The Concept of Purusa and Purusottama in the Commentary of Sankara on the Prasthanatrayi

Preface I am a Philosophy teacher since 1967. But temperamentally I am a poet and have been writing poetry since my school days. Like the metaphysical poets of Panchasakha period in Medieval Oriya Literature I have been drawn by the halo and glory of Lord Jagannatha-the Purusottama in my poetry. I developed a desire to unravel the mystery surrounding Lord Jagannatha-His Cult and Philosophy after I became a student of Philosophy. I read with avowed interest works of Pt. Neelakantha Das, Prof. B.M. Padhi, Prof. K.C. Mishra and Dr. H. K. Mahatab. These works are primarily historical, sociological and speculative. I wanted to study certain fundamental concepts like Purusa and Purusottama applying the modern analytical techneque.

Purusa and Purusottama concepts are dominant in the Gita, I made an appeal to trace out the origin of these concepts and similar concepts in the Upanisads and Brahma-Sutra and to throw light on interrelationship of these concepts in Indian Philosophical Literature. I think research in Indian Philosophical topics in modern times should be done in this way. It is possible that many readers and scholars may not agree with some of my observations and methods I have applied, but if the work provokes further examination and discussion I would feel amply rewarded.

Many logical issues are discussed in Indian Philosophy in the garb of theological and metaphysical trappings. Purusa and Purusottama concepts are very important. When analyzed they unfold a definite view on causality to be found in the Prasthanatraya. The ambiguous use of these terms in the Prasthanatraya has been elaborately discussed in my work. In the introductory chapter, a brief history of the concepts of Puruşa and Purusottama as found in the Indian Philosophical Literature has been discussed.

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