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| The Word Apta means fit or right. It is applied to the Vedas or inspired teachers. [[Nyaya Darshana (न्यायदर्शनम्)|Nyaya Darsana]] accepts four kinds of proofs: प्रत्यक्ष, अनुमान , उपमान, शब्द. The Mimamsakas recognise six kinds of proofs.<ref name=":0" /> | | The Word Apta means fit or right. It is applied to the Vedas or inspired teachers. [[Nyaya Darshana (न्यायदर्शनम्)|Nyaya Darsana]] accepts four kinds of proofs: प्रत्यक्ष, अनुमान , उपमान, शब्द. The Mimamsakas recognise six kinds of proofs.<ref name=":0" /> |
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− | ==== सृष्टिसिद्धान्तम् ॥ Theory of Evolution and Involution ====
| + | == सृष्टिसिद्धान्तम् ॥ Theory of Evolution and Involution == |
| + | As to the origins of the world, there is a divergence of opinion among thinkers of different schools: Some uphold the Theory of Creation, others maintain the Theory of Evolution.<ref>Sinha, Nandalal (1915) ''[https://archive.org/details/thesamkhyaphilos00sinhuoft The Sacred Books of the Hindus : The Samkhya Philosophy. (Volume XI).]'' Allahabad : The Panini Office</ref> |
| + | * Creationists include the Nastikas, Buddhists, and the Naiyayikas. |
| + | * Evolutionists include the Samkhyas and the Vedantins. |
| + | Nastikas hold that the world is non-existent, that it is unreal and that it came out of |
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| + | ==== सत्कार्य सिद्धान्तम् ॥Sat-Karya-Siddhanta ==== |
| The Samkhya adopts the theory of evolution and involution. The cause and effect are the undeveloped and developed states of one and the same substance. There is no such thing as total destruction. In destruction the effect is involved into its cause. That is all. | | The Samkhya adopts the theory of evolution and involution. The cause and effect are the undeveloped and developed states of one and the same substance. There is no such thing as total destruction. In destruction the effect is involved into its cause. That is all. |
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− | There cannot be any production of something out of nothing. That which is not cannot be developed into that which is. There must be a material out of which a product is developed. Everything cannot occur everywhere at all times, and anything possible must be produced from something competent to produce it. That which does not exist cannot be brought into existence by an agent. It would be useless to grind ground-nut, unless the oil existed in it. The manifestation of the oil is a proof that it was contained in the groundnut and consequently, a proof of the existence of the source from which it is derived. The effect truly exists beforehand in its cause. This is one of the central features of the Samkhya system of philosophy. Cause is a substance in which the effect subsists in a latent form. Just as the whole tree world exists in a latent or dormant state in the seed, so also the whole world exists in a latent state in Prakriti, the Avyakta (unevolved), or Avyakrita (undifferentiated). The effect is of the same nature as the cause.<ref name=":0" /> | + | There cannot be any production of something out of nothing. That which is not cannot be developed into that which is. There must be a material out of which a product is developed. Everything cannot occur everywhere at all times, and anything possible must be produced from something competent to produce it. That which does not exist cannot be brought into existence by an agent. It would be useless to grind ground-nut, unless the oil existed in it. The manifestation of the oil is a proof that it was contained in the groundnut and consequently, a proof of the existence of the source from which it is derived. The effect truly exists beforehand in its cause. This is one of the central features of the Samkhya system of philosophy. Cause is a substance in which the effect subsists in a latent form. Just as the whole tree world exists in a latent or dormant state in the seed, so also the whole world exists in a latent state in Prakriti, the Avyakta (unevolved), or Avyakrita (undifferentiated). The effect is of the same nature as the cause.<ref name=":0" /> This is called as the Law of the Identity of Cause and Effect. The effect, therefore, is never non-existent ; whether before its production, or after its destruction, it is always existent in the cause. |
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− | Thus,according to the Samkhya theory, the efficient cause or ''Nimmitta-Kāraṇa'' of the world is ''Puruṣa'' – ‘the Supreme Consciousness’ and the material cause or ''Upādāna-Kāraṇa'' is ''Prakṛti'' – ‘the matter. Body or ''Śarῑra'', sense-organs or ''Indriyas'' and mind or ''Manas'' all are the evolutes of the ''Prakṛti'' or the main material principle. Ordinarily, we consider the mind to be conscious in nature. But on ground the Samkhya ground ''Manas'' or mind is also a matter, being the evolute of the main physical principle or ''Prakṛti''. | + | Thus,according to the Samkhya theory, the efficient cause or ''Nimmitta-Kāraṇa'' of the world is ''Puruṣa'' – ‘the Supreme Consciousness’ and the material cause or ''Upādāna-Kāraṇa'' is ''Prakṛti'' – ‘the matter. Body or ''Śarῑra'', sense-organs or ''Indriyas'' and mind or ''Manas'' all are the evolutes of the ''Prakṛti'' or the main material principle. Ordinarily, we consider the mind to be conscious in nature. But on ground the Samkhya, ''Manas'' or mind is also a matter, being the evolute of the main physical principle or ''Prakṛti''. |
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| ''Puruṣa'' is neither body, nor sense-organ, nor is it mind. ''Puruṣa'' is the conscious spirit and a pure witness or ''Kevala-Sakṣin.'' He is also known as ''Svayam-Jyoti'' or self-conscious with happiness. There is one indwelling ''Puruṣa'' in every individual who appears as sentient. | | ''Puruṣa'' is neither body, nor sense-organ, nor is it mind. ''Puruṣa'' is the conscious spirit and a pure witness or ''Kevala-Sakṣin.'' He is also known as ''Svayam-Jyoti'' or self-conscious with happiness. There is one indwelling ''Puruṣa'' in every individual who appears as sentient. |
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| == प्रकृतिः || Prakriti the Cause == | | == प्रकृतिः || Prakriti the Cause == |
| Prakriti means that which is primary, that which precedes what is made. It comes from 'Pra' (before) and `Kri' (to make). It resembles Vedantic concept of Maya. It is the one root of the universe. It is called Pradhana or the chief, because all effects are founded on it and lt is the root of the universe and of all objects. Prakriti is eternal, all pervading, 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).<ref name=":0" /> | | Prakriti means that which is primary, that which precedes what is made. It comes from 'Pra' (before) and `Kri' (to make). It resembles Vedantic concept of Maya. It is the one root of the universe. It is called Pradhana or the chief, because all effects are founded on it and lt is the root of the universe and of all objects. Prakriti is eternal, all pervading, 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).<ref name=":0" /> |
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− | ==== Views regarding the Effect ====
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− | Inference of Prakrti or Nature is apprehended through its effects - the proof being based on the general proposition that "Every effect must have a cause". Hence from the existence of the effect, the cause is inferred, though on this point different philosophers have different opinions. Different philosophies describe the emanation of Universe as follows
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− | Bauddha's view
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− | To explain Evolution of the Universe from Prkriti, the existence of its Effects has to be ascertained.
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| ==== Modifications of Prakriti<ref name=":0" /> ==== | | ==== Modifications of Prakriti<ref name=":0" /> ==== |