prakṛti

Prakriti ( ) is "the original or natural form or condition of anything, original or primary substance". It is a key concept in Hinduism, formulated by the '' Samkhya'' school, where it does not refer merely to matter or nature, but includes all cognitive, moral, psychological, emotional, sensorial and physical aspects of reality. ''Prakriti'' has three different innate qualities ( ''guṇas''), whose equilibrium is the basis of all empirical reality, in the form of the five panchamahabhootas (basic elements) – Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Jala, Pruthvi. ''Prakriti'' contrasts with '' Puruṣa'', which is pure awareness and metaphysical consciousness.James G. Lochtefeld (2001), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M, Rosen Publishing, , Pages 224, 265, 520 The term is also found in the texts of other Indian religions such as Jainism and Buddhism.

Etymology and meaning

''Prakriti'' (Sanskrit: प्रकृति) is an early Indic concept meaning "making or placing before or at first, the original or natural form or condition of anything, original or primary substance".Monier Monier-Williams (1899), Monier William's Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 2nd Ed., Oxford University Press
Prakriti प्रकृति
page 654 The term is discussed by Yāska (~600 BCE) in '' Nirukta'', and is found in numerous Hindu texts. It connotes "nature, body, matter, phenomenal universe" in Hindu texts.

According to Dan Lusthaus,

''Pancha Prakriti''

In Indian languages derived from Sanskrit roots, ''Prakriti'' refers to the feminine aspect of all life forms. A woman can be seen as a symbol of ''Prakriti''.

According to Sanskrit scriptures, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Devi Mahatmya and Devi Bhagavata Purana, five Hindu goddesses are considered as the complete feminine personification of ''Prakriti'' – Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati, Gayatri and Radha. Together these five goddesses are worshiped as ''Pancha Prakriti''.

Samkhya

In Samkhya philosophy, the term ''prakriti'' is used in three distinct ways. Prakriti sometimes refers specifically to Mula-Prakriti (root-nature), also known as the unmanifest ('' avyakta'') or the principal ('' pradhana''), which is the fundamental, uncaused source of the material world. When paired with vikriti (modification), prakriti signifies "source", Mula-Prakriti is only ''prakriti'', while the intellect, ego, and five sense qualities are both prakriti and vikriti, forming the eight prakritis. Prakriti can also refer to the entire twenty-four tattvas (elements), encompassing both unmanifest and manifest.

'' Samkhya'' texts contrast ''Prakriti'' with ''Purusha'' (spirit, consciousness) where ''Prakriti'' refers to "the material world, nature, matter, physical and psychological character, constitution, temper, disposition". According to Knut Jacobsen, in the dualistic system of the Samkhya school, "''Purusha'' is the principle of pure consciousness, while ''Prakriti'' is the principle of matter", where ''Purusha'' is the conscious witness in every living being, while ''Prakriti'' is the manifest world.

Both the Bhagavad Gita and the Samkhya school of philosophy posit that ''prakṛti'' is composed of the three ''guṇas'': '' sattva'' (preservation), '' rajas'' (creation), and '' tamas'' (destruction). ''Sattva'' encompasses qualities of goodness, light, and harmony. ''Rajas'' is associated with concepts of energy, activity, and passion; so that, depending on how it is used, it can either have a supportive or hindering effect on the evolution of the soul. ''Tamas'' is commonly associated with inertia, darkness, insensitivity. Souls who are more Tamasic are considered imbued in darkness and take the longest to reach liberation.

In Samkhya, ''prakriti'', comprising the three ''gunas'', exists in equilibrium before the cosmos manifests, neutralizing each other's properties. Samkhya argues that the complex and purposeful nature of the world suggests that it exists for the sake of something else, particularly the conscious souls. This view suggests that ''prakriti'', though unconscious, serves to aid the liberation of the soul, similar to how milk nourishes a calf.

Yoga Sutras

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, ''prakriti'' is described as encompassing the entire cosmos including its physical aspects. It is characterized by the three ''gunas'' - sattva, rajas, and tamas. However, the emphasis within the text primarily is on the psychological manifestations of these guṇas. ''Sattva'', the purest ''guna'', is associated with qualities like lucidity, tranquility, wisdom, discrimination, detachment, happiness, and peacefulness when expressed in the mind (citta). Rajas is characterized by traits like hankering, power, and various forms of movement and creative activity. Tamas is marked by qualities such as ignorance, delusion, lethargy, and disinclination toward constructive activity. These psychological attributes reveal the nature of the ''gunas'' in Yoga.

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita emphasize the role of ''prakriti'' as the material energy of the universe, created and controlled by God (Krishna), and its distinction from ''purusha'' in different verses. In Chapter 4 verse 6, Krishna describes ''prakriti'' as His own power, through which He manifests in the world. In Chapter 7 verse 4 and 5, Krishna mentions two types of ''prakriti'':

In Chapter 13 verses 19–23, Krishna discusses the eternal nature of both ''prakriti'' and ''purusha,'' as well as their distinction.
It is described in ''Bhagavad Gita'' as the "primal motive force". It is the essential constituent of the universe and is at the basis of all the activity of the creation.

Vedanta

In Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, a sub-school of Indian philosophy, ''Prakṛti'' is one of the six substances ''( dravya)''. The '' guṇas'' (qualities) are the attributes of primordial Nature (''Prakṛti''), and not its constituents, unlike '' Sāṅkhya''. These qualities are inseparable from ''Prakṛti'', but not identical with it and inextricably related to Ishvara. ''Prakṛti'' in Vishishtadvaita Vedanta is limited above by the eternal manifestation (''nityavibhuti'') whereas it's infinite in ''Sāṅkhya''.

According to Dvaita Vedanta, ''Prakṛti'' is the material cause ( Satkaryavada) of the world.

Prakriti is closely associated with the concept of ''Maya'' within Hindu texts more broadly.

Jainism

In Jainism the term "''Prakriti''" is used in its theory of Karma, and is considered "that form of matter which covers the perfections of the soul (jiva) and prevents its liberation".

See also

*
*
*
*
*

References

Citations

Works Cited

*
*
*

External links

Bhagavad Gita 13.1-2
(bhagavadgitaasitis.com)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prakrti
Hindu philosophical concepts
Buddhist philosophical concepts