“ सृज्यते इति सृष्टि ” ।
Shristi means that is evolved or produced.
The description of creation and scenario before creation is available in veda.
“नासादासीन्नो सदासीत्तदानीनासीद्रजो नोव्योमापरोयत् ।
किमावरीव: कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भ: किमासीद्वहनं गंभीरम्।।
न मृत्युरासीदमृतं न तर्हि न रात्र्या अह्न आसीत्प्रकेतः।
आनीदवातं स्वधया तदेकं तस्माद्धान्यन्न परः किं चनास।।
-ऋग्वेद 10/129
Major contribution of shristi varanana is made by sankhya and vaishesika darshan. The vaishesika Darshana explained the cause of creation as parmanu samyoga.
Tattva Nirupana :-
The word Tattva is derived from “तनु विस्तारे” dhatu.
It means “From which the creation is formed , It’s nature and it’s real form”.
| Shristi utpatti as per | No. of Tattva considered |
| Acharya Charaka | 24 (चतुर्विंशति तत्त्वात्मक सृष्टि) |
| Acharya Sushruta | 25 (पञ्चविंशति तत्त्वात्मक सृष्टि) |
| Yoga Darshana | 26 (षड्विंशति तत्त्वात्मक सृष्टि) |
| Sankhya Darshan | 25 (पञ्चविंशति तत्त्वात्मक सृष्टि) |
- Charaka mentioned no differentiation of prakriti and purush hence as per him 24 tattvas but Sankhya Darshan and Sushruta considered mula prakriti and purusha as different tattva.
- Yoga Darshan explained shristi karta Ishwar as 26th tattva for creation.
Different Stages of Sristi Utpatti :-
1.Avyakta :
‘पंग्वन्धवदुभयोरपि संयोगस्तत्कृत: सर्ग:’।
(सा० का०-21)
- Avyakta awastha is the equilibrium stage of sattva , raja and tama.
- Avyakta awastha consist of prakriti and purusha in separate stage and prakriti and purush together cause the creation.
- After prakriti purusha samyoga variation occur.
Avyakta means unmanifested. The avyakta principle is the unmanifested form of pure existence. The origin of Universe is from avyakta. There are 2 main components
I) Prakriti
‘प्रकरोतीति प्रकृति:’।
- Cause for production but not produced from any thing.Hence it is called Aakaran.
- Prakruti is the creative, primordial and active form that plays the main role in the creation of the Universe.
II) Purusha
‘सर्वभूतानां कारणमकारणं’।
- Purusha is absolute, pure consciousness. It is a potential energy.
- Purusha does not take an active part in the creation. Purusha is the observer. It is only a witness to the creation.
- Mahat
यतेतद् विसृतं बीजं प्रधान पुरूषातमकम्।
महत्तत्वमिति प्रोक्तं बुद्धितत्त्वमिहोच्यते।।
(सा० का०-3/27)
- This is the first primordial matter developed from Prakruti and Purusha.
- The trigunatmak avyakta gives birth to trigunatmak mahat.
- Adhyavsay is known as mahat or buddhi.
- Buddhi consist of all trigunas but not in equilibrium stage as avyakt.
- It has self- awareness but no differentiation.
*As per sankhya philoshophy it is the first vyakta tattva .
- Ahankar
‘अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्त्ताSहमिति मन्यते’।
(भग० गी०- 3/27)
- When mahad attains ego , it gives rise to ahankar.
- Ahankar is associated with separation and differentiation.
- Ahankar is all about focusing on ‘I’.
“स च त्रिविधो वैकारिकस्तेजसो भूतादिरिति”।
(सु० शा०-1/4)
- The trividha ahankar are vaikarika (satvik), tejas (rajsik), and bhutadi (tamsik). Maha Gunas
- From the Ahankara, consciousness get divided into 3 different qualities these are also called as maha gunas.
Satva: Satva is the energy of the cognition. It’s the path of light and knowledge. It is clear.
Raja: Raja is the active form of energy. Raja guna is the movement of precipitants, the time force that moves satva & raja.
Tamas: It is the material matter. Tamas is related with darkness and inertia.
- From tamo guna and rajas guna, 5 great elements (पञ्चमहाभूत) and 5 tanmatras (पञ्चतन्मात्रा) are developed.
4.Indriya
‘तत्र वैकारिकादहङ्कारात्तैजससहाय्यात् ।
तल्लक्षणान्येवैकादशेन्द्रियाण्युत्पद्यन्ते।।’
(सु० शा०-1/4)
- By the combination of satva guna and rajas guna, 5 sensory organs(पञ्चज्ञानेन्द्रिय), 5 motor organs(पञ्चकर्मे न्द्रिय) and mind, ( एकादश इन्द्रिय) are developed.
* पञ्चज्ञानेन्द्रिय
- Chakshurendriya – we see the external world through eye.
- Shravanenedriya – we hear sounds from the outside world with help of ear
- Ghranenedriya – nose is the organ of smell
- Rasanendriya – we perceive sensation of taste with tongue
- Sparshanendriya – sensation of touch is mediated by skin
* पञ्चकर्मे न्द्रिय
- Vak – we talk with our mouth
- Pani – we use hands to perform different activities
- Pada – we use legs for walking
- Upastha – these are the genital organs
- Guda – for excretion of waste products
*उभयेन्द्रिय
Manas is called ubhayendriya.
‘मन्यतेSवबुधयते ज्ञायते इति मनः’।
Mind is an entity that has different qualities and performs myriad of functions. It is a tool for sensory as well as motor organs and hence is referred to as the eleventh indriya. Mind is very important in the process of gaining knowledge.
- पञ्चतन्मात्रा
‘भूतादेरपि तैजससहायात् तल्लक्षणान्येव पञ्चतन्मात्रा युतपद्यन्ते’।
(सुoशाo 1/4)
- From tamo guna and rajas guna, 5 tanmatras (पञ्चतन्मात्रा) are developed.
-शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपश्च रसो गन्धश्च पञ्चतन्मात्राः इतिः।
- 5 Tanmatras (पञ्चतन्मात्रा) are :
- Shabd
- Sparsha
- Rupa
- Rasa
- Gandha
6.पञ्चमहाभूत
महाभूतानि खं वायुरग्निरापः क्षितिस्तथा।
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपश्च रसो गन्धश्च तदगुणाः।।
Panchtanmatra gives origin to panchmahabhuta.
These are as follows:
- Akash Mahabhuta
- Vayu Mahabhuta
- Teja Mahabhuta
- Jala Mahabhuta
- Prithvi Mahabhuta
