Kapila

This article is about the Hindu sage Kapila. For other uses, see Kapila (disambiguation).
Kapila

Kapila

Watercolour painting on paper of Kapila, a sage
Titles/honours Hindu sources describe him as a descendant of Manu
Philosophy Samkhya

Kapila (Hindi: कपिल ऋषि) is a given name of different individuals[1] in ancient and medieval Indian texts, of which the most well-known is the founder of the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.[2][3] Kapila of Samkhya fame is considered a Vedic sage,[3][4] estimated to have lived in the 6th-century BCE,[5] or the 7th-century BCE.[6]

Rishi Kapila is credited with authoring the influential Samkhya-sutra, in which aphoristic sutras present the dualistic philosophy of Samkhya.[7] Kapila's influence on Buddha and Buddhism have long been the subject of scholarly studies.[8][9]

Many historic personalities in Hinduism and Jainism, mythical figures, pilgrimage sites in Indian religion, as well as an ancient variety of cow went by the name Kapila.[6][10][11]

King Amsuman and the yogic sage Kapila.

Biography

The name Kapila appears in many texts, and it is likely that these names refer to different people.[12][13] The most famous reference is to the sage Kapila with his student Āsuri, who in the Indian tradition, are considered as the first masters of Sāṅkhya school of Hindu philosophy. While he pre-dates Buddha, it is unclear which century he lived in, with some suggesting 6th-century BCE.[5] Others place him in the 7th century BCE.[12][14] This places him in the late Vedic period (1500 BCE to 500 BCE), and he has been called a Vedic sage.[3][4]

Kapila is credited with authoring an influential sutra, called Samkhya-sutra (also called Kapila-sutra), which aphoristically presents the dualistic philosophy of Samkhya.[7][15] These sutras were explained in another well studied text of Hinduism called the Samkhyakarika.[12] Beyond the Samkhya theories, he appears in many dialogues of Hindu texts, such as in explaining and defending the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) in the Mahabharata.[2]

Hinduism

The name Kapila is used for many individuals in Hinduism, few of which may refer to the same person.[1]

In Vedic texts

The Rigveda X.27.16 – estimated to have been composed between 1500 and 1200 BCE[16][17] – mentions Kapila (daśānām ekam kapilam) which the 14th-century Vedic commentator Sayana thought refers to a sage; a view which Chakravarti in 1951 and Larson in 1987 consider unreliable, with Chakravarti suggesting that the word refers to one of the Maruts,[18] while Larson and Bhattacharya state kapilam in that verse means "tawny" or "reddish-brown";[19] as was also translated by Griffith.[note 1]

The Śata-piṭaka Series on the Śākhās of the Yajurveda – estimated to have been composed between 1200 and 1000 BCE[22] – mention of a Kapila Śākhā situated in the Āryāvarta, which implies a Yajurveda school was named after Kapila.[19] The term Kapileya, meaning "clans of Kapila", occurs in the Aitareya Brahmana VII.17 but provides no information on the original Kapila.[note 2] The pariśiṣṭa (addenda) of the Atharvaveda (at XI.III.3.4)[note 3] mentions Kapila, Āsuri and Pañcaśikha in connection with a libation ritual for whom tarpana is to be offered.[19] In verse 5.2 of Shvetashvatara Upanishad, states Larson, both the terms Samkhya and Kapila appear, with Kapila meaning color as well as a "seer" (Rishi) with the phrase "ṛṣiṃ prasūtaṃ kapilam ... tam agre.."; which when compared to other verses of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad Kapila likely construes to Rudra and Hiranyagarbha.[19] However, Max Muller is of view that Hiranyagarbha, namely Kapila in this context, varies with the tenor of the Upanishad, was distinct and was later used to link Kapila and assign the authorship of Sankya system to Hiranyagarbha in reverence for the philosophical system.[25]

In the Puranas

Kapila, states George Williams, lived long before the composition of the Epics and the Puranas, and his name was coopted in various later composed mythologies.[26]

In the Dharmasutras and other texts

Non-violence

Fearlessness to all living beings from my side,
Svāhā!

