Sankhya philosophy
MAAMUNIVARIN KAPILARIN SANKHYA TATTHUVAM — The Sankhya Philosophy of Sage Kapila (Tamil): Kadalangudi Brahmasri Natesa Sastrigal; Kadalangudi Publications, 38, Natesa Iyer Street, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017. Rs. 75.
AMONG the six orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy which have allegiance to the Vedic authority, Sankhya system expounded by Sage Kapila deals with the evolution of the world from Prakrti, the primal matter, while the Purusha, the conscious being is a witness to the whole process.
This system of thought shows the genius of Indian philosophical heritage, since it accounts for the evolution of the world in a non-theistic but scientific manner.
The two independent major categories viz., Purusha and Prakrti, the three gunas viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and the theory of causation are some of the salient features of this system.
Kadalangudi Natesa Sastrigal translated the quintessence of the Sankhya philosophy as found in the 72 aphorisms of the Sankhya Karika of Isvara Krishna in strict accordance to the commentaries of Vachaspathi Mishra known as Sankhya Tattva Kaumudee. This work commences with the critical estimation of suffering, its causes and the means to overcome it.
The essence of Sankhya philosophy has been stated, which accepts perception, inference and verbal testimony as the valid means of knowledge.
The nature of the unconscious and ever active primal substance (Prakrti) and the nature of the conscious, but passive being, the process of evolution and the 24 evolutes are elucidated in the course of this work.
The nature and means of attaining liberation are well explained in the Sanskritised Tamil, which is interesting to read and understand.
The translator has rendered an excellent service to the Tamil knowing people to know about one of the important Indian philosophical systems.
R. GOPALAKRISHNAN
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