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=== Origin of Ahamkara ===
=== Origin of Ahamkara ===
In the Bhagavadgita, Shri Krishna mentions Ahamkara as one of the eight-fold Prakriti of divine nature.
[[Samkhya Darshana (साङ्ख्यदर्शनम्)|Samkhya darshana]] vividly enumerates the 25 tattvas and the manifestation of the Universe. In laying out the sequential order of origin of various elements (Panchamahabhutas and so on) according to Samkhya,
... प्रकृतेर्महान्महतोऽहंकारोऽहंकारात्पञ्च ... (Samk. Darsh. 1.61)<ref>Samkhya Darshana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%96%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Full Text])</ref>
Summary: Prakriti caused mahat, described as the Hiranyagarbha of Veda or the state which developed into the primordial fireball of the modern science. Mahat in turn gave rise to Ahamkara.<ref name=":4">Verma, Keshav Dev. ''Vedic Physics''. 1st ed. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 2008.</ref>
Though the traditional or conventional meaning of Ahamkara is taken as ego or conceit, the Samkhya expression communicates the meaning of "individuality of self." It is this sense that it covers the entire lot of manifestations collectively known as the Jagat. All manifestations, without exception, emerged from Mahat possessing one fundamental characteristic of being unique in creation. In the visible human world, each person uses the term I for his/her own self, excluding even the near and dear ones.<ref name=":4" />
In the '''Bhagavadgita''', Shri Krishna mentions Ahamkara as one of the eight-fold Prakriti of divine nature.
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च। अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा।।7.4।। (Bhag. Gita. 7.4)
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च। अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा।।7.4।। (Bhag. Gita. 7.4)
This Prakrti of Mine is divided eight-fold thus: earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and also egoism.
This Prakrti of Mine is divided eight-fold thus: earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and also egoism.
'''Tattvabodha''' describes Ahamkara as अहंकर्ता अहङ्कारं । Ahamkara is of the nature of the notion of doership.
=== Nature and Function of Ahamkara ===
=== Nature and Function of Ahamkara ===
* identification (abhimana)
* identification (abhimana)
While ‘individuality’ represents uniqueness, ‘separation-differentiation’ marks the feeling of being different from others, ‘agency’ signifies the sense of doer-ship and ‘identification’ indicates relationship with worldly objects, involving associations and companionship (sanga), attractions and attachments (moha) and mineness or ownership (mamkara).<ref name=":0" />
While ‘individuality’ represents uniqueness, ‘separation-differentiation’ marks the feeling of being different from others, ‘agency’ signifies the sense of doer-ship and ‘identification’ indicates relationship with worldly objects, involving associations and companionship (sanga), attractions and attachments (moha) and mineness or ownership (mamkara).<ref name=":0" /> Ahamkara is an expression of exclusivity, the self of the person using it, excluding the other person. This exclusive distinctiveness is the dominant characteristic of the creation, be it physical or biological. Each unit of creation enjoys its individuality among the whole mass of physical existence. Each piece of creation, big or small, bears its originality, just like the thumb impressions of individuals, there are no duplicates. Ahamkara is the identity mark of creation.<ref name=":4" />
== Ahamkara in different schools of thought ==
== Ahamkara in different schools ==
Ahamkara is the root of all vrittis or mental modifications. Destruction of ahamkara leads to removal of [[Kleshas (क्लेशाः)|kleshas]] and all the mental modes of psychosis will die automatically. Different schools of thought suggested different ways for the removal of ahamkara.<ref name=":3">Safaya, Raghunath. (1976) ''Indian Psychology, A critical and historical analysis of the psychological speculations in Indian Philosophical Literature.'' New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 325-326)</ref>
Ahamkara is the root of all vrittis or mental modifications. Destruction of ahamkara leads to removal of [[Kleshas (क्लेशाः)|kleshas]] and all the mental modes of psychosis will die automatically. Different schools of thought suggested different ways for the removal of ahamkara.<ref name=":3">Safaya, Raghunath. (1976) ''Indian Psychology, A critical and historical analysis of the psychological speculations in Indian Philosophical Literature.'' New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 325-326)</ref>