Samkhya and the Matrix

One question which has baffled many (if not all) Matrix fans was the Architect's instructions to select 16 women and 7 men from the Matrix. While there have been a number of theories offered : none left one completely satisfied. Was 23 a representative of the human DNA (23 pairs of chromosomes) , did it include Neo ? Was there a link to Pi (22/7) , was it the optimum number needed to repopulate Zion in the real world ?

I am leaving the practicalities aside (of repopulating the Matrix etc). But leaning on a theory from the Samkhya philosophy : which is part of the 6 schools of thoughts in India which believe in the Vedic texts.

In brief : the Samkhya philosophy talks about as the creation of the world / universe as the interaction between two entities : Parush : Pure Consciousness and Prakriti : Nature.

When the Universe is created a number of key elements get created : and when the Universe gets destroyed they dissolve back into Prakriti.

The Samkhya philoshphy refers to 23 of these elements. If you add Parusha and Prakriti it makes it 25.

So what are these 23 elements ?

You have the first 3 key ones : The Ego, the Intellect and the Mind . Then the 5 Sense Organs, the 5 Motar Organs, the 5 Subtle Elements , the 5 Gross Elements.

So my view is that what the Architect was referring to , at least symbolically was there 23 elements.

The 7 representing Male : The Ego , The Intellect and 5 Subtle  Elements (Sight , Sound, Touch, Taste, Smell).

The 16 representing Female :
5 Sense Organs (Eyes, Ears, Skin, Tounge, Nose)
5 Motor Organs (Hands, Legs, Voice, Anus, Reproduction)
5 Gross Elements (Space / Ether, Earth, Water, Fire, Air)
1 Mind

This in combination with Neo : representing Parusha and the Matrix representing Prakriti would be the 25 elements.


Of-course this is all my speculation :)