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[Full title: (A) Philosophical aspects; (3) Samkhya philosophy; (3) The three kinds of bodies].

Devala has mentioned five subtle elements, called tanmatras of sound, touch, colour, taste & smell (2214, 2039, 2240, 2253), (cf.Sankhyakarika 38). They are said to be of the nature of mere existence i.e. generic essence, having no specific qualities. The mention of the concept of tanmatra in the text, is very important for determining the antiquity of the theory of tanmatras & the chronological position of Devala. The term does not mostly occur in the principal Upanisads. "The Mahabharata also in its exposition of the Sankhya doctrine, does not generally speak of the tanmatras & mentions the five sense-objects in their place. This fact indicates that the tanmatra theory is a later modification of the Sankhya system", writes Dr. Punimbihari Cakravarti. The same scholar further points out that "Neither 41 + 1 :

852 Caraka nor Asvaghosa (in his Buddhacarita) mentions the tanmatras & both of them count the objects of senses as the tattvas" 43 鈥� Dr. Anima Sengupta also remarks that "the tanmatras are omitted in many accounts (in the epic, the Gita, the Caraka-samhita etc. 44 & in their places, some sort of subtle bhutas (elements) are substituted". Prof.Surendranath Dasgupta' mentions that "Caraka does not mention the tanmatras at all". But the theory of tanmatras is mentioned ar indicated in the following references. (1) The term 'Matra' in the sense of tanmatra is found in the prasna Upanisad (4/8) 45 & the term tanmatra is explicitly mentioned in the Maitrayani Upanisad (3/2)46. -47 (2) The Ahirbudhnyasamhita (12/23) gives a detailed account of the Sastitantra, wherein 'matratantra' is mentioned as one among them. (3) It is incidently mentioned at some places in the Mahabha rata 48 In the Bhagavadgita (2/14)49, the term matra occurs & the five subtle elements are referred to in the verse (VII.4) 50. (4) Though the term 'tanmatra' does not occur in the caraka & the Buddhacarita, there is mention of some sort of subtle elements, which take the place of these tanmatras. (Buddhacarita, Chapter 12/18, Caraka sarira, 1/62). 51 *

853 52 5) The Manusmrti (1.27) also mentions some sort of subtle elements called 'matra'. 53 (6) The Yogasutra of Patanjali refers to the theory of tanmatras by the term'suksma'in the sutra 3/43, as interpreted by the commentator vyasa. 54 (7) The most explicit mention of tanmatra is found in the Yajnavalkyasmrti (3/179) & in the Sankhyakarika (38). In sum, the subtle elements like tanmatras were admitted in the period even before christian era. They are some-times referred to as matra, while during the early centuries of christian era, they are categorically referred to as tanmatras. " But it can be maintained that the theory of tanmatra is an ancient one, for the following reasons also. (1) It is evident that the concept of tanmatras found in the present text was borrowed by Devala from some ancient Tantra, works of Sankhya (as he himself has admitted his indebtedness). Hence the theory of tanmatras must have/definitely propounded in those Tantra works. 1 been (2) The Sankhyakarika (38) mentions the theory of tanmatras. The exposition of Sankhya in the Sankhyakarika was also based upon the Sastitantra & the knowledge that was handed down through the successive series of Sankhya Teachers. This fact also clearly indicates that the concept of tanmatras is not a new concept of the Sankhya karika, but was borrowed from the ancient works of Sankhya. " i

(3) Thirdly, Sankaracarya 55 (2/2/10) points out that the 851 Sankhyas, sometimes explain the origin of tanmatras from mahat, while at some other places, from ahankara. Thus there was controversy in the Sankhya works themselves, regarding the origin of tanmatras. This view must have been based upon the ancient Sankhya works, which Sankaracarya definitely had before him, because like Devala, he also alludes to the extensive Tantras of Sankhya system. (cf.Smrtisca tantrakhya paramarsipranita..... Brahmasutra Shankarabhashya 2/1/1 & tatha mahajanaparigrhitani mahanti sankhyaditantrani Brahmasutra Shankarabhashya 2/2/1). Some quotations on Yoga, mentioned by Sankaracarya also are not found in the extant works of Sankhya & Yoga. This suggests that even Sankaracarya had before him some ancient Tantra works of Sankhya & Yoga, which are completely lost now. Like Sankaracarya, Devala also had before him such ancient works, on the basis of which the entire exposition of Sankhya & Yoga was erected by him. Hence the theory of tanmatras can be traced to those ancient works. + Thus the concept of tanmatras is an ancient one, being expounded in the ancient Tantra works of Sankhyayoga, which were accessible to Devala, Sankhyakarika & even Sankaracarya.. Hence the mention of tanmatras by Devala supports the view of placing Devala, in the period, earlier to the Sankhyakarika