Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.4

v2.c44.4

Kapila the originator of the *Sāmkhya* philosophy proposed that *tanmātras* or infra-atomic entities, derived from the conscious principle, gave rise to *aṇus* or atoms and five kinds of grosser elements or *bhūtas* : space or ether (*ākāśa*), air (*vāyu*), fire (*tejas*), water (*ap*) and earth (*kṣiti*). Patañjali of the second century BC perfected the *Sāmkhya* system of philosophy. According to this philosophy, the *prakṛti* or nature is an equilibrium of three principles: *sattva*, the essence or intelligence stuff, *rajas* the energy stuff and *tamas*, the inertia or the matter stuff.