Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates 鈥業ntroduction to Samkhya Philosophy鈥� of the study of Samkhya thought and philosophy as reflected in the Shanti-Parva of the Mahabharata. Samkhya represents one of the six orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy and primarily deals with metaphysical knowledge and explains the Universe without the need to introduce God. The Mahabharata is an ancient Sanskrit epic which includes many Sankhya theories while expounding twenty-five principles.
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Introduction to 厂腻峁僰丑测补 Philosophy
All the philosophical systems consider Kapila as the exponent of the 厂腻峁僰丑测补 Philosophy. The opinion of Keith, Kapila was not a historical person.[1] The 艢vet膩svataropani峁d mentions Kapila as鈥�峁涐梗颈峁� 辫谤补蝉奴迟补峁� 办补辫颈濒补峁� yastamagre || [2] iti |
惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 says that鈥�
sanaka艣ca sananda艣ca t峁泃墨ya艣ca 蝉补苍腻迟补苍补岣� |
kapila艣c膩suri艣caiva vo岣峢u岣� pa帽ca艣ikhastath膩 |
saptaite brahma峁嘺岣� putr膩岣� s膩峁僰hyaj帽膩navi艣膩rad膩岣� || [3]
In the 笔补诲尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 and the Bh膩gavata pur膩峁嘺 also it can be seen that the founder of the 厂腻峁僰丑测补 system is one Kapila 痴腻蝉耻诲别惫补 who is the incarnation of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻[4].
According to 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Vanaparva:
Kapila is referred to as the chief of the Siddha in the 叠丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻 鈥楢mong all trees I am the 鈥�Asvattha鈥�, among the celestial sages, 狈腻谤补诲补, among the 骋腻苍诲丑补谤惫补蝉 Chitraratha, among the Siddhas the sage Kapila.[6]
The Vedic sage Kapila was an incarnation of Supreme Godhead 痴颈峁ａ箛耻. He is prominent in Bh膩. p. which features a theistic version of his 厂腻峁僰丑测补 Philosophy. Traditional Hindu sources described him as a descendant of Manu, a grandson of Brahma. The 叠丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻 depicts Kapila as a yogi hermit, with highly developed Siddhis or spiritual powers. Kapila鈥檚 parents were Kardama Muni and Devahuti. Kapila is one of the founders of the 厂腻峁僰丑测补 School of Philosophy.
Origin and development of 厂腻峁僰丑测补 Philosophy
The earliest 膧stikadar艣ana is 厂腻峁僰丑测补. It gives a systematic account of the evolution of the universe and explains the twenty five principles. 厂腻峁僰丑测补 philosophy is rooted in the Vedas and the 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲蝉. The development of 厂腻峁僰丑测补 has been put in to four stages. The Vedas and the 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲蝉, the pre classical 厂腻峁僰丑测补 speculations in the epics. Classical 厂腻峁僰丑测补 represented by 厂腻峁僰丑测补k膩rik膩 and its commentaries, and the renaissance period covering the 厂腻峁僰丑测补 蝉奴迟谤补蝉 and its commentaries.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
History of 厂腻峁僰丑测补 Philosophy, keith, p.p 15-18
[2]:
艢vet膩艣vataropani峁d, V-2.
[3]:
惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 XII鈥�340. 73.
[4]:
叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 II. 25.
[5]:
惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 vanaparva 47. 18.
[6]:
补艣惫补迟迟丑补岣� sarvav峁沰峁Ｄ佱箛膩峁� devar峁Ｄ箛膩峁� ca 苍腻谤补诲补岣� |
驳补苍诲丑补谤惫腻峁嚹佱箖 肠颈迟谤补谤补迟丑补岣� siddh膩n膩峁� kapilo 尘耻苍颈岣� || 叠丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻 X. 26.