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Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata

by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words

This page relates ‘Ahamkara (the product of Mahat)� 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.

ṃk is the product of Mahat. ṃk or the ego is the second product of evolution. Ego is the basis of all worldly activities. ṃk is 󾱳Բ. The term ṃk is used to mean �egoism�. The origin of the five ٲԳٰ is from this ṃk. ṃk is the principle of self-identity or personal identity and, or empirical purposes, stands for the experience, it brings about awareness like, ‘I exist� and ‘I know�.[1] The egotism is the ṃk principle. The principle of individuality is ṃk. The term ṃk is formed by the personal pronoun aha� (I) delivered from k� to do, make or perform. The can give the sense of making and the abstract sense of ness can be derived from it as in the case of andha, darkness etc. thus the term ṃk, in the ṃkⲹ Philosophy, means ‘I�-ness. Consequently it is used to mean the individualising principle. Abhimāna is the function of ṃk,[2] which is the basis of all the worldly activities. ղṛt, tejasa and ū徱 are the technical terms which indicate the three aspect of ṃk, which is the agent of all the other products, evolve based on ṃk. Its products are grouped in to two. The set of eleven (organs) and the five ٲԳٰ. The eleven organs come from the ղṛt ṃk, the five Tanmātras from its Bhūtādi form, and both proceed from the taijasa form.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Indian Philosophy and religion, P-202.

[2]:

󾱳Դ'haṅḥ | ṃkⲹkārikā, 24.

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