Mysore Yoga Traditions Online Studies Program - Sankhya Karika

Sankhya Karika

Learn the theoretical foundations of yoga. Take a journey into the essence of Indian thought.

Welcome to the study of Sankhya Karika, one of India's oldest and most influential philosophical systems, attributed to the sage Kapila and systematized by Ishvara Krishna. Sankhya philosophy provides profound insights into the nature of existence, consciousness, and liberation, offering a logical and structured approach to understanding the fundamental realities of life.

Throughout this course, you will explore the essential concepts of Sankhya, including the duality of Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (pure consciousness), the role of the three Gunas (qualities), and the intricate process through which the soul experiences bondage and achieves liberation. You will learn how correct knowledge distinguishes between the ever-changing material world and the unchanging observer consciousness, enabling liberation from suffering and illusion.

Key topics covered in this course will include:

The historical context and foundational principles of Sankhya philosophy.
Understanding the nature of suffering and the strategies proposed by Sankhya to transcend it.
The interplay of Prakriti and Purusha, and how misidentification leads to bondage.
The detailed categorization of human experience, cognition, and perception as laid out in the Sankhya Karika.
Practical implications of Sankhya principles for cultivating detachment, wisdom, and inner freedom.
The concept of the Jivanmukta, the liberated soul who remains engaged in the world out of compassion.

As you delve into the teachings of Sankhya Karika, you will gain valuable tools for intellectual clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual growth. This course is designed to provide you with the discriminative wisdom necessary to navigate life's complexities with greater peace, purpose, and understanding. Whether you are new to Indian philosophy or seeking to deepen your knowledge, the study of Sankhya Karika promises profound insights into the timeless quest for true freedom.

This timeless wisdom is yours to study at your own pace. The Course Includes -

Audio files
Written summaries of each lesson
a downloadable copy of the original Katha Upanishad Text
11 Hours of Video classes with one of India’s most respected scholars

$108 Join the Course!

Our Online Studies Courses are registered with Yoga Alliance.

ABOUT DR. H. V. NAGARAJ RAO

Vidwan H.V. Nagaraja Rao is a great scholar of Sanskrit grammar who has been trained in both traditional and modern methods of education. His specialty is Sanskrit grammar and poetics. In his early years, he was a researcher at the Oriental Research Institute in Mysore and has published many original Sanskrit works with English and Kannada translations. Dr. Rao has also lectured in many countries around the world, including Thailand, Hong Kong, the United States, Israel, and England. He has taught Sanskrit at the University of Chicago as a visiting professor and was invited as a fellow to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Rao guided the World Sanskrit Conference in Edinburgh, England, in 2006, where he delivered a speech in chaste Sanskrit. Dr. Rao was awarded honors for his translations by the Sahitya Academy, the highest literary body in India, in 2006. Recently, he was chosen for honor by the President of India as a noted Sanskrit scholar. He is the honorary editor of Sudharma, the only Sanskrit daily newspaper in the world. With his razor-sharp wit, at the age of 80, Dr. Rao continues his lifelong passion for teaching and sharing ancient Indian knowledge systems with people from around the world.

Professor Rao has an uncanny ability to shed new light on texts such as the Gita and the Upanishads with his infectious passion and his ability to communicate in English, which is rare among Sanskrit scholars of his stature. Students leave his presentations with a feeling of liberation from the mundane and inspiration to strive for higher goals in life.