________________
Tracable in
been taken by the Hindus as one of their six orthodox Systems. For even the Rigveda has in it amongst others a hymn wherein the Vedas. the whole doctrine as expounded by Kapil is contained in a nut-shell. We have in the Rigveda - स्तप्तार्थ गर्भा भुवनस्य रेतो विष्णोस्तिष्ठन्ति f faufff-Rik. V. 2-21-164.
The hymn means to say that the mysterious conjunction between Purush and Prakriti invariably results in the evolution of the seven-fold subtler principles-tatvas beginning with Mahattatva i.e. (1) Mahattatva, (2) Ahankartatva and the five tanmatras,-Rupa, Rasa, Sabda, Gandha and Sparsha-and though such is the consequence of the conjunction, it is worthy of note that owing to the utter and absolute indifference on the part of Purush which is above time and variability on the part of Prakriti denoting in her the equipoise of the gunas, it is She alone that conceives and yields up, in consequence, the seven-fold principles begining with Mahat etc. making up the Universe without Purush being in the least affected by her in any way. This is the reason why the word ardhagarbha ( qinhi )
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Prakriti and the seven
fold principles.