Lecture 07

Outlines of the Lecture:

 Introduction to Samkhya
 Epistemology
 Evolution theory-Purus and Prakriti
 Introduction
• Oldest school of Hindu philosophy
• First attempt to harmonize the Vedic philosophy through reason
• First systemic account of process of cosmic evolution
• Not purely metaphysical but logical account based on principle of conservation,
transformation and dissipation of energy.

• SANKHYA - MEANING
• Sankhya means number –
• Sam – number, balanced, equal, harmonious
• Khya- knowledge, understanding, wisdom
• Sankhya enumerates the principle of cosmic evolution by rational analysis
• It teaches the discriminative knowledge which enables to distinguish between sprit
and matter
FOUNDER OF SANKHYA

• 1000 BC
• Kapil son of Kardama and Devdhuti
• Kardama was a Rishi
• Kapil learned philosophy from mother
• Cave temple of Anuradhkapur in Sri Lanka
• Sagara an island on the bank of Ganga 90 miles form Calcutta spend
later life and meditated
• Last day of last month Hindu Magh there is Mela
 PURPOSE – GYAN YOGA
• Provide knowledge which remove the cause of misery and release of soul.
• Misery is
• Adhyatmika – intrinsic cause disorder of body and mind
• Adhibhutika – Extrinsic cause, men, beast, birds, or inanimate objects
• Adhidevika – Supernatural cause , atmosphere or planets.

• Causes of Misery :
• Soul is free from suffering
• Body is the seat of suffering
• Soul suffer due to intimate association of soul and body
• Bondage is illusion due to lack of true nature of soul – Ignorance
• Knowledge of true nature of soul removes bondage and suffering
EPISTEMOLOGY OF SANKHYA

Perception Indeterminate (Niravikalpa)

(Pratyaksa) Determinate(Vikalpa)

Inference
(Anumana) Logical Interference

Testimony
(Sabda) Verbal Testimony
NATURE OF DUALITY
 Supreme self
 Pure consciousness
Purusa: 

Inactive
Unchanging
 A passive witness
 Multiple

 Pure objectivity
• Phenomenal reality
Prakriti: • Non-conscious
• One mulaprakriti in equilibrium
 SANKHYA AND WESTERN DUALISM
• Sankhya:
• Purush and Prikriti dualism a more Sankhya transcendental
• Western:
• Mind and Body Western dualism
• THEORY OF EXISTENCE:
• 1. Satkaryavada :
• The effect pre-exists in the cause
• Cause and effect are seen as different temporal aspects of the same thing
• nothing can really be created from or destroyed into nothingness
• 2. Prakriti Pariman Vada:
• Parinama denotes that the effect is a real transformation of the cause.
• Prakriti is transformed and differentiated into multiplicity of objects .
EVOLUTION AND DISSOLUTION

Prakriti

Manas Mahat or
or Mind Purusa Buddhi

Ahamkara
0r ego,
self sense
 Cont..
Primordial matter prakṛti; puruṣa Root evolvent
Intellect (Buddhi or Mahat), Ego-
Internal instruments Evolvent
sense (Ahamkāra), Mind (Manas)
Five Sense organs (Jnānendriyas),
Five Organs of
action (Karmendriyas) -Pada (feet)
- for locomotion.
Pani (hands) - for dexterity.
External instruments Evolute
Payu (rectum) - for excretion.
Upastha (genitals) - for
reproduction.
Vak (mouth) - for speech.

Form (Rupa), Sound (Shabda),

Subtle elements Smell (Gandha), Taste (Rasa), Evolvent
Touch (Sparsha).
Earth (Prithivi), Water (Jala), Fire
Gross elements Evolute
(Agni), Air (Vāyu), Ether (Ākāsha).
SANKHYA METAPHYSICS (ONTOLOGY)
Prakriti

Mulaprakr
Purusa iti

Buddhi

Indriya
Ahamkara
Manas

Tanmatr
a
Bhuta
SANKHYA EVOLUTION (COSMOLOGY)