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Saankhya
Saankhya Yog is given
Bhaagvat Puraan, Skandh 3, Chapters 25-33;
Bhagvad Geetaa,
2;
Saankhya means Adhyaatm Gyaan (spiritual knowledge); and Shaastra means
organized body of knowledge. So Saankhya Shaastra means "the organized
body of knowledge about spiritual knowledge. The greatest learned of this
Shaastra is Kapil Muni - the son of Kardam Rishi and Devahooti
The Saankhya system of philosophy explains how each element (Tattwa) telescopes out
from the previous element. The first physical or gross element is the Ether.
Within the Ether all the other four gross elements are present (Earth, Water,
Fire and Air) in a subtle form. The subtle quality of Ether is sound, and from
the sound expands the Air. The subtle quality of air is touch (movement), and
from the touch expands the Fire. The subtle quality of Fire is sight, and from
the sight expands the Water. The subtle quality of Water is taste, and from the
taste expands the Earth. And finally, the subtle quality of Earth, the last of
the physical elements, is smell.
Since each
element is manifesting from the previous element, each new element
contains all of the qualities of the previous element or elements.
Thus the Ether element, being the first, only possesses the quality of
sound. One cannot touch, see, taste or smell Ether.
The Air element, having expanded from the Ether, possesses both the
qualities of sound and touch. One can feel and hear the movements of air,
but one cannot see, taste or smell the air.
The Fire element's added quality is sight. Thus one can see, touch and
hear the fire, but one cannot taste or smell fire.
The Water, having expanded from the Fire, can be heard, felt, seen and
tasted, but not smelt.
And Earth, being the final element, contains all the five qualities of
sound, touch, sight, taste and smell.
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