Kāpila Purāṇa

The Kāpila Purāṇa is one of the eighteen minor Purāṇas, attributed to the sage Kāpila, the legendary founder of the Sāṃkhya philosophical system.

Overview

The text narrates the teachings of Kāpila on the nature of reality, the distinction between puruṣa (spirit) and prakṛti (matter), and the path to liberation through knowledge (jñāna). It contains approximately 12,000 verses and preserves important Sāṃkhya philosophical material in a Purāṇic setting.

Content and Structure

The Kāpila Purāṇa presents the Sāṃkhya cosmology of twenty-five tattvas (principles of reality), the analysis of the three guṇas (qualities of nature), and the process of liberation through the discrimination between spirit and matter. It also includes sections on the worship of Vishnu and descriptions of sacred sites, particularly in South India.

Significance

The text is significant for its preservation of early Sāṃkhya philosophy in a devotional context, making the analytical philosophy of Sāṃkhya accessible through the Purāṇic narrative form. It demonstrates the integration of philosophical and devotional approaches in Hindu tradition.

Verification Notes

• Classified as an Upa-purāṇa (minor Purāṇa).
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).