Hare Krsna,
Lord Kapiladeva is non-different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is one of the plenary expansions of the Lord. The plenary expansions are also non-different from the Lord. Like a candle lit from the original candle as the same potency and brightness, there is no difference between the immediate expansion of the Lord and His secondary expansions. Since the Lord is absolute, His name, His form, His pastimes, His paraphernalia and His qualities all have the same potency. However, it must be noted that Lord Krsna is the source of all other incarnations (ete camas kalah pumsah, krsnas tu Bhagavan svayam – SB 1.3.28).
Lord Kapiladeva is the author of the philosophical system known as Sankhya. Sankhya is both a system of metaphysics, dealing with the elemental principles of the physical universe, and a system of spiritual knowledge, with its own methodology, culminating in full Krsna consciousness. Lord Kapiladeva appeared in this world as the son of Kardama Muni, a master of mystic yoga, and his wife, Devahuti.
I want to write a little bit about Sankhya philosophy. When I was very new to Krsna consciousness, I used to think that Sankhya philosophy has nothing to with bhakti. I may have been deceived by the concepts of godless Sankhya philosophy propounded by another Kapiladeva. Having read Srila Prabhupada’s books regularly, I now understand that Sankhya philosophy deals with the elemental categories or principles of the physical universe – what in the Western world is known as metaphysics. It enumerates principles of cosmic evolution by rational analysis. It also expounds analytical knowledge that enables one to distinguish between matter and spirit.
“According to Sankhya philosophy, the material cosmos is composed of twenty-four elements: the five gross material elements, the three subtle material elements, the five knowledge-acquiring senses, the five active senses, the five objects of sense pleasure, and the mahat-tattva (the total material energy).” (CC Adi 5.14 Purport)
This understanding culminates in bhakti, devotion for and service to the Supreme.
Lord Caitanya’s teachings are also very similar to the teachings of Lord Kapiladeva.
“Lord Caitanya’s teachings are identical to those given by Lord Kapila, the original propounder of sankhya-yoga, the sankhya system of philosophy. This authorized system of yoga teaches meditation on the transcendental form of the Lord. There is no question of meditating on something void or impersonal. When one can meditate on the transcendental form of Lord Viṣṇu even without practicing involved sitting postures, such meditation is called perfect samadhi. That this kind of meditation is perfect samadhi is confirmed at the end of the Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, where Lord Kṛṣna says that of all yogis, the greatest is the one who constantly thinks of the Lord within the core of his heart with love and devotion.” (CC Preface)
In fact, Lord Caitanya gives a wonderful and most practical method to practice Sankhya-yoga meditation in this age.
“On the basis of the sankhya philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva, which maintains that the Supreme Lord is simultaneously one with and different from His creation, Lord Caitanya taught that the most practical way for the mass of people to practice sankhya -yoga meditation is simply to chant the holy name of the Lord. He taught that the holy name of the Lord is the sound incarnation of the Lord and that since the Lord is the absolute whole, there is no difference between His holy name and His transcendental form. Thus by chanting the holy name of the Lord one can directly associate with the Supreme Lord by sound vibration.” (CC Preface)
It is amazing how Lord Caitanya connects everything to the Holy Name of the Lord. Therefore by chanting with the Holy Name of the Lord, we too can imbibe the teachings of Lord Kapiladeva just as Mother Devahuti did.
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 