Chandogya Upanisad: Samkhya Point of View (An Old and Rare Book)

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Preface It is a matter of great pleasure for the philosophical world that interpretation of the upanishads from the samkhya point of view is now being made available. The present work is its first blossom presented to the men of knowledge. The English presentation has been developed on the basis of original Sanskrit texts, and as such appreciation of this work will be easy for many people. This novel production relating to the philosophy of the Samkhya School will certainly be an object of joy to those interested in Indian philosophy. I am sure that all philosophers will prize this book so that the writer may feel encouraged to produce more works of this kind.

The author of the book Dr. Anima Sen Gupta is a scholarly woman who has done a good deal of work in the field of Indian philosophy. Study, comparative investigation and discussion on Indian philosophy is as dear as life to her. The philosophical world is well acquainted with her many published articles. Many a scholarly person has honoured her by appreciation of her work "The Evolution of the Samkhya School of Thought".

I am quite sure that this elixir churned out of the sea of philosophical thoughts will be a thing of pleasure to all. I express my sincere thanks to the Providence that Dr. Sen Gupta has succeeded in producing this great work.

Introduction Although the principles of the Samkhya in their details are not to be found in the Upanisads, the presence of Samkhya ideas in germinal forms is an undisputed fact. The main theme of all the Upanisads is both idealistic and monistic. Each one of them seeks to establish the supremacy of one infinite Spirit: but there are passages here and there indicating the growth of ideas which were knitted into systematic form in the philosophy of Samkhya. The Samkhya philosophy advocates the existence of dual principles of Purusa and Prakrti and this dualistic tendency is not totally absent in the Upanisads. The leading Upanisad conceptions, however, are not in favour of establishing dualism as final and ultimate. So, though spirit and matter, Atman and Prakrti are admitted in many places, still the main tendency of the Upanisad literature flows in the direction of monism or absolutism and not in the direction of rigid dualism or pluralism.

Dualistic Ideals in the Upanisads

In the Br. Upanisad the following passage occurs: "Thus he did not at all feel delight. Therefore a person when alone, does not feel delight. He was desirous of a mate. He be-came of the size of a man and wife embracing each other. He divided this very body into two. From that husband and wife came into existence. Therefore, this body is one half of himself, just as a split seed is of the whole: so said Yajna-valkya. Hence this void is completed by the wife. He united with her. From that men were born." This passage clearly indicates that for the creation of praja (offspring) dual principles of opposite character are absolutely necessary. Perhaps, it will not be improper to maintain that this duality which makes its appearance in the Br. Upanisad develops afterwards with full vigour and strength into the dualism of Purusa and Prakrti.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages