Talk:Prakṛti

Clarity of text needed in first paragraph
This article is about "Prakrti", The first paragraph explains the basic idea of prakrti and then goes on to describe tree fundemental aspects of prakrti. Creative, sustaining, and destructive. The second to last sentence pertains to the Destructive aspect known as tamas. The sentence which immediately follows this description of tamas is the last sentance of the first paragraph and reads "It is closely associated with the concept of Maya within Vedic scripture." In this sentance does "IT" refer to prakriti or to tamas? "IT in this sentance should be replaced either with "prakriti" or "tamas" as the subject is unclear, and the conflict of subject suggests two very different ideas.

In the article Maya(illusion) "maya" is found equivalent with prakrti under the section "Understanding Maya through Bhagavad Gita verses" Therefore, wikipedia atleast seems to assert that this last sentance should read "Prakrti is closely associated with the concept of maya..."


 * I changed it to Prakriti, thanks.--Kbob (talk) 11:28, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

Removing OR, revising content and adding references
This article contains what appears to be original research, WP:OR, so I am making corrections and adding references. Help and feedback from other editors is appreciated. --Kbob (talk) 21:09, 22 April 2009 (UTC)

I too have added references. In addition, I find that the article lacks details and is a bit scattered at times, so I am in the process of expanding some definitions (for instance satva, rajas, and tamas), and I will try to create a clearer connection between Prakriti and Mulaprakriti, which is lacking.

I realize however, that there already are articles on the three gunas; therefore, if other editors feel that my expansion would be more appropriately put in those articles, they should feel free to let me know. I would also appreciate any other kind of input, I am fairly new at this. Luke Warmater101 (talk) 23:46, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

Prakriti in Ayurveda
Prakruti / prakriri is an important concept in Ayurveda. I dont know what will be better option here. Should we create a seperate article naming prakruti (Ayurveda), should we create a different section here in this article? Should we give the information about that in the article of Ayurved itself?

In my opinion, the article is going to expand in future as the material available is vast so I would suggest to give a dedicated page for this concept. Thanks. --Abhijeet Safai (talk) 05:38, 4 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Separate article is better. There are very good sources. This Prakriti and the usage of Prakriti in Ayurveda are different. G (talk) 12:01, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

The meaning of Prakriti
The term Prakriti refers to what is observable (vyakta). Prakriti is ‘the world’, but not the outside world, but the world of mental impressions, i.e., the content of consciousness. The Sanskrit terms vyakta and avyakta denote the two aspects of the world: conscious and unconscious. In order words, vyakta is the visible aspect of the world and avyakta the invisible aspect of the world ― its dynamic ground, Pradhana. The world simply is what is observed by consciousness. In the Samkhya philosophical system it is defined as the total of (i) sense impression of one’s actions (Kamendriyani), (ii) sense impressions other than of one’s actions (Buddhindriyani), (iii) memory impressions/thoughts (Manas) and (iv) temporary gross impressions (Bhutani) ― 16 in total. It is interesting to note that the meaning of the expression vyaktavyaktajna in Karika II, which means ‘visible, invisible, knower’ could be identical to the meaning of the expression ksetrajna, which means ‘field, knower’. If so, then vyaktavyakta, meaning ‘visible and invisible’, would be equivalent to ksetra, meaning ‘field’. Both terms would then be descriptive terms for the total of Prakriti and Pradhana, i.e., for ‘world’ and ‘underworld’. (For more info re this perspective see Jens Lauschke (2023). Samkhya Yoga: An Interpretation of Iswara Krishna's Samkhya Karika. Taxila Publications. ISBN: 9783948459604). 185.162.223.23 (talk) 19:07, 14 June 2023 (UTC)