Kapila (Sanskrit: कपिल), also referred to as Cakradhanus,[2] is a sage in Hindu tradition. According to Bhagavata Purana, he is the son of the sage Kardama and Devahuti, the daughter of the Svayambhuva Manu.[3] Kardama had nine daughters, who were very learned and went ahead to marry Marici, as well as other great sages. When he came of age, Kapila is most well-known as the founder of the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.[4][5] Kapila of Samkhya fame is considered a Vedic sage,[5][6] estimated to have lived in the 6th-century BCE,[7] or the 7th-century BCE.[8]^ His influence on Buddha and Buddhism have long been the subject of scholarly studies. There have been accusations of orthodox Buddhists that Sarvastivadins are heavily influenced by Sankhya school of philosophy.[9][10]
According to the Brahmanda Purana, Kapila is described as an incarnation of Vishnu: "Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa will protect us all. The Lord of the universe has now been born in the world as Kapilācārya."[2]
Many historic personalities in Hinduism and Jainism, mythical figures, pilgrimage sites in Indian religion, as well as an ancient variety of cow, are named after Kapila, or share his name.[8][11][12]
^ abEditors of Encyclopædia Britannica (1998). The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. p. 731. ISBN978-0-85229-633-2. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2016., Quote:"Kapila (fl. 550 BC), Vedic sage and founder of the system of Samkhya, one of the six schools of Vedic philosophy."
^Cite error: The named reference kapilavedic2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference encyclobritannicakapila was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Hemacandra; R. C. C. Fynes (Translator) (1998). The Lives of the Jain Elders. Oxford University Press. pp. 144–146, Canto Seven, verses 1–19. ISBN978-0-19-283227-6. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2016. {{cite book}}: |author2= has generic name (help)