A Hindu system of philosophy which refers all things to soul and a rootless germ called prakriti, consisting of three elements, goodness, passion, and darkness.
The philosophical study of reality by analysis of its elements. Sankhya was originally taught in Srimad-Bhagavatam by Kapiladeva, an incarnation of God, but was much later misrepresented in an atheistic form by another Kapila.
A system of philosophy propounded by Kapila.
Fundamental belief of the Sãnkhya doctrine; i.e., all that evolves from mãyã is perishable and vain. Cultivating thoughts of sãnkhya, the devotee gradually becomes detached from worldly, mãyik objects allowing him/her to become further engrossed in God.
'Enumeration', derived from 'sam' + verb-root 'khã' – to count or number'. School of philosophy analysing the 'categories of existence' – 'tattvas' – or elements, which it understands as 25 in number. Founded by sage Kapil, author of the Sãnkhya Sutras. See also: sãnkhya.