The document outlines Sankhya philosophy as propounded by Sage Kapil, emphasizing its dualistic and atheistic nature, distinguishing between the ever-changing material world (prakriti) and the unchanging spiritual essence (purusha). It discusses the necessary union of these elements for creation and the belief that true knowledge of the 25 elements leads to salvation (moksha). Additionally, it highlights the importance of understanding the cause-and-effect relationships and inherent attributes of objects for achieving liberation from worldly miseries.

1. Dr. Vijay Kumar
Faculty, School of Education
Apeejay Stya University

2.  Propounded by the Sage Kapil
 Sage Kapil, considered as Incarnation of Lord
Vishnu
 One of the oldest philosophies of India
 References are found in Shruti, Smriti, Ramayan,
Mahabharata etc.
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3.  Interpreted in two ways: as Number and as Knowledge
 Sankhya is concerned with number of elements= 25
 The divine knowledge pertains to the knowledge of
Body (matter) & Soul (Spirit)
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4.  Basically SP is not Theistic (Does not BELIEF in God)
 Epistemologically, SP is realistic
 Metaphysically, SP is Dualistic : two sorts of reality:
 the ultimately real, never-changing, enduring soul
(purusha/ atman-brahman)
 the ever-changing, finite material world of prakriti
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5.  Avyakta – Prakriti/Matter- Unconscious
 Gyeya – Purush/Spirit- Conscious
 Vyatka – Consequence of activity & cause of tradition
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6.  Avyatka- Prakriti/Matter 01
 Gyeya- Purush/Spirit 01
(neither Prakriti nor Vikriti)
 Vyatka- 23
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7.  Vyatka
Vikrit (16)
Defiled form of Prakriti
(comes out of matter)
Hand, Foot, Voice, Anus,
Genitals, Eyes, Ears, Nose,
Tongue, Skin, Mind,
Earth, Water, Energy, Air,
Space
Prakrit-Vikrit (7)
Self-consciousness/ego,
Intellect,
Sound,
Touch,
Form,
Taste, Smell
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8. SP believes
 Brahma is not the Creator of the Cosmos, HE is a
Spectator only
 Cosmos has two elements:
Prakriti Purush
Matter Spirit
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9.  Oldest source of all existence
 It’s a combination of three qualities
SAT RAJ TAM
Satogun Rajogun Tamogun
Light/Knowledge Action/activity inhivition/heaviness, indolence
 Its devoid of consciousness
 There is similarity & union between Action & Cause
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10.  Conscious, Eternal & Co-operative element of Prakriti
 Its inert but omnipresent.
 Its complete, yet unattached
 SP believes in the Plurality of Purush
 Purush has 3 states:
 Bound(Baddha),
 Free (Mukta) &
 Conscious (Chetan)
 Through its body, it can achieve the Highest Goal i.e.
The Moksha/Salvation
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11.  For creation, union of Prakriti & Purush is necessary.
 Before Evolution, the three attributes of Prakriti Satva,
Rajas and Tamas remain in the same state
 Union of Prakriti with Purush brings the Semistate to
an end and Creation comes into being.
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12.  Deliverance from worldly miseries possible only
through true knowledge of these 25 elements.
 True knowledge of theses elements leads to Salvation.
 SP does not recognize the role of God in the creation
of the World because the existence of God cant be
proved.

 So SP is regarded as Atheistic.
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13.  Vyatka (Prakriti) & Avyakta have attributes
 To understand these elements, its necessary to understand
activity and consequence i.e.
Cause & Effect Relationship
 When Prakriti is in Balanced state- there is no change,
 Whenever this balance is disturbed activity takes place
 Every Object has some inherent attributes which are
changeable. Theses changes are known as consequences.
Change is a continuous process in these two elements.
 Every object is composed of three attributes –Sat, Raj & Tam.
These 3 attributes are found in different objects in different
proportions.
 Change may be:
 Dharm Parinam- change in Attributes
 Lakshan Parinam- Change in the form
 Avastha Parinam- Change in the Position3/20/2020Sankhya: The Indian Philosophy by Dr. Vijay Kumar 13

14.  Intellect is born when the light of Purush (Soul) is
reflected upon Prakriti(Matter).
 Prakriti begins to consider itself conscious and the
unattached Purush starts feeling Attached.
 The Imaginary & imposed relationship between
Prakrit and Purush is called bondage.
 To break this bondage & to recognize the separate
existence of Prakrit is known as Salvation (Moksha).
 After assuming this state, Purush considers itself
detached
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15.  To free oneself from the three kinds of miseries
 Physical- Adhibhautik
 Supernatural- Jaivik- Calamities caused by wicked
souls
 Spritual- Adhyatamik
 Through the realization of real truth, one can attain
freedom from bondage.
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