Contribution of Vachaspati-Mishra to Samkhya System
by Sasikumar. B | 2017 | 35,637 words
This page relates ‘Theory of Parinamavada (the doctrine of evolution)� of the research on the Sankhya [Samkhya] school of Indian philosophy with special reference to the contribution of Vachaspati-Mishra. The study includes concepts such as Epistemology (validity and worth of knowledge), Ontology (theory of being or reality), Psychology (science of behavior and mind), Phenomenology (the philosophical study of the structures of experience and consciousness) and Ethics (the removal of errors), all forming an essential part of Samkhya philosophy.
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Chapter 3.3c - The Theory of Pariṇāmavāda (the doctrine of evolution)
The ṅkⲹ clearly enunciated the doctrine of evolution [i.e., 貹ṇām岹�貹ṇām-岹]. The manifold world is not created by God out of nothing. It is evolved from ʰṛt, which is the first cause. It is the matrix of the whole world of effects, physical and psychical. The world is unconscious. It cannot be the transformation of a spirit which is unchangeable and immutable (ūṻٳ� [ūṻٳ]). It is the transformation of the unconscious ʰṛt. All objective existence is the transformation of sattva, rajas and tamas. Production is transformation. ʰṛt and its evolutes (ṛt� [ṛt]) are subject to transformation (prasavadharmin). They can never be deprived of their essential nature of modifiability, evolution and dissolution. Evolution [i.e., 貹ṇām] is the transformation of the homogeneous into the heterogeneous (virūpa貹ṇām� [virūpa貹ṇām]). Dissolution is the transformation of the heterogeneous into the homogeneous (svarūpa貹ṇām� [svarūpa貹ṇām]).[1]
Evolution [i.e., 貹ṇām] is due to excess of one ṇa and diminution of others. The excessive ṇa overpowers the other ṇas owing to disturbance of this equilibrium and produce heterogeneous effects. Evolution is transitioning from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous from the undifferentiated to the differentiated. It is due to the integration (samudaya) of the ṇas. Dissolution is the opposite process. It is due to the disintegration of the ṇas. It is a counter evolution (pratisarga). Sattva, rajas and tamas are transformed into their similar modification. In dissolution the heterogeneous is transformed into the homogeneous.[2]
At first, ʰṛt is transformed into mahat or the cosmic intellect. Mahat is transformed into ṃk or the cosmic egoism. Ahaṃkāra is transformed into the eleven sense organs and the five ٲԳٰ or subtle essences of sound, touch, colour, taste and smell. The five subtle essences are transformed into the five gross elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth. These are the twenty four principles.[3] In addition to these there is ʳܰṣa. These are the twenty five principles according to the ṅkⲹ.
ʰṛt evolves into mahat or buddhi. It is the unindividuated cosmic intellect. The cosmic buddhi becomes individuated and evolves into the cosmic egoism or ṃk or asmita. The cosmic ṃk is bifurcated into the subjective series and the objective series.Vācaspati Miśra holds that ṃk in its ٳٱ첹 aspects evolves into means, the five organs of knowledge, and the five organs of action. Ahaṃkāra in its 峾 aspects (ū徱� [ū徱]) evolves into the five subtle essences (ٲԳٰ� [ٲԳٰ]). Ahaṃkāra in its Ჹ aspect plays its part in both. This aspect is also called the taijasa aspect. The five subtle essences evolve into the five gross elements of earth, water, light, air and ether by a preponderance of tamas. Sattva and tamas are inactive in themselves. They are energized and moved to function by rajas which is, therefore, not ineffective.[4] In the evolution of these modifications sattva, rajas and tamas are all present and perform their functions, though sattva predominates in the evolution of the psychical apparatus and tamas predominates in the evolution of the physical universe.
Two kinds of Pariṇāma
ʰṛt is the substratum of the changing phenomena of the world. ṅkⲹ conceives of ʰṛt as consisting of mass, energy and illumination in the form of tamas, rajas and sattva. Therefore, it contains all the potentiating for creating the world all by herself out of herself. According to classical ṅkⲹ due to the transcendental influence of ʳܰṣa, the equilibrium of ʰṛt gets disturbed. When the equilibrium of the ṇas is disturbed, some ṇas overpower the other ṇas, and start the process of evolution [i.e., 貹ṇām]. Production is a manifestation or evolution. Destruction is non-manifestation or envelopment.
During the state of dissolution of the world, the ṇas change homogeneously, sattva changes into sattva, rajas in to rajas and tamas in to tamas. This change does not disturb the equilibrium of the ṇas and evolution [i.e., 貹ṇām] cannot take place. However, when the ṇas exert mutual influence upon one another or start interacting, it is called heterogeneous.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
ṅkⲹtattvakaumudī on ṅkⲹkārikā 15 and 16
[3]:
ṅkⲹkārikā 22