Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates 鈥榯wenty-five principles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.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
The twenty-five principles
The twenty five principles of 厂腻峁僰丑测补 Philosophy are described in 厂腻峁僰丑测补k膩rik膩[1] Mahat is the first product of evolution from 笔谤补办峁泃颈, pure potentiality. Mahat is also considered to be the principle responsible for the rise of Buddhi or discriminatory power in living beings. 础丑补峁僰腻谤补 or ego -sense is the second product of evolution. It is responsible for the self-sense in living beings. It is also ones identification with the outer world and its content. Manas or Antahkara峁嘺 evolves from the total sum of the Sattva aspect of 笔补帽肠补 迟补苍尘腻迟谤补蝉 or the 础丑补峁僰腻谤补. 笔补帽肠补 迟补苍尘腻迟谤补蝉 or five objects (colour, sound, smell, taste, and touch) are a simultaneous product from Mahat tattva, along with the 础丑补峁僰腻谤补. They are the subtle form of 笔补帽肠补 Mah膩b奴tas which result from grossification or Pa帽c墨karan of the 迟补苍尘腻迟谤补蝉. Each of these Tanm膩tras is made of all three 驳耻峁嘺蝉. 笔补帽肠补 j帽膩nendriyas or five sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body) also evolve from the Sattva aspect of 础丑补峁僰腻谤补. 笔补帽肠补 karmendriyas are five organs of action. The organs of actions are hands, legs, vocal apparatus, urino genital organ and anus. They evolve from the rajas aspect of 础丑补峁僰腻谤补. 笔补帽肠补mah膩bh奴tas or five great substances are earth, water, fire, air and ether. They evolve from the Tamas aspect of the 础丑补峁僰腻谤补. This is the revealed aspect of the physical universe.