Prakṛti

Material nature, the primordial cause of manifestation. In Sāṃkhya, prakṛti is composed of the three guṇa-s (sattva, rajas, tamas) in potential equilibrium; the disruption of that equilibrium generates creation. Everything that has form, quality, or change is prakṛti, including mind and body. Only puruṣa — pure consciousness — transcends prakṛti. See purusa, [[gunas]] and [[mahat]].