Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘Srishti Prakriya� 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.
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Sṛṣṭi Prakriya
ʳܰṣa and ʰṛt, the most superior quality and the most important elements of creation are indestructible and eternal. This universe is the child of which is created by Brahma. The first thing that is to take birth is Mahat or greatness which is transformed in to Mind. This is the soul of manifest. Intelligence which is lighted up has ignorance. With this, mind is busy with the creation of seven great entities with the desire for creation. The two leading signs of Mind, desire and doubt are modified by various objects. This process is done by Mind itself as it is far reaching and has different ways for modification. The first thing to originate from it is Ether. Which has sound as its property.[1] The powerful wind which bears all the scents is the modification of ether. This wind, the child of ether is pure and touch is its property. The wind in turn gives birth to light after being modified. Light having its attribute as form is blessed with effulgence and beauty. So it is called sukram. Water having the attribute of taste is the offspring of light. Earth having scent as it attribute springs from water. All these modifications and creations are called primary creation. The attributes of each element which come in succession is from the immediately preceding ones or rather from those which takes its origin. Another important thing is that the attributes of each, is the special attribute of the previous one. The various sorts of energy which are the attributes of the seven entities, is said to be existing separately at first. Creation is meaningful only when the objects act united in a body.[2] Limbs are formed by the combination of all entities. These entities come together and mix with one another.
The limbs which are the sum total of the entities have sixteen components. These combine to form the body which is the subtle principles of greatness. These all enter the unexhausted fragments which form the gross body. The of the original creator plays a role to enter in to the subtle form overcoming all hindrances. The original creator is called the Lord because he is the chief of all creations, movable and immovable. The entire universe consisting of immovable and movable things is created by the Lord when he assumes the form of Brahman. Some of the examples of his creation are Gods, ṣi, pitras, men, rivers, seas, oceans, cardinal points, countries, provinces, hills, mountains, trees, kinnaras, ṣa, birds, animals both domestic and wild snakes etc. The ʰṛt or ʰԲ which is the unmanifest as called by the learned[3], originates from the foremost ʳܰṣa. The foremost ʳܰṣa is none other than the Lord or Brahman who is also called the supreme soul. Aniruddha, who is the unmanifest, gave birth to all worlds and he is called a great soul because he gave life to Brahman the grandfather. The other name of aniruddha is consciousness and is also endowed by immense energy of all sorts. This consciousness gives rise to five great creatures which are the most essential Earth, wind, ether, water, and fire. The supreme soul created great creatures and attributed qualities and with these main elements and qualities, forms the embodied Beings.[4] Again from consciousness role up three great qualities. Soul is that thing which is beyond human experience or belief or in nature rather transcendent.[5] The Brahma gives rise to Darkness which covers the universe. This primal darkness is immortal and primeval. This Darkness transforms and assumes the form of ʳܰṣa which as said before is called Aniruddha. This Aniruddha is the manifest and named pradhāna, which is void of sex. This is combined with three qualities. His lonely companion is knowledge. He is known as vishswaksena or Hari including the adjectives as illustrious and powerful being. The creation of the universe and its various phenomena combined with attributes, is done by him when he enters into yoganidra in the waters.[6]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[3]:
Śāntiparva , 232, 11�15.
[4]:
Śāntiparva 340, 30-33.
[5]:
[6]:
Śāntiparva , 18�21.