The Secret Behind Everything: Prakriti
- Dheepam
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
What is Prakriti?
The word Prakriti (प्रकृति) means "nature" or "that which is original."
In Sankhya philosophy, Prakriti is the primordial source of the entire universe, not just plants, trees, and animals, but everything:
So when we say Prakriti, we’re talking about all of creation, in its most basic and raw form.
Prakriti Initially Exists in an Unmanifest State
Before anything appeared, before the stars, the Earth, or even light and sound, there was only stillness.
No movement, no shape, no names. Just a deep, silent balance.
That stillness is Prakriti in her unmanifest form. She holds everything but hasn’t expressed anything yet. Like a seed before it becomes a tree, everything is hidden inside, but nothing has begun.
Creation begins when that balance is disturbed.
Prakriti is Made of 3 Gunas
Everything in nature is made up of a mix of three gunas (qualities):
These three are always interacting and competing, and that’s what gives rise to form, change, and life.
The entire universe, from galaxies to emotions, is shaped by the play of these three gunas.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Prakriti stays still… until Purusha (pure consciousness) comes near.
Purusha doesn’t act; it just watches. But its presence is enough to disturb Prakriti’s balance.
In the Bhagavad Gita
Krishna tells Arjuna:
"Prakriti is the cause of all material causes and effects. Purusha is the cause of experiencing happiness and sorrow." (Gita 13.20)
In other words:
Prakriti builds the world.
Purusha lives in it, but isn’t of it.
Final Thought
Prakriti is a great artist. Purusha is the silent witness. Together, they make the universe what it is.
Next time you see a flower bloom or feel a thought rise in your mind.
Remember:
That’s Prakriti dancing. And the part of you quietly watching it all? That’s Purusha.
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