Individual soul: 1 definition

Introduction:

Individual soul means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Samkhya (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Individual soul in Samkhya glossary
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): (samkhya philosophy)

The Individual Soul is denoted by the Sanskrit term Puruṣa, according to the Sāṅkhyakārikā.—In Brahmanical literature, udāsīna often means a neutral person, such as in the compound; “friends, neutrals and enemies”. [...] Also, udāsīna has been used in the Sāṅkhyakārikā to qualify the individual soul (puruṣa). After describing the qualities of the Puruṣa as the state of witnessing, isolation, neutrality, awareness and non-agency in Kārikā 19, the Sāṅkhyakārikā (20) then qualifies Puruṣa as udāsīna.

Samkhya book cover
context information

Samkhya (सांख्य, Sāṃkhya) is a dualistic school of Hindu philosophy (astika) and is closeley related to the Yoga school. Samkhya philosophy accepts three pramanas (‘proofs’) only as valid means of gaining knowledge. Another important concept is their theory of evolution, revolving around prakriti (matter) and purusha (consciousness).

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