Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates 鈥楢hamkara in the Shantiparva鈥� 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.
Aha峁僰膩ra in the 艢膩ntiparva
In the 艢膩ntiparva of 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 it is said that it is from the Lord that all things have originated. The power of the Lord makes all creatures move, blesses with physical frames and desires to be involved in action. Lord is also known as the form of excitement. The process of creation makes him recollect his own great qualities. This led to the creation of four-faced Brahman, the consciousness of Aniruddha. The grandfather of the entire world is this Brahman or 贬颈谤补峁噛补驳补谤产丑补. The origin of the grandfather is from within the lotus and his eyes are like the petals of the lotus. This lotus, in turn, is born from Aniruddha.[1] Almost all gods are assigned some works. To mention some; Vi峁u is assigned for motion; Indra for strength; fire god for fire and so on. Fire is placed n the stomach or rather fire and stomach are attached. So is the case of Earth and water. Water has in it fire as a resort for protection. Likewise heat and wind are attached and Ether is the shelter of wind, whereas the space opts for the principle of greatness for refuge. The basis of the principle of greatness is understanding.[2]
As mentioned earlier this Aniruddha is the manifest and the creator of the grandfather Brahman. Consciousness is the other name of Aniruddha, with energy as gift bestowed on him. Consciousness on the other hand has the credit of giving birth to five great creatures.[3] They are Earth, wind, Ether, water and Fire. The name nature has eight things or rather Nature is composed of eight things like the unmanifest, greatness, consciousness, the five subtle elements of Earth, wind, Ether, water and light. The third creation of consciousness has five thousand kalpas for night and day. Another remarkable thing is that the day and night have equal duration. The yogins who are blessed with individual soul are bestowed with seven subtle principles. The soul along with these principles is elevated to the blissful region. When this realm is reached the soul knows no destruction and death because it supersedes all these. The term always is stressed because in sooth the subtle form is exposed to termination.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, XII, 347鈥�20, 21.
[2]:
tejo v膩yau tu 蝉补峁僺补办迟补峁� 惫腻测耻峁� nabhasi c膩艣ritam |
nabho mahati 蝉补峁儁耻办迟补峁� mahad buddhau ca sa峁兣況itam || 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, XII, 301-21.
[3]:
艢膩ntiparva , 340鈥�31, 32.