साङ्ख्यदर्शनस्य वैशिष्ट्यम्

Summary

This Sanskrit paper explores what distinguishes the Sāṃkhya system from other schools of Indian philosophy. After briefly outlining the historical origins of Sāṃkhya, the author enumerates its distinctive features: the dualistic ontology that posits independent principles of puruṣa (consciousness) and prakṛti (primordial matter); the doctrine of twenty‑five tattvas or categories; and the account of cosmic evolution driven by the interaction of the three guṇas (sattva, rajas and tamas). The article contrasts Sāṃkhya’s theory of causation (satkāryavāda) with the creationism of Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika and the illusionism of Advaita Vedānta, arguing that Sāṃkhya offers a rational explanation of the universe without invoking a creator god. Attention is also given to Sāṃkhya’s soteriology: liberation is achieved through discriminative knowledge (viveka) that realises the difference between puruṣa and prakṛti, leading to the cessation of suffering. By highlighting these features and comparing them with neighbouring systems, the paper underscores the philosophical richness of Sāṃkhya and its influence on later traditions such as Yoga and Buddhism.