Creation of the Universe - Part 13

CREATION OF UNIVERSE AS PER SANKHYA YOGA WRITTEN BY KAPILA MUNI

Sankhya, derived from the word meaning "to count", is a philosophical system of analysing matter established by Sage Kapila. It aims to overcome suffering through cultivating discrimination and by releasing the soul (purusha) from its entanglement in matter (prakriti).

The later theistic notion of Shiva-Shakti is the equivalent of Purusha-Prakriti. Shiva is the male, the energetic, and Prakriti, the complementary female energy.

The Vedanta schools accommodated many of the terms and concepts of Sankhya, which are also mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gita.

Let us look at the flow as propounded by Kapila in this yoga.

PURUSHA

The Supreme Self, (Purusha) (or Ultimate Reality) who is Pure Consciousness perceived Himself by Selfhood (i.e. Existence with "I"-Consciousness).

He became endowed with the name "I". From that arose the basis of difference. 

Puruṣha is the Transcendental Self or Pure Consciousness. It is absolute, independent, free, imperceptible and unknowable, above any experience and beyond any words or explanation. 

This is the God/ Consciousness described in the earlier Aitareya upanishad verses and its explanation in various posts as the ONE THAT was alone, with nothing else, with the ONE not even aware of ITSELF.

This PURUSHA is the First cause, with there being no cause for the emergence of purusha. 

The hymns of Purusha Sukhtam, if contemplated at the highest and the subtlest level, are all about this Purusha, though at the grosser level of worship, the hymns may be understood to praise Narayana/ God with Form.

PRAKRITI

From the experience of bliss for a long time, there arose in the Supreme Self a certain state like deep sleep. From that (state) Maya, Prakriti (or the illusive power of the Supreme Self) was born just as a dream arises in sleep. 

Prakriti is the first cause of the universe—of everything except the Puruṣha, which is uncaused, and accounts for whatever is physical, both matter and force. Since it is the first principle (tattva) of the universe, it is called the Pradhana, but, as it is the unconscious and unintelligent principle, it is also called the Jada.

A  sacred sound symbolizing purity of pranava mahamantra. A cosmic  vibration. According to Indian spiritual sciences, God first created sound, and from these sound frequencies came the phenomenal world. 

Our total existence is constituted of these primal sounds, which give rise to mantras when organized by a desire to communicate, manifest, invoke or materialize.

Matter itself is said to have proceeded from sound and AUM is said to be the most sacred of all sounds. 

It is the syllable which preceded the universe and from which the gods were created. It is the "root" syllable (mula mantra), the cosmic vibration that holds together the atoms of the world and heavens. 

Indeed the Upanishads say that AUM is god in the form of sound. Thus AUM is the first part of the most important mantras in Hinduism.

Characteristics of Prakriti

Pradhana or Prakriti is eternal, all-pervading, and immovable. It is one. It has no cause, but is the cause of all effects. Prakriti is independent and uncaused, while the products are caused and dependent. Prakriti depends only on the activity of its own constituent Gunas (metaphysical properties).

The Function of Prakriti

Prakriti is the basis of all objective existence. Prakriti does not create for itself. 

All objects are for the enjoyment of the spirit or soul. Prakriti creates only when it comes into union with Purusha, like a crystal vase with a flower. 

This work is done for the emancipation of each soul. As it is the function of milk to nourish the calf, so it is the function of Prakriti to liberate the soul.

The Gunas

According to the Sankhya philosophy, Prakriti is composed of three Gunas or forces, called Sattva (purity, light, harmony), Rajas (passion, activity, motion), and Tamas (inertia, darkness, inertness, inactivity).

They are the actual substances or ingredients, of which Prakriti is constituted. They make up the whole world evolved out of Prakriti. 

How Man Is Affected by the Three Gunas

There are three Gunas in every man. 

Sometimes, Sattva prevails in him. Then he is calm and tranquil. He reflects and meditates. 

At other times, Rajas prevails in him and he does various sorts of worldly activities. He is passionate and active. 

Sometimes, Tamas prevails. He becomes lazy, dull, inactive and careless. Tamas generates delusion.

Again, one of these Gunas is generally predominant in different men. A Satvic man is virtuous. He leads a pure and pious life. A Rajasic man is passionate and active. A Tamasic man is dull and inactive.

Sattva makes a man divine and noble. Rajas makes him thoroughly human and selfish, and Tamas makes him bestial and ignorant. 

There is much Sattva in a sage or saint and there is much Rajas in a soldier, politician and businessman.

Purusha and Prakriti – A Contrast

The characteristics of Prakriti and Purusha are contrary in nature. 

Purusha is consciousness, while Prakriti is non-consciousness. 

Purusha is inactive (Akarta), while Prakriti is active. 

Purusha is destitute of the Gunas, while Prakriti is characterised by the three Gunas.

Purusha is unchanging, while Prakriti is changing (subject to evolution and involution). 

The knower is Purusha. The known is Prakriti. 

The knower is the subject or the silent witness. The known is the visible object.

In the upcoming posts, we will learn on the evolution process as per sankhya yoga.

Love.