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Indian PhilosophyOS

Sankhya · interactive

The 25 Tattvas

Sankhya describes everything that exists as 25 principles (tattvas): one consciousness that only witnesses, and 24 unfoldings of nature. Step through the unfolding, or tap any tattva.
Editorial overview
distinct from

From sattvic ahankara

Senses of knowing

Faculties of action

From tamasic ahankara

Subtle elements

Gross elements

The gross world

The subtle elements give rise to the five gross elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. That makes 25 tattvas in all. Liberation (kaivalya) is the discriminating knowledge that purusha is none of the other 24.

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Concepts

पुरुषPurusha — pure consciousnessप्रकृतिPrakriti — natureगुणGunas — the three qualitiesबुद्धिBuddhi — intellectअहङ्कारAhankara — I-maker, egoमनस्Manas — mindतत्त्वTattva — principle of reality

Traditions & texts

साङ्ख्यSankhyaयोगYoga (Patanjala)साङ्ख्यकारिकाSankhya Karikaयोगसूत्रYoga Sutras of Patanjaliश्रीमद्भगवद्गीताBhagavad Gita