Re: Are there more than one description of Antahkarana?
Namaste
In such situation, it is best to use the intuitive understanding backed by native language speakers -- Indian languages derived from Sanskrit. Rather than splitting hairs.
Yes, chitta = awareness, memory, alertness, focus , attention --- splitting hairs on literary topics or
antahkaraNa = inner instrument.
antah = inner
karaN = instrument (kArya, karaN , kriyA - Bhagvad Gita)
So antahkaraN in my understanding is the inner instrument or faculty of the individual -- that is capable of applying discriminatory intellect (vivek buddhi) to understand, comprehend, perceive knowledge.
It is the very same faculty that causes emotions in the form of thoughts and vice versa.
This is because emotion, mind, intellect, ego-identity are all used together as a unit to think, analyze, focus, perceive, make decisions, decide right from wrong, etc.
Therefore, antahkaraN is the composite unit of mana - buddhi - ahaMkAr - chitta.
When I learned about chitta being translated as memory, I was surprised as well, but that is indeed the Vedanta definition.
In my language, chitta would mean point of attention or focus. "Where is your chitta? " => " Where is your mind wandering? It is certainly not here since you are not listening to what I am saying, you are in your own world" => the person's chitta is "elsewhere"
I hope this will help.
|| Shri KRshNArpaNamastu ||
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