Home›Sources›Classical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and MeaningSourcesClassical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and MeaningCitation FormatsGeneral ReferenceGeneral Reference Citation TextDivinity Atlas. "Classical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and Meaning." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/classical-samkhya-an-interpretation-of-its-history-and-meaning.Copy General ReferenceAPA StyleAPA Style Citation TextDivinity Atlas. (n.d.). Classical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and Meaning. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/classical-samkhya-an-interpretation-of-its-history-and-meaningCopy APA StyleBibTeXBibTeX Citation Text@misc{divinityatlas-classical-samkhya-an-interpretation-of-i, author = {Divinity Atlas}, title = {Classical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and Meaning}, year = {2026}, url = {https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/classical-samkhya-an-interpretation-of-its-history-and-meaning}, note = {Accessed August 30, 2026} }Copy BibTeXGerald Larson's study includes the primary text and translation of Ishvarakrishna's Samkhyakarika alongside his own interpretive history of classical Samkhya, giving direct access to the source text this atlas's claims about the gunas and the tattvas ultimately rest on. This atlas states honestly why the source was added: the corpus held no dedicated Samkhya source at all before this record was created, despite Samkhya categories appearing elsewhere in Hindu philosophy citations. This record has not independently traced further scholarly disagreement with Larson's specific interpretation since 1979. Use it for the textual history and content of classical Samkhya philosophy, including the gunas and tattvas as the Samkhyakarika presents them.FactsCross-Tradition ConnectionsClaims Backed By This Source (428 claims)Comments (0)Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)FactsCitationAuthorWell-attestedGerald James LarsonPublisherWell-attestedMotilal BanarsidassPublication YearWell-attested1979URLWell-attestedhttps://archive.org/details/classicalsamkhyasankhyageraldjameslarsonmlbdseeotherbooks_202003_33_ySource TypeWell-attestedacademic monographAssessmentReliability TierWell-attested1A scholarly study including the primary text and translation of Ishvarakrishna's Samkhyakarika alongside an interpretive history of classical Samkhya, from an academic press.NotesWell-attestedThe standard study of classical Samkhya, with the text and translation of Ishvarakrishna's Samkhyakarika. Added because the corpus held no Samkhya source, and the gunas and the tattvas are Samkhya doctrine.Cross-Tradition ConnectionsAssociated WithSamkhya, Denominations Well-attested This source names Samkhya directly: "and translation of Ishvarakrishna's Samkhyakarika alongside his own interpretive history of classical Samkhya, giving direct access to the source text this atlas's claims about the gunas and the..."Source Classical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and MeaningGerald James Larsontier 1Claims Backed By This Source (428 claims)This source backs 428 claims across the atlas. As facts: 257 well-attested. As cited relationships: 84 holds, 23 connected, 1 critiqued Here, 1 held Differently. Plus 62 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.Disposition By TopicTattvas, 255 claims: 148 well-attested, 62 holds, 20 connected, 25 general references.Articles, 83 claims: 57 well-attested, 3 connected, 23 general references.Gunas, 33 claims: 27 well-attested, 3 holds, 3 general references.Denominations, 14 claims: 1 well-attested, 10 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 1 held Differently, 1 general references.Beliefs & Restrictions, 11 claims: 8 well-attested, 3 general references.Doctrines, 9 claims: 1 well-attested, 4 holds, 4 general references.Scriptures & Texts, 9 claims: 6 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.Metaphysical Positions, 3 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.Religions, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.Well-attested257ArticlesA Dualism the Gita Absorbs into DevotionAhamkara: The Tattva That Makes Everything PersonalAkasha, the Ether TattvaApas, the Water TattvaChakshu: Sight as Contact, Not ReceptionConsciousness That Only WatchesFrom Samkhya's Metaphysics to Yoga's DisciplineGandha: The Densest of the TanmatrasGhrana: Smell, the Last and Grossest SenseMahat: The First Thing Prakriti BecomesManas: The Mind That Coordinates the SensesPada: Locomotion Counted as Its Own TattvaPani: The Hands as a Tattva in Their Own RightPayu: An Unglamorous Function, Counted All the SamePrakriti: The Root That Becomes Everything ElsePrithvi, the Earth TattvaPurusha: The One Tattva That Never EvolvesRajas, the Guna of Activity and PassionRasa: A Principle Behind Every FlavourRasana: Taste as Its Own Principle of RealityRupa: Form and Colour Before Anything SeesSamkhya's Parallel Claim, Reached by a Different MetaphysicsSattva, the Guna of Purity and BalanceSeventy Two Verses, Twenty Five PrinciplesShabda: Sound Before Anything Hears ItShrotra: The Organ Tuned to Sound AloneSparsha: The Subtle Element of TouchTamas, the Guna of Inertia and DarknessTejas, the Fire TattvaThe Text That Outlived the Rival Works It Refers ToTvak: The Whole Skin as an Organ of KnowledgeTwo Principles Leave No Room for a CreatorUpastha: Generation as a Principle of RealityVak: Speech as Action, Not PerceptionVayu, the Air TattvaBeliefs & RestrictionsPurusha and Prakriti: Consciousness and Nature Are Two Irreducible PrinciplesThe System Requires No Creator GodDenominationsSamkhyaDoctrinesSakshiGunasRajasSattvaTamasMetaphysical PositionsPurusha and Prakriti DualismScriptures & TextsSamkhya KarikaSourcesClassical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and MeaningTattvasAhamkaraAirChakshuEarthEtherShowing 1 to 50 of 70 entities carrying this claim. NextHolds84DenominationsSamkhyaDoctrinesPrakritiPurushaSakshiThe Three GunasGunasRajasSattvaTamasMetaphysical PositionsPurusha and Prakriti DualismReligionsHinduismScriptures & TextsSamkhya KarikaSourcesClassical Samkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and MeaningTattvasAhamkaraAirChakshuEarthEtherFireGandhaGhranaMahatManasPadaPaniPayuPrakritiPurushaRasaRasanaRupaShabdaShrotraSparshaTvakUpasthaVakWaterConnected23ArticlesFrom Samkhya's Metaphysics to Yoga's DisciplineSamkhya's Parallel Claim, Reached by a Different MetaphysicsTwo Principles Leave No Room for a CreatorTattvasAhamkaraChakshuGandhaGhranaMahatManasPadaPaniPayuPrakritiPurushaRasaRasanaRupaShabdaShrotraSparshaTvakUpasthaVakCritiqued Here1DenominationsSamkhyaHeld Differently1DenominationsSamkhyaGeneral References62ArticlesAhamkara: The Tattva That Makes Everything PersonalChakshu: Sight as Contact, Not ReceptionFrom Samkhya's Metaphysics to Yoga's DisciplineGandha: The Densest of the TanmatrasGhrana: Smell, the Last and Grossest SenseMahat: The First Thing Prakriti BecomesManas: The Mind That Coordinates the SensesPada: Locomotion Counted as Its Own TattvaPani: The Hands as a Tattva in Their Own RightPayu: An Unglamorous Function, Counted All the SamePrakriti: The Root That Becomes Everything ElsePurusha: The One Tattva That Never EvolvesRasa: A Principle Behind Every FlavourRasana: Taste as Its Own Principle of RealityRupa: Form and Colour Before Anything SeesSamkhya's Parallel Claim, Reached by a Different MetaphysicsShabda: Sound Before Anything Hears ItShrotra: The Organ Tuned to Sound AloneSparsha: The Subtle Element of TouchTvak: The Whole Skin as an Organ of KnowledgeTwo Principles Leave No Room for a CreatorUpastha: Generation as a Principle of RealityVak: Speech as Action, Not PerceptionBeliefs & RestrictionsLiberation Comes Through Knowledge Rather Than Works or DevotionPurusha and Prakriti: Consciousness and Nature Are Two Irreducible PrinciplesThe System Requires No Creator GodDenominationsSamkhyaDoctrinesPrakritiPurushaSakshiThe Three GunasGunasRajasSattvaTamasMetaphysical PositionsPurusha and Prakriti DualismReligionsHinduismScriptures & TextsSamkhya KarikaTattvasAhamkaraAirChakshuEarthEtherFireGandhaGhranaMahatManasPadaPaniPayuShowing 1 to 50 of 62 entities carrying this claim. 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