Krishna perhaps the most well known figure of Hinduism and the author of one of the greatest works in the history of the word – The Bhagagavad Gita. His life itself, as recounted in the Bhagavata Purana, is the most sweet and wonderful leela (play) of the cosmic divine energy on planet earth.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is presented with a very difficult situation where the hero of the Mahabharatha – Arjuna – refuses to fight the enemy and wants to surrender. He uses all the teachings of the Vedic Rishis in the most perverted way to support his weakness and fear.  At this moment of crisis, the first arrow that Krishna pulls out of his quiver, figuratively speaking, is the Sankhya Philosophy of Kapila. The fundamental truths of the universe and the self.

After this Krishna goes on to integrate 18 of the major philosophies of his time into the Gita into one coherent presentation of the Science of Yoga – Union with the divine.  But the basis of all the yogas he presents is Sankhya. Just as his predecessors Sadashiva and Kapila, and his successor Shankara, Krishna unites all of Hinduism into one coherent whole. That is indeed the job of incarnations on the planet earth.

Krishna and his brother went to school in Ujjain – which was the major center of learning of the Mahanirvani Akhada. After  Haridwar and Prayag, the Akhada has spread much around the country and by the time of Krishna Ujjain was one of the most important centers. It was here that Krishna learnt in the Ashram of Sage Sandipini.

सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनि: – Siddhanaam Kapilo Muni – “Of perfect complete beings, I am Kapila!”  he says in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 10, Verse 26, showing his deep admiration and gratitude to his lineage.

Kapila’s Samkhya is also described through Krishna to Uddhava in Book 11 of the Bhagavata Purana, a passage also known as the “Uddhava Gita”.

Kapila (5th) and Krishna (22nd) and Buddha (23rd) are all considered among the 24 incarnations of Sri Vishnu in the Bhagavatha Purana.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here