Exploring the Sāṅkhya Proofs for Puruṣa’s Existence: A Philosophical and Critical Analysis
International Scientific Journal of Engineering and Management February 26, 2026 Naresh Kumar Behera
Sāṅkhya philosophy explains reality through metaphysical dualism, distinguishing Puruṣa (pure consciousness) from Prakṛti (the unconscious material substrate). This paper analytically evaluates the five philosophical reasons (pañca-hetavaḥ) from Īśvarakṛṣṇa’s Sāṅkhya Kārikā that substantiate Puruṣa's existence. It scrutinizes their logical structure, philosophical underpinnings, and metaphysical implications, situates them within Indian epistemology, compares them with Buddhism and Advaita Vedānta, and discusses their relevance to modern debates on consciousness and the mind-body problem.