Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘Samkhya Philosophers’ of the study of Samkhya thought and philosophy as reflected in the Shanti-Parva of the Mahabharata. Samkhya represents one of the six orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy and primarily deals with metaphysical knowledge and explains the Universe without the need to introduce God. The Mahabharata is an ancient Sanskrit epic which includes many Sankhya theories while expounding twenty-five principles.
Sāṃkhya Philosophers
Āsuri—His name appears in the śatapatha Brāhmaṇa.
Pañcaśikha—He obtained Kapila’s ṣaṣṭhitantra from Āsuri and taught them to his disciples Janaka, Vasiṣṭha etc. However, no work of his is available.
Vindhyavāsa [3rd to 4th A. D.]—Had written a treatise entitled Hiraṇyasaptati on the Sāṃkhya philosophy. However this work is also not available. It is observed that some scholars believe that Vindhyavāsa is none other than īśvarakṛṣṇa. But there is no reliable proof in support of it.
Vasubandhu [ 4th A.D.]—He wrote Paramārthasaptati refuting the Hiraṇyasaptati of Vindhyavāsa the same is not extant.
Vijñānabhikṣu [16th A.D.]—Sāṃkhyapravacana, Yogavārtika, Vijñānāmṛtabhāṣya, Sāṃkhyasāra, Yogasāra are ascribed to him.
Īśvarakṛṣṇa—Generally his period is considered as the 4th century A.D. however Upadhyaya, Baldeo opines that it might be earlier. His Sāṃkhyakārikā was translated into Chinese in the 6th century A.D. it is called Hiraṇyasaptati or suvarṇasaptati in Chinese language.[1]