Contribution of Vachaspati-Mishra to Samkhya System
by Sasikumar. B | 2017 | 35,637 words
This page relates ‘Vacaspati Mishra—Work on Yoga� of the research on the Sankhya [Samkhya] school of Indian philosophy with special reference to the contribution of Vachaspati-Mishra. The study includes concepts such as Epistemology (validity and worth of knowledge), Ontology (theory of being or reality), Psychology (science of behavior and mind), Phenomenology (the philosophical study of the structures of experience and consciousness) and Ethics (the removal of errors), all forming an essential part of Samkhya philosophy.
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Chapter 2.4 - 峦貹پ Ѿś—Work on Yoga
ʲٲñᲹ defines Yoga as the restraint over mental dispositions.[1] Though the origin and development of Yoga is not clear, it could be traced from the time of 貹Ծṣa themselves. Yoga as a system was sufficiently old. The 貹Ծṣa such as Kena, ṻ and Śśٲ etc. show a full acquaintance with the nature and means of Yoga. The classical phase of Yoga as an Orthodox system owes its foundation to ʲٲñᲹ, author of the Yogasūtra. There is a tradition which identifies this with the ʲٲñᲹ who wrote the great commentary, Ѳṣy, on ṇiԾ’s grammar, and also believes that he wrote a work on medicine as well. Thus, it is claimed that ʲٲñᲹ was a triple healer healer of physical ills, of defects in speech, and of the deformities of mind and spirit. It is with the third aspect, healing of mind and spirit, that the Yogasūtra is concerned.
۴Dzٲٳٱśī
Tattvavaiśāradī is a contribution of 峦貹پ Ѿś which deals Yoga System in the light of Yogasūtras. It is a commentary on Yogabhāṣya. It cannot be fully appreciated ղ’s contribution to Pātañjalayogasūtras without 峦貹پ Ѿś’s ۴Dzٲٳٱśī It must be stated in the credit of 峦貹پ Ѿś that the tradition of ʲٲñᲹ and ղ was restored by his efforts. Thus, it is due to 峦貹پ Ѿś alone, the secrets of ۴Dzśٰ could be fully restored to posterity. ۴Dzٲٳٱśī includes four 岹, the nature of , the means of and the attainments of are respectively dealt with. The fourth 岹 explains the nature of Kaivalya. The ultimate goal envisaged by the ۴Dzśٰ is Kaivalya. When the citta realizes that ʳܰṣa totally different from ʰԲ and its evolution, it becomes inclined towards the state of Kaivalya coming itself under the pressure of the vivekajñāna. It becomes free from all the ṃs as reduced to the state of the burnt seeds by the fire of viveka. This point is brought out by 峦貹پ Ѿś.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Yogasūtra 1.2