Panchashikha

Panchashikha (Sanskrit: पञ्चशिख, Romanised: Pañcaśikha) was a Vedic sage at the court of King Janadeva Janaka in Mithila. He was a prominent philosopher of Samkhya Shastra. He is mentioned in the Shanti Parva section of the epic text Mahabharata. He was appointed as the royal teacher of the King Janadeva Janaka in Mithila. He was also the royal teacher of the King Dharmadhwaja Janaka after the King Janadeva Janaka.

Description Panchashikha is considered as the second most important name among the authors of Sankhyashastra after the Vedic sage Kapila. He is considered to be the author of the Shashti Tantra, which is a text of the Samkhya philosophy. He is also known Parasharagotriya monk. His doctrine "Shashti Tantra" translates to "Doctrine of 60 Conception" in the Samkhya school of Indian philosophy. In the text Mahabharata, he is described as a very revered Rishi in the tradition of Samkhya school of Indian philosophy. He was said to be free from any worldly pleasures and attechments.