Mysore Yoga Traditions · Online Studies
Sāṅkhya Kārikā
with Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao
दुःखत्रयाभिघाताज्जिज्ञासा तदपघातके हेतौ
From the assault of threefold suffering arises the inquiry into the means of its cessation.
A ten-lesson study of the Sāṅkhya Kārikā of Īśvarakṛṣṇa — the foundational text of one of India's oldest and most influential philosophical systems, attributed to the sage Kapila. Sāṅkhya offers a logical and structured map of existence: the interplay of Prakṛti and Puruṣa, the play of the three guṇas, and the discriminative knowledge that brings freedom from suffering.
Each lesson moves through the kārikās in sequence, weaving philosophical analysis with the metaphors and practical illustrations that have carried this teaching across generations.
A Note from Andrew
Welcome to this course, and to the inquiry it opens
I sincerely hope you find this course valuable, and that what you encounter here continues to unfold in your practice over time.
These lessons are drawn from a course taught by Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao. The written portion of each lesson comes from my own notes, taken as I listened — any misspellings or inaccuracies are mine alone, and no reflection on the profound scholarship of Dr. Rao.
Please take your time with this material. Sāṅkhya is one of the oldest philosophical traditions of India, and its insights into suffering, perception, and reality have shaped centuries of thought. The teachings are meant to be lived with, returned to, and reflected upon — different seasons of practice will reveal what an initial encounter cannot.
Thank you for supporting Mysore Yoga Traditions. Work like this is sustained by students who choose to engage seriously with the source, and your participation helps us continue offering it.
If you have questions, reflections, or feedback to share, please write to me directly at andrew@ashtangayogastudio.com. I'd genuinely like to hear from you.
— Andrew