Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘twenty-five principles’ 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 Sāṃkhya Philosophy are described in Sāṃkhyakārikā[1] Mahat is the first product of evolution from Prakṛti, pure potentiality. Mahat is also considered to be the principle responsible for the rise of Buddhi or discriminatory power in living beings. Ahaṃkāra 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 Antahkaraṇa evolves from the total sum of the Sattva aspect of Pañca tanmātras or the Ahaṃkāra. Pañca tanmātras or five objects (colour, sound, smell, taste, and touch) are a simultaneous product from Mahat tattva, along with the Ahaṃkāra. They are the subtle form of Pañca Mahābūtas which result from grossification or Pañcīkaran of the tanmātras. Each of these Tanmātras is made of all three guṇas. Pañca jñānendriyas or five sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body) also evolve from the Sattva aspect of Ahaṃkāra. Pañca 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 Ahaṃkāra. Pañcamahābhūtas or five great substances are earth, water, fire, air and ether. They evolve from the Tamas aspect of the Ahaṃkāra. This is the revealed aspect of the physical universe.