Sankhya Principles of Manifestation

In the unmanifested universe, the gunas (attributes of nature) are stable and Purusha (spirit) and Prakriti (nature) are in union.  The pulsations of the cosmic life force cause the gunas to destabilize and the first principle of manifestation occurs.  Prakriti is the first principle of manifestation.  Prakriti contains all the knowledge of the universe. 

In the light of Purusha, Prakriti becomes aware of Purusha and it is from this awareness that the second principle of manifestation known as Mahat occurs.  Mahat is supreme universal intelligence and stores the blueprint for all manifestation.  Mahat puts all things in their proper place, whether in the cosmos or in the individual.  From Mahat, the third principle of creation known as Ahamkara manifests.  Ahamkara is the “I-ness”, or feeling of self that is created the moment identification with an object of perception occurs. In the human being Ahamkara is defined as the ego.  The moment “I” is formed; Mahat is reflected in the individual as Buddhi (wisdom faculty.)

CREATION OF THE MIND, BODY AND SENSE ORGANS

Once Purusha and Prakriti separate and Mahat/Buddhi and Ahamkara are established, the individual mind and body manifest. From the movement of rajas upon sattva, the manas (cognitive function), the jnanendriyas (sensory faculties) and the Karmendriyas (motor faculties) manifest. The five senses of jnanendriyas are to hear, feel, see, taste and smell.  The five motor faculties of Karmendriyas are speaking, grasping, moving, procreating and eliminating.

In order for manas, jnanendriya and karmendriya to function they need a body and five senses.  From the movement of rajas upon tamas, the Tanmātras (sense qualities) and the Maha bhutas (five elements) manifest.

Each element has a jnana indriya (organ of knowledge) a karma Indriya (organ of action) and a tanmatra (sense quality) associated with it. The organs of knowledge are what the five senses use to perceive the world and the organs of action are what the five senses use to act upon what they perceive. 

The jnana indriyas (organs of knowledge) are the ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose and perceive the world through the sense of hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling, respectively.  The karma indriyas (organs of action) are the vocal cords, hands, feet, genitals and anus and act upon the world through speaking, grasping, walking, procreating and eliminating, respectively.  The Maha bhutas of ether, air, fire, water and earth each have a Tanmātras (sense quality) of sound, touch, form, taste and odor respectively. 

MAHA BHUTAS (5 ELEMENTS)

Ether (Akasha) is the space in which everything happens. It is both the field that is the source of all matter and the space in which matter exists. It is through space that sounds travel, providing the medium through which the entire spectrum of vibration exists. In the development of matter, Ether comes first.  Ayurveda holds that within Ether there is a pure presence of spiritual energy that manifests as nuclear energy.

Tanmātras (sense quality): Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Odor.

Jnana Indriya (organ of knowledge): Ears to hear, Skin to feel, Eyes to see, Tongue to taste, Nose to Smell.

Karma Indriyas (organ of action): Vocal cords, Speaking, Hands, Grasping, Feet, Moving, Genital, Procreating, Anus, Elimination.

Air (Vayu) is existence without form.  It is the gaseous form of matter which is mobile and dynamic.  It is the key element required for fire to burn.  Within the body, air in the form of oxygen is the basis for all energy transfer reactions. Air is the principle of movement necessary for keeping the body in constant motion and manifests as electrical energy. Prana (life force) is the basic principle of the Air element.  It is the flow of consciousness from one cell to another in the form of intelligence.  Sensory stimuli and motor responses are the subtle movements of prana.

Fire (Agni) is considered a form without substance. Fire possesses the power to transform the state of any substance.  It is the power to transform solids into liquids and liquids to gas and vise versa.  Where there is movement, there is friction.  Where there is friction there is fire.  Fire governs the transformation of food into energy, the regulation of body temperature, digestion, absorption and assimilation of food.  Within each of the doors of, ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose – there is a subtle fire component that is necessary for sense perception and processing that perception into knowledge.  Fire is carried through the blood and plasma as heat.  If the blood supply to a body part is cut off, that body part will be cold.  The Fire element is radiant energy and is present in the body as the flame of attention.

Water (Apas) is a substance without stability.  Water is the universal chemical solvent and all biochemical functions are governed by it.  Water is necessary for the survival of all living things. The plasma in our blood is composed of approximately 90% water and carries oxygen, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from one cell to another.  Within the medium of water, all the elements maintain their function.  Water is associated with chemical energy and is known as the Water of Life. 

Earth (Pruthivi) is considered a stable substance. It represents the solid state of matter and contains all five elements.  It manifests stability, permanence, and rigidity. All solid structures in our body such as bones, teeth, cartilage, nails, hair and skin are manifestations of the earth element.  Earth is associated with mechanical energy.