Bahupurushavada (बहुपुरुषवादः)

Bahupurushavada (Samskrit : बहुपुरुषवादः) is one of the important concepts propounded in the Darshana shastras. ' बहुपुरुष ' literally means 'many people'. The siddhanta involving Purusha (called variously as the Knower, Spectator, Supreme Being, Brahman, Ultimate Reality) is one of the widely discussed topics with each darshana having its own standpoint on it.

परिचयः || Introduction

Each of the shad darshanas while agreeing on the fundamental concepts of atma, karma and moksha, differ from each other in some siddhantas, which make them unique. Each darshana proposes its stance on the belief of Singularity or Plurality of the supreme being. While vedantins advocate that the Brahman is One (manifesting itself), samkhyavadins lay down the Bahupurushavada explaining the plurality of Purusha. The present topic briefly explains the different darshanas that advocate bahupurushavada.

बहुपुरुषवादः ॥ Pluralistic View

Samkhya and Yoga darshanas are strongly Pluralistic

जननमरणकरणानां प्रतिनियमादयुगपत्प्रवृत्तेश्च । पुरुषबहुत्वं सिद्धं त्रैगुण्यविपर्ययाच्चैव ॥ १८ ॥ (Samk. Kari. 17)

Patanjala Yoga Darshan -

(1)Page 26 sutra 1-24

क्लेशकर्मविपाक................... सूत्र के व्यास भाष्य में 'कैवल्यं प्राप्तास्तर्हि सन्ति च बहवः केवलिनः। .............' (कैवल्य को प्राप्त किए हुए अनेक 'केवली' अर्थात मुक्त पुरुष हैं...........)

(२) Page 31 Sutra 1-25

निरतिशयं तत्र सर्वज्ञबीजं सूत्र के व्यास भाष्य में  'ज्ञानधर्मोपदेशेन कल्पप्रलयमहाप्रलयेषु संसारिणः पुरषानुद्धरिष्यामीति।' ( ज्ञान और धर्म के उपदेश के द्वारा कल्प प्रलय और महा प्रलय में संसारी पुरुषों का उद्धार करूं।

(३) Page 31 Sutra 1-26

स एष पूर्वेषामपि गुरुः कालेनानवच्छेदात्। ( वह ईश्वर पूर्व सभी गुरुओं का गुरु है काल के प्रवाह में विच्छिन्न न होने से।)