—Kapila, Baudhayana Grihya Sutra, 4.16.4[38]
Translators: Jan E. M. Houben, Karel Rijk van Kooij

Imagery in the Agamas

Kapila's imagery is depicted with a beard, seated in padmāsana with closed eyes indicating dhyāna, with a jaṭā-maṇḍala around the head, showing high shoulders indicating he was greatly adept in controlling breath, draped in dear skin, wearing the yagñopavīta, with a kamaṇḍalu near him, with one hand placed in front of the crossed legs, and feet marked with lines resembling outline of a lotus. This Kapila is identified with Kapila the founder of Sāṅkhya system;[43] while the Vaikhānasasāgama gives somewhat varying description. The Vaikhānasasāgama places Kapila as an āvaraņadēvāta and allocates the south-east corner of the first āvaraņa.[43] As the embodiment of the Vedas his image is seated facing east with eight arms; of which four on the right should be in abhaya mudra, the other three should carry the Chakra, Khaḍga, Hala; one left hand is to rest on the hip in the kațyavarlambita pose and other three should carry the Ṡaṅkha, Pāśa and Daṇḍa.[43]

Other descriptions

Jainism

Kapila is mentioned in chapter VIII of the Uttaradhyayana-sutra, states Larson and Bhattacharya, where a discourse of poetical verses is titled as Kaviliyam, or "Kapila's verses".[19]

The name Kapila appears in Jaina texts. For example, in the 12th century Hemacandra's epic poem on Jain elders, Kapila appears as a Brahmin who converted to Jainism during the Nanda Empire era.[11]

According to Jnatadharmakatha, Kapila was a contemporary of Krishna and the Vasudeva of Dhatakikhanda. The text further mentions that both of them blew their shankha (counch) together.[50]

Buddhism

Buddhists literature, such as the Jataka tales, state the Buddha was Kapila in one of his previous lives.[51][52][53]

Scholars have long compared and associated the teachings of Kapila and Buddha. For example, Max Muller wrote (abridged),

There are no doubt certain notions which Buddha shares in common, not only with Kapila, but with every Hindu philosopher. (...) It has been said that Buddha and Kapila were both atheists, and that Buddha borrowed his atheism from Kapila. But atheism is an indefinite term, and may mean very different things. In one sense, every Indian philosopher was an atheist, for they all perceived that the gods of the populace could not claim the attributes that belong to a Supreme Being (Absolute, the source of all that exists or seems to exist, Brahman). (...) Kapila, when accused of atheism, is not accused of denying the existence of an Absolute Being. He is accused of denying the existence of an Ishvara.

— Max Muller et al., Studies in Buddhism[8]

Max Muller states the link between the more ancient Kapila's teachings on Buddha can be overstated.[8] This confusion is easy, states Muller, because Kapila's first sutra in his classic Samkhya-sutra, "the complete cessation of pain, which is of three kings, is the highest aim of man", sounds like the natural inspiration for Buddha.[8] However, adds Muller, the teachings on how to achieve this, by Kapila and by Buddha, are very different.[8]

As Buddhist art often depicts Vedic deities, one can find art of both Narayana and Kapila as kings within a Buddhist temple, along with statues of Buddhist figures such as Amitabha, Maitreya, and Vairocana.[54]

In Chinese Buddhism, the Buddha directed the Yaksha Kapila and fifteen daughters of Devas to become the patrons of China.[55]

Works

The following works were authored by Kapila, some of which are lost, and known because they are mentioned in other works; while few others are unpublished manuscripts available in libraries stated:[1]

Ayurveda books mentioning Kapila's works are:

  1. Vagbhatta mentions Kapila's views in chapter 20 of Sutrasthana.
  2. Nischalakara mentions Kapila's views in his commentary on Chikitsa Sangraha.
  3. Kapila's views are quoted in Ayurvedadipika.
  4. The Kavindracharya list at 987 mentions a book named Kapila Siddhanta Rasayana.
  5. Hemadri quotes Kapila's views in Ashtangahradaya (16th verse) of the commentary Ayurveda Rasayana.
  6. Sarvadarsanasamgraha (Sarva-darśana-saṃgraha) mentions Kapila's views on Raseśvara school of philosophy.

Teachings

Kapila's Samkhya is taught in various Hindu texts:

Mahabharata

Bhagavata Purana

Recognition

Kapila, the founder of Samkhya, has been a highly revered sage in various schools of Hindu philosophy. Gaudapada (~500 CE), a Advaita Vedanta scholar, in his Bhasya called Kapila as one of the seven great sages along with Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Asuri, Vodhu and Pancasikha.[57] Vyasa, the Yoga scholar, in his Yogasutra-bhasya wrote Kapila to be the "primal wise man, or knower".[57]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ dashAnAmekaM kapilaM samAnaM taM hinvanti kratavepAryAya
    garbhaM mAtA sudhitaM vakSaNAsvavenantantuSayantI bibharti [20]
    Translated by Griffith as:
    One of the ten, the tawny, shared in common, they send to execute their final purpose.
    The Mother carries on her breast the Infant of noble form and soothes it while it knows not.[21]
  2. ↑ Quote from Chakravarti's work: These Kapileyas are the clans of Kapila, but who was the original Kapila, we cannot know; for the text does not supply us with any further data. In his article on the Śākhās of the Yajurveda, Dr. Raghuvira acquaints us with one Kapila Śākhā that was situated in the Āryāvarta. But we do not know anything else as regards the Kapila with whom the said branch was associated. Further in the khilas of the Rgveda, one Kapila is mentioned along with some other sages. But the account of all these Kapilas is very meagre and hence cannot be much estimated in discussing the attitude of Sāṃkhya Kapila towards the Vedas. Though the Sāṃkhya vehemently criticises the Vedic sacrifices, but thereby it does not totally set aside the validity of the Vedas. In that case it is sure to fall under the category of the nāstika philosophy and could not exercise so much influence upon the orthodox minds; for it is well known that most of the branches of orthodox literature are more or less replete with the praise of Samkhya".[23]
  3. ↑ The pariśiṣṭa to each Veda were composed after the Veda;[24] Atharvaveda itself estimated to have been composed by about 1000 BCE.[22]
  4. ↑ In Vedic texts, Asura refers to any spiritual or divine being.[38] Later, the meaning of Asura contrasts with Deva.[39]
  5. ↑ Baudhayana Dharma Sutra, Prasna II, Adhyaya 6, Kandika 11, Verses 1 to 34:
    14. A hermit is he who regulates his conduct entirely according to the Institutes proclaimed by Vikhanas.(...)
    28. With reference to this matter they quote also (the following passage): 'There was, forsooth, an Âsura, Kapila by name, the son of Prahlâda. Striving with the gods, he made these divisions. A wise man should not take heed of them.'[40]
  6. ↑ The Baudhayana Dharmasutra Prasna II, Adyaya 6, Kandiaka 11, Verses 26 to 34 dissuade the Vaikhanasas from sacrificial ritual works in the Vedas.[41]
  7. ↑ Quote from p. 49–51: Of course, the Panchatantrikas accorded a place of honour to Kapila who was designated muni and paramarishi, and even identified with Narayana. The original concept of Kapila, the asura exponent of one of the oldest systems of philosophy is, however, preserved in the present inscription. (...) The Rūpamaņḍana and Aparājittapŗichha accounts of the deity mention a female face instead of Kapila which has puzzled scholars. In this connection, it may be pointed out that in the Mahabharata, Pañcaśīkha the disciple of Āsuri has been called Kapileya. He was so named because he was fed on the breast-milk of a brahmana lady, Kapila. According to Chattopadhyaya, "We have to take the story of Kapila breast-feeding Panchasikha ina figurative sense and if we do so the myth might suggest the story of an original female preceptor of the Samkhya system."[42]
  8. ↑ Section LXV of the Sambhava Parva of the Mahabharat states: The daughters of Daksha are, O tiger among men and prince of the Bharata race, Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala, Danayu, Sinhika, Krodha, Pradha, Viswa, Vinata, Kapila, Muni, and Kadru ... The Brahmanas, kine, Gandharvas, and Apsaras, were born of Kapila as stated in the Purana.[48][49]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 D, Satyanarayana (2015). The Kapila Gita (From The Mahabharata, Shanti Chapter 268-270). Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati. Printed at T.T.D Press, Tirupati. pp. vii–xxviii.
  2. 1 2 3 Arti Dhand (2009). Woman as Fire, Woman as Sage. State University of New York Press. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-0-7914-7988-9.
  3. 1 2 3 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (1998). The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 731. ISBN 978-0-85229-633-2., Quote:"Kapila (fl. 550 BC), Vedic sage and founder of the system of Samkhya, one of the six schools of Vedic philosophy."
  4. 1 2 Guida Myrl Jackson-Laufer (1994). Traditional Epics: A Literary Companion. Oxford University Press. p. 321. ISBN 978-0-19-510276-5., Quote: "Kapila was a Vedic sage (ca. 550 B.C.) and founder of the Samkhya school of Vedic philosophy.";
    John Haldane; Krishna Dronamraju (2009). What I Require From Life. Oxford University Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-19-923770-8.
  5. 1 2 Kapila Encyclopedia Britannica (2014)
  6. 1 2 James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 350. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
  7. 1 2 Kapila (James Robert Ballantyne, Translator, 1865), The Sāmkhya aphorisms of Kapila at Google Books, pages 156–157
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Max Muller et al. (1999 Reprint), Studies in Buddhism, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-1226-4, pages 9–10
  9. ↑ W. Woodhill Rockhill (2000 Reprint), The Life of the Buddha and the Early History of His Order, Routledge, ISBN 978-1-136-37937-6, pages 11–19
  10. ↑ Knut A. Jacobsen (2013). Pilgrimage in the Hindu Tradition: Salvific Space. Routledge. pp. 114–115. ISBN 978-0-415-59038-9.
  11. 1 2 Hemacandra; R. C. C. Fynes (Translator) (1998). The Lives of the Jain Elders. Oxford University Press. pp. 144–146, Canto Seven, verses 1–19. ISBN 978-0-19-283227-6.
  12. 1 2 3 PT Raju (1985), Structural Depths of Indian Thought, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0-88706-139-4, page 304
  13. ↑ Burley, M. (2009). "Kapila: Founder of Samkhya and Avatara of Visnu (with a Translation of Kapilasurisamvada). By Knut A. Jacobsen.". The Journal of Hindu Studies. Oxford University Press. 2 (2): 244–246. doi:10.1093/jhs/hip013.
  14. ↑ A. L. Herman (1983). An Introduction to Buddhist Thought: A Philosophic History of Indian Buddhism. University Press of America. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-8191-3595-7.
  15. ↑ Max Muller et al. (1999 Reprint), Studies in Buddhism, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-1226-4, page 10 with footnote
  16. ↑ Flood 1996, p. 37.
  17. ↑ Witzel 1995, p. 4.
  18. ↑ Chakravarti, Pulinbihari (1951). Origin and Development of the Sāṃkhya System of Thought (PDF). Oriental Books Reprint Corporation: exclusively distributed by Munshinam Manoharlal Publishers. p. 6.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Larson, Gerald James; Potter, Karl H.; Bhattacharya, Ram Shankar (1987). The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies: Sāṃkhya, Volume 4 of The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Princeton University Press, (Reprint: Motilal Banarsidass). p. 109. ISBN 978-0-691-60441-1.
  20. ↑ http://www.intratext.com/ixt/san0010/__POI.HTM
  21. ↑ http://www.intratext.com/ixt/ENG0039/__PO0.HTM
  22. 1 2 Michael Witzel (2003), "Vedas and Upaniṣads", in The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism (Editor: Gavin Flood), Blackwell, ISBN 0-631-21535-2, pages 68–70
  23. ↑ Chakravarti, Pulinbihari (1951). Origin and Development of the Sāṃkhya System of Thought (PDF). Oriental Books Reprint Corporation: exclusively distributed by Munshinam Manoharlal Publishers. p. 7.
  24. ↑ Moriz Winternitz; V. Srinivasa Sarma (1996). A History of Indian Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 261–262. ISBN 978-81-208-0264-3.
  25. ↑ Müller, F.Max (2012). The Upanishads, Part 2. Courier Corporation. p. xxxviii-xli. ISBN 0-486-15711-3.
  26. ↑ George M. Williams (2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Oxford University Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.
  27. ↑ Söhnen-Thieme, Renate; Söhnen, Renate; Schreiner,Peter (1989). Brahmapurāṇa, Volume 2 of Purāṇa research publications, Tübingen. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 9–10. ISBN 3-447-02960-9.
  28. ↑ Söhnen-Thieme, Renate; Söhnen, Renate; Schreiner,Peter (1989). Brahmapurāṇa, Volume 2 of Purāṇa research publications, Tübingen. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 234–235. ISBN 3-447-02960-9.
  29. ↑ Söhnen-Thieme, Renate; Söhnen, Renate; Schreiner,Peter (1989). Brahmapurāṇa, Volume 2 of Purāṇa research publications, Tübingen. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 22, 141–142. ISBN 3-447-02960-9.
  30. ↑ Jacobsen, Knut A. (2008). Kapila, Founder of Sāṃkhya and Avatāra of Viṣṇu: With a Translation of Kapilāsurisaṃvāda. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Limited. pp. 9–25. ISBN 81-215-1194-1.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Sheridan, Daniel (1986). The Advaitic Theism of the Bhagavata Purana. Columbia, Mo: South Asia Books. pp. 42–43. ISBN 81-208-0179-2.
  32. ↑ Sen, Gunada Charan (1986). Srimadbhagavatam: A Concise Narrative. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 26–28. ISBN 81-215-0036-2.
  33. ↑ Wilson, H.H (1961). The Vishnu Purana. Рипол Классик. p. 108. ISBN 5-87618-744-5.
  34. ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2014). Hindusim--An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin, UK. ISBN 81-8475-277-6.
  35. 1 2 3 http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp112.htm
  36. 1 2 Daniélou, Alan (1991). The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. p. 183. ISBN 0-89281-354-7.
  37. ↑ Sarmah, Taneswar (1991). Bharadvājas in Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 61. ISBN 81-208-0639-5.
  38. 1 2 3 Jan E. M. Houben; Karel Rijk van Kooij (1999). Violence Denied: Violence, Non-Violence and the Rationalization of Violence in South Asian Cultural History. BRILL. pp. 131–132, 143. ISBN 90-04-11344-4.
  39. ↑ Jeaneane D Fowler (2012), The Bhagavad Gita, Sussex Academic Press, ISBN 978-1-84519-346-1, pages 253–262
  40. ↑ Georg Bühler (1898). "The sacred laws of the Aryas : as taught in the schools of Apastamba, Gautama, Vasishtha and Baudhayana". Internet Archive. The Christian Literature Company. pp. 256–262 (verses II.6.11.1–34). Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  41. 1 2 Georg Bühler (1898). "The sacred laws of the Aryas : as taught in the schools of Apastamba, Gautama, Vasishtha and Baudhayana". Internet Archive. The Christian Literature Company. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  42. ↑ Chaturvedi, S.N. (1985). "The Vaikuṇtha image and the Khajurāho inscription of Yaśovarmmadeva". Journal of the Indian Society of Oriental Art, Volume 14, p. 49–51. Indian Society of Oriental Art.
  43. 1 2 3 4 T.A.Gopinatha, Rao (1993). Elements of Hindu iconography. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 247–248. ISBN 81-208-0878-9.
  44. ↑ Ānandavardhana; Ingalls, Daniel Henry Holmes (1990). Locana: Volume 49 of The Dhvanyāloka of Ānandavardhana with the Locana of Abhinavagupta. Harvard University Press. p. 694. ISBN 0-674-20278-3.
  45. ↑ Malla, Bansi Lal (1996). Vaiṣṇava Art and Iconography of Kashmir. Abhinav Publications. p. 20. ISBN 81-7017-305-1.
  46. ↑ Misra, Ram Nath (1981). Yaksha cult and iconography. Munshiram Manoharlal. pp. 6, 22.
  47. ↑ Dikshitar, V.R.Ramachandra (1995). The Purana Index: Volume I (from A to N). Motilal Banarsidass. p. 314.
  48. 1 2 http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01066.htm
  49. ↑ http://eremita.di.uminho.pt/gutenberg/1/5/4/7/15474/15474-h/15474-h.htm
  50. ↑ von Glasenapp 1999, p. 287.
  51. ↑ Āryaśūra; Justin Meiland (Translator) (2009). Garland of the Buddha's Past Lives. New York University Press. pp. 172, 354. ISBN 978-0-8147-9581-1.
  52. ↑ Aiyangar Narayan. Essays On Indo-Aryan Mythology. Asian Educational Services. p. 472. ISBN 978-81-206-0140-6.
  53. ↑ JF Fleet (1906). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press. p. 164.
  54. ↑ P. 269 Introduction to Buddhist art By Chikyō Yamamoto
  55. ↑ Edkins, Joseph (2013). Chinese Buddhism: A Volume of Sketches, Historical, Descriptive and Critical. Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 1-136-37881-2.
  56. ↑ Bhishma said ... (The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 12: Santi Parva: Part III, Section CCCII.
  57. 1 2 Larson, Gerald James; Potter, Karl H.; Bhattacharya, Ram Shankar (1987). The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies: Sāṃkhya, Volume 4 of The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Princeton University Press, (Reprint: Motilal Banarsidass). p. 108. ISBN 978-0-691-60441-1.

Sources

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