Introduction and History of Sāṅkhya
Darshanas of Dharma
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Sāṅkhya is often simplified to atheistic dualism; however, a better way to understand Sāṅkhyaka dharma is that it aims to take into account all the important factors of the whole world, and especially of the human condition (Ruzsa.) The Mahābhārata represents Sāṅkhya to already be considered old by the time the war took place (Ruzsa.) Thus, the origins of Sāṅkhya are older than the textual sources; however, the primary source of Sāṅkhya darshana is the Sāṅkhya-Kārikā by Īśvarakṛṣṇa. The book was possibly written around 350 C.E., scholars understand that Īśvarakṛṣṇa was active after the time period when Nyaya Sutra was written and before the Bouddhya philosopher Vasubandhu (Ruzsa.) Tradition believes mahār̥ṣi Kapila to be the founder, and his student Āsuri to be the first inheritor of the darshana (Larson, Bhattacharya.) Sāṅkhya is dualist and believes in two entities — puruṣa, and prakṛti. Puruṣa is the infinite consciousness and “real” self which witnesses prakṛti, there are also infinite puruṣa. Prakṛti is the psychological, physical self, and world. Puruṣa is transmigratory, and moves from prakṛti to prakṛti through the cycle of life. Once puruṣa has realized itself fully, it leaves prakṛti; thus, escaping from duḥkha.
Sāṅkhya is quite on the Vedas, and Vedic tradition; and does not believe in a supreme deity or creator, with one major work the Sāṅkhya-Sūtra being outright atheist. However, one of its branches, Yoga — which eventually became its own darshana — believes one special puruṣa to be Īśvara — Lord (Ruzsa.)
Sāṅkhya heavily influenced philosophers beyond itself, Arāḍa Kālāma — the Buddha’s teacher, was described by Aśvaghoṣa as being a Sāṅkhyaka. Thus, Siddhartha Gautama was most likely a Sāṅkhyaka before achieving Nirvana. This is why Bouddhya thought is similar to Sāṅkhya, one may say that Sāṅkhya forms the root of Buddhadhātu. Other major works such as the Upaniṣads, Dharmaśāstra, and Ayurveda are all heavily influenced by the darshana.
Sāṅkhya can be seen as one of the foundational darshanas of Dharmika philosophy, and forms a base for Indian dualists.
Here is a list of some major philosophers from Sāṅkhya: Kapila, Āsuri, Īśvarakṛṣṇa, Rājāna, Vijñāna Bhikṣu, Vārṣagaṇya, Vindhyavāsin, Vācaspati Miśra, Māṭhara, Gauḍapāda, and Śaṅkarācārya [these Gauḍapāda and Śaṅkarācārya are different from the Advaitika].
Here is a list of major works in Sāṅkhya: Sāṅkhya-Kārikā, Yukti-dīpikā, Bhāṣya, Vṛttiand, Jaya-Maṅgalā, Sāṅkhya-Tattva-Kaumudī, Tattva-Samāsa-Sūtra, and Sāṅkhya-Sūtra.
Sources
Ruzsa, F. (n.a.). Sankhya. Retrieved from https://iep.utm.edu/sankhya/
Larson, G. J., & Bhattacharya, R. S. (1987). The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies (Vol. 4) (1474233859 1066135270 K. H. Potter, Ed.). NA, NA: Rinceton Legacy Library.
Sreenivasaraos. (2012). Samkhya: Part One: The Beginnings [Web log post]. Retrieved September 14, 2021, from https://sreenivasaraos.com/2012/10/03/samkhya-part-one-the-beginnings/
