("a fantastic
one") Mahat is the first evolutionary stage according to the Samkhya
philosophical school's explanation of evolution.
It is made up of the first disturbance of prakrti (primal
matter) transitioning from its equilibrium condition.
Because prakrti does not change, Mahat is known as the
"great one." Mahat is also known as buddhi, the mental faculty that
is said to be at the core of mental processes and is responsible for
consciousness, perception, and decision-making.
The growth of the following stage in the evolution, ahamkar
or subjective consciousness, is aided by buddhi, after which the division of
the universe into subjective and objective domains continues.