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APPENDIX - D
Sānkhya System
Sankhya is considered to be the earliest Indian attempt at systematic philosophy. It does not believe in the existence of any entity, such as God, as the creator of universe as also its sustainer. Since its metaphysics has many points in common with the Śramana-tradition it is generally recognised as advocating the Śramapa-tradition of Indian philosophy.
It has two principal schools One atheistic and the other theistic. The Atheistic school is associated with the name of its supposed founder 'Kapila' (over 6th century B. C.) while the Theistic school which has brought the concept of God, is associated with the name of great Patanjali (middle of 2nd century B. C.). The latter accepts the metaphysical analysis of the former but introduces the doctrine of Godhood and the practice of Yoga as a process to realize 'Kaivalya' and final liberation. Both the systems are now clubbed together and known as Sankhya-Yoga. While the philosophical framework of Sankhya is greatly similar to Jaina metaphysics, the discipline of Yoga is largely accepted by all philosophical schools in India including Jainism.
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Sage Kapila
Richard Garbe, the foreign scholar who has specialised in the Sankhya system, observes that Sankhya is the most significant system of philosophy that India has produced (vide his 'Sankhya-pravacana-bhāṣya', p. XIV). Sage Kapila who is the original thinker of this system flourished much before Mahavira or Buddha. His reference is found in Svetāśvatara Upanisad. Even Gita1 lauds Kapila as the foremost among the 'Siddhas', i. e., those who are totally liberated by referring to him as, 'Siddhanam Kapilo Muniḥ'.
1. सिद्धानाम् कपिलो मुनिः ।
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