Samkhya elements in the Bhagavata-purana
by Jumli Nath | 2017 | 62,959 words
This page relates 鈥楧ate of the Puranas鈥� of the English study dealing with the treatment of Samkhya elements in the Bhavata-Purana. The Puranas are a vast reservoir of Indian religious and cultural wisdom. Sankhya refers to one of the oldest and the authentic system of Indian philosophy ascribed to sage Kapila. This analytical study delves into the reflection of Samkhya philosophy within the Bhagavatapurana by researching original texts, translations, commentaries and scholarly articles.
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Part 5 - Date of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉
The date of 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 is covered in mystery. It is very difficult to say how and when these 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 were first originated. There are many references of 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 together with 滨迟颈丑腻蝉补蝉 in the Vedic literature itself. The oldest record of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 is found in the Atharvaveda. In the Atharvaveda it is said that 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 are originated from the residue of sacrifice.[1] The B峁沨ad膩ra峁噛aka Upani峁d also states the origin of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 occurs from the breath of the Supreme Soul.[2] The Ch膩ndogya Upani峁d describes the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 as the 辫补帽肠补尘补 veda (fith veda)[3]. Besides, the 笔补诲尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 says that 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 are the earliest of all scriptures.[4] According to this 笔耻谤腻峁嘺, they are earlier than the Vedas also. The 罢补颈迟迟颈谤墨测补 膧谤补苍测补办补 also mentions the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 together with 滨迟颈丑腻蝉补.[5]
Among the extent 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 the 痴腻测耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺 appears to be the earliest one. The 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 and the 贬补谤颈惫补峁兣沘 refers to the 痴腻测耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺. But it is the 痴腻测耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺 in its earliest recension which in all probability is referred to by these works. Wilson opines that the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 are works of different circumstances[6]. B膩峁嘺bha峁弓a (7th Century A.D.) refers to the 痴腻测耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺. 碍耻尘腻谤颈濒补 叠丑补峁弓补 (8th Century A.D.) and 艢a峁僰ar膩c膩rya (9th Century A.D.) also refers to the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉.[7] In a Bengali manuscript of the 厂办补苍诲补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, the references of Gupta age also were found.[8] Besides, the 痴颈峁ａ箛耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺 also mentions about Chandragupta and Mourya dynasty.[9]
From the above observation of the various references it can be said that 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 have taken their present forms before the 6th or 7th Century A.D. In fact, the Puranic literature has passed a long period of development and addition, modification etc., have been made to it from time to time. They are now the combined result of many centuries.
Shivadatta Gyani refers the origin and development of the Puranic literature is from 1200 B.C. TO 700 A.D.[10] He has divided the period of development of this literature into four stages. These are a long period of development and addition, modification etc., have been made to it from time to time.
They are now the combined result of many centuries.
(a) 膧办丑测腻苍补-惫补峁兣沘 stage: from the early Vedic period to the end of the 叠丑腻谤补迟补 war. (circa 1200 B.C. to C. 950 B.C.);
(b) Bifurcation stage: from C. 950 B.C. to C. 500 B.C.
(c) 笔补帽肠补濒补办峁峁嘺 stage: from C. 500 B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era.
(d) Sectarian or Encyclopedic stage: from the beginning of the Christian era to C. 700 A.D.
His view helps to solve the riddle of the date of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉.[11] In the absence of the more definite data it is impossible to determine the date of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 more accurately.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
叠峁沨补诲腻谤补峁噛补办补-耻辫补苍颈峁诲 , 2.4.10
[3]:
颁丑腻苍诲辞驳测辞辫补苍颈峁诲 , 7.1.2
[4]:
辫耻谤腻峁嘺峁� sarva艣膩str膩n膩峁� 辫谤补迟丑补尘补峁� brahma峁嚹� sm峁泃a峁�/ 笔补诲尘补-辫耻谤腻峁嘺 ,1.1.45
[5]:
TA., 2.10
[7]:
Puranic Encyclopaedia, p. 617
[8]:
Studies in Skanda 笔耻谤腻峁嘺, Introduction, p. III
[9]:
痴颈峁ａ箛耻-辫耻谤腻峁嘺 , 4. 24. 28, 32
[10]:
Gyani, Shivadatta, The Date of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉, Vol. 2 p.74
[11]:
Ibid.