Purusha and Prakriti

The concept of Purusha cannot be understood in independence as it is always related to Prakrti. Purusa is spirit and Prakrti is matter and the union of these two factors results in the visible world. Before creation Purusha and Prakrti lay merged as the Supreme Energy (God in common terms) without separate existence. But when the desire for creation was aroused, this Supreme Spirit divided itself into Prakrti and Purusa. The right half becomes ‘Purusa’ and the left half ‘Prakrti’.

Purusha is the male aspect and Prakrti is the female aspect.

There are some schools of thought which consider the Supreme Truth to be Purusha, which sets in action the creation.