The Meaning of Prakti in the Yogasutra and Vyāsabhāya

Author: Jacobsen, Knut

Source: Asian Philosophy, Volume 17, Number 1, March 2007 , pp. 1-16(16)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

It is a common mistake, especially, perhaps, among students of the religions and philosophies of India, to assume that the word prakti, best known as the ultimate material principle in the Sākhya and Yoga systems of religious thought, the material cause of the world in Hindu theologies and, as such, an epithet of the goddesses in Hinduism, always refers to an ultimate principle. Even in Sākhya and Yoga texts the word prakti is used in various ways. Prakti does not always refer to the ultimate principle. Translators often leave the word prakti untranslated and mislead the reader to assume that the ultimate principle is referred to, when it is not. This article discusses the use of prakti in the Sākhya-Yoga texts the Yogasutra and the Vyāsabhāya and criticises some translation practices.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/09552360701201056

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