies by author: some use it descriptively to indicate a vocabulary or methodology focused on worldly experience; others employ it as an evaluative label for schools that emphasize samsara, empirical observation, or practical conduct within the world. It is not a standardized technical term across classical systems, and its usage remains uneven.

Historically, jagatvat appears chiefly in later commentaries, glossaries, and some modern philosophical writings rather than in the core sutras of classical traditions. Because its meaning shifts with context, scholars typically clarify jagatvat by specifying the author, text, or philosophical program under discussion and whether “world” is treated as ultimately real, conventionally real, or as a particular epistemic locus in that discussion.

See also: Jagat, Maya, Satya, Samsara, Vedanta.