On Term Antahsamjna

Author(s): A Wezler
Publisher: A Wezler

Page 17

WEZLER : On the term Antaḥsamiña-
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called Text-Group I by W. Kirfel.86 But it is not in the text of this Group – of which Hacker states that it is very similar to one part of the cosmogony given” in the Manusmrti –, but in Text-Group II, subdivided by Kirfel in the varieties II A67 and JI B88 - both of which have been partially) analysed by Hacker in a later article of his69-, that relevant material is found.
In describing the first of the various sargas, viz. the so-called mukhyasarga, i. e. the creation of plants as the main / most important70 beings", this sarga? is said among others to be samvrtas tamasā (IIA) / tamasā āvrtaḥ (II B), and to be besides bahir antaś cāprakāśaḥ (II A and B) and niḥsamjña eva (II A and B). Though the verb used here is different, the idea expressed is clearly the same, viz. that of being enveloped or wrapped. And this idea is met with again in the cosmogony as a whole, and not infrequently: In the portion analysed by Hacker it is e. g. stated that?" as a seed is enveloped (āvȚta ) by its rind, in the same way (the Mahān is enveloped by the Main Principle", or that73"it" (i. e. the threefold Egoity (ahamkāra ) " was enveloped (ävrta ) by the Mahān as the Mahān was by the Main Principle)', etc. One cannot but recall the definition of the guna tamas as it is given by Isyarakṛṣṇa,74 viz. guru varaņakam, and hence realize that not only that part of the Text-Groups II A and B studied comprehensively by Hacker is based on an “ Instructional Tract, composed in the third century A. D. at the latest, which expounded the evolution of the world according tɔ a form of the Sāmkhya system ",75 but obviously also the later part which I am myself referring to here. This assump
66. Das Purāna Paīcalak saņa. Versuch einer Textgeschichte. Leiden 1927, p. 2 ff. 67. O. c., p. 6 ff.; the chapter drawn upon by me is found on p. 20 ff. 68. O. c., p. 41 ff.; the portion drawn upon by me is found on p. 62 ff.
69. "The Saakhyization of the Emadation L'octrine Shown in a Critical Analysis of Texts” in : WZKSO 5 (1961), pp. 75-112 ( = Kleine Schriften... pp. 167-212).
70. In my opinion this sarga is given the designation mukhya. because plants are oorrectly recognized in it to form the basis of and necessary precondition for all other lifeforms. I deom it quito improbable that mukhya here should have the meaning "firet, initial ", and tbis not only because the surga in question is the first one of the so-called prajāsargas only - in its turp preceded by the creation of other entities , but also in view of the desigoations given the other sargas (cf. fo. 76 ) likewise subsumed under prajāsargaNote that to Udayana (of. the article of Halbfass' mentioned in fn. 33, 1. o.) this appears to be nothing but (jargama-)upakaranatda, and thut this expression indicates a considerable change in the evaluation of vegetal life.
71. I. , that wbich is created, the plants (naga ). 72. Quoted from the article mentioned in fp. 69, p. 101 (= 193). 73. Ibidem, p. 103 ( = 195). 74. Viz. in Kārikā 13 of his work. 75. Quoted from his article (cf. fn. 69), p. 111 (= 203).