Thread by @INDArtCulture

𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲

The Schools of Indian Philosophy more precisely Hindu Philosophy are categorized into 𝙊𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙭 & 𝙃𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙭 philosophies.

The difference between both is based on the acceptance of the authority of the Vedas

𝑶𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒅𝒐𝒙 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍

- The orthodox school (Aastika school) - believes in the authority of Vedas

6 classical sub-schools (Shada Darshana) are:
- Sankhya
- Yoga
- Nyaya
- Vaisheshik
- Purva Mimansa (Mimansa)
- Uttar Mimansa (Vedanta).

𝑯𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒐𝒙 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍

- The heterodox school (Nastika school)- do not believe in originality of Vedas, questioned the existence of god

4 sub-schools are :
- Buddhist Philosophy
- Jain Philosophy
- Charvaka or Lokayata Philosophy
- Ajivika Philosophy

𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒌𝒉𝒚𝒂 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- The oldest school of philosophy

- Founded by Kapil muni

- Original Samkhya, as well as neo Samkhya school both, believed that salvation could be attained by attainment of knowledge

IMG-Kapil Muni
PC -Samacharseva.in

- Sankhya Philosophy is dualistic- Purush (spirit) and Prakriti (nature) -> Dvaitavada

The knowledge can be acquired through

- Perception: Pratyaksha

- Inference: Anuman

- Hearing: Shabda

Purusha associated with consciousness

Prakriti – thoughts, movements, transformation

𝒀𝒐𝒈𝒂 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Founder of Yoga is Patanjali ( Yogasutra)

- Union of two major entities

- Salvation can be achieved by combining meditation and physical application of yoga techniques

-These techniques lead to release Purusha from Prakriti

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- Yoga does not require belief in God

- Various postures – Asanas

- Breathing exercise – Pranayama

- Other ways of achieving freedom –
Yama, Niyam, Dhyan, Dharana, Pratyahara, Samadhi

Yoga Vs Samkhya

- Yoga: practical path for the realization of the self

- Samkhya: attainment of knowledge of the self by means of concentration and meditation.

𝑵𝒚𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Founder of this philosophy is Gautama

- Principles are mentioned in Nyaya Sutras

- Nyaya philosophy relies on several Pramanas

- The world is real and the philosophy does not follow a monist view.

PC -jigyaasaa.wordpress.com

- Principal means of obtaining knowledge is Pratyaksha Pramana i.e. the knowledge obtained through the 5 senses

- Acquiring Real knowledge can only accrue salvation

- Use of logical tools- Inference, Hearing, Analogy

- Stressed on systematic reasoning and thinking

𝑽𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒌𝒂 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Believes in the physicality of the universe

- Kanada rishi considered as the founder of the school

- Everything is created by Panchamahabhutas (5 main elements): Fire, Air, Water, Earth and Sky(ether)

PC -manjirinadkarni.com

- Propounded the atomic theory of its founder Kanada

- Atomic Theory- All the material objects are made of atoms

- Vaisheshik is a realistic and objective philosophy of the universe.

- Believed in God and considered as guiding principal

PC -mysteryofindia.com

- Laws of karma guide this universe

- God decides the merits and demerits of our actions – Heaven / Hell

- Creation of universe – cyclic process – decided by the god

- Follows a scientific and a rational approach

𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒂 (𝒎𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒂) 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Examines the teachings of the Veda in the light of rituals

- Reasoning, interpretation, and application

- Focuses on the analysis of Samhitas and Brahmana

- Vedas contain eternal truth

- Salvation by fulfilling all duties prescribed by vedas

- Text describes mimansa; Sutras of Jaimini (3rd Cen. BCE)

- Greatest proponents- Sabar Swami & Kumarila Bhatta

- Lays emphasis on the performance of the Yagya for attaining various worldly benefits

PC -astroved.com

- Main focus: ritualistic part of Vedas ( Vedic Rituals)

- If anyone did not understand rituals – take help from the priest

- This philosophy legitimized the social distance between classes

𝑼𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝑴𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒂 (𝑽𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂) 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Upholds the philosophies given in the Upanishads -- emphasis on Brahma Gyan

- Vedanta has its roots in Sankya Philosophy

Three sub-branches of Vedanta

- Advaita of Shankaracharya(9th Cen CE),

- Vishishta Advaita of Ