Who came first? Hindu Philosophies or Upanishad? Hindu philosophy Vedas Samkhya

1 points | Post submitted by jay 887 days ago | 1 comments | viewed 663 times

We can read mentioned of one of the Hindu philosophy "Samkhya " in Shree Bhagwat Gita

लोकेऽस्मिन् द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ ।

ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥ ३-३॥

loke ’smin dvi-vidhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha

jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām

Also in 

From Shvetashvatar Upanishad Adhyay-6:

नित्यो नित्यानां चेतनश्चेतनाना- मेको बहूनां यो विदधाति कामान् ।

तत्कारणं सांख्ययोगाधिगम्यं ज्ञात्वा देवं मुच्यते सर्वपाशैः ॥ १३॥

nityo nityAnA.n chetanashchetanAnA- meko bahUnA.n yo vidadhAti kAmAn |

tatkAraNa.n sA.nkhyayogAdhigamya.n j~nAtvA devaM muchyate sarvapAshaiH || 13||

So my question is Who came first? 

Hindu Philosophies or Upanishad? 

Also, if the Sankhya Darshana/Philosophy prior to Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads?


  • jay887 days ago | +0 points

    Shwetashwatara Upanishad in 6.22 states:

    वेदान्ते परमं गुह्यं पुराकल्पे प्रचोदितम् ।

    नाप्रशान्ताय दातव्यं नापुत्रायाशिष्याय वा पुनः ।।

    The profound mystery in the Vedanta was taught in the previous cycle. It should not be given to one whose passions have not been subdued, nor to one who is not a son or a disciple.

    It means that the teachings present in Upanishads are eternal and they were taught also in the previous Kalpa. ie. The teachings of Upanishads are also cyclic and they are like Sun and Moon.

    The philosophies like Samkhya and Vedanta are then derived from the interpretation of these Upanishads. So, Upanishad is certainly older than any philosophy (actually we can't find the origin due to the cyclic nature of teachings.)

    Regarding the word "Samkhya" occurring in Shwetashwatara Upanishad, different philosophers explain it differently. For eg. The believers in the Samkhya theory of Kapila interpret it as related to their theory. The believers in the Vedanta school interpret it as referring to "Knowledge through Analysis" (and not the doctrine of Kapila).

    [reply]

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