Evolution of Prakriti

According to the Vedanta, the process of evolution of prakriti into various modifications is initiated by the will of Isvara or God who is immanent as controller in all the entities, of the universe, including prakriti and its evolutes. This theory is advanced on the authority of the teachings of the Upanishad. The view of the Sankhyas that prakriti evolves itself without the aid of Isvara is rejected on the ground that what is non-sentient cannot undergo modifications in an orderly way and also at any particular point of time on its own accord. The presence of purusa, the eternal self, which is the only other reality accepted by the Sankhyas is not considered sufficient to cause evolution because purusa in that system is present eternally.

The Naiyayikas, as true logicians try to trace the origin of the universe to the paramanus, the atoms which are eternal, partless, infinitesimal and supra-sensible reals. Even this theory is rejected by the Vedanta as untenable because of the impossibility of the combination of the absolutely partless atoms to form an aggregate for purposes of evolution into a physical entity. Hence, the Vedanta accepts prakriti as the primordial cosmic source for the physical universe, as the Sankhyas believe, with one modification, viz. that the process of evolution is initiated by God`s will.

The very first evolute is known as mahat and from the latter arises the evolute called aharhkara. These two do not refer to the psychic entities, intellect (buddhi) and ego of an individual. On the other hand, they are technical terms used for the two ontological tattvas or evolutes of prakriti which represent the two important stages of evolution. Both mahat and ahamkara, being products of prakriti, consist of the three gunas- sattva, rajas and tamas. The ahamkara tattva assumes three forms on the basis of the three gunas. These are the sattvika ahamkara, rajasa ahamkara and tamasa ahariikara. From this stage the process of further evolution takes place on two different lines. From the sattvika ahamkara in which sattva element is predominant, the eleven sense organs including manas or mind evolve. From the tamasa ahamkara evolve the five tanmatras or the subtle elements. These are sabda or sound, sparsa or touch, rupa or colour, rasa or taste and gandha or odour, in a successive order. From each of these subtle elements come the gross elements- akdsa or space, vayu or air, tejas or fire, jala or water and prithvi or earth.

There is some difference of opinion between the Sankhya and the Visistadvaita regarding the order of evolution from ahamkara tattva. The Puranas also present them in a slightly different manner. But these details are not of philosophic significance. What requires to be taken note of is that the total number of evolutes including prakriti is generally accepted to be twenty-four and that the five gross elements, which are undeniable facts, have their origin in the prakriti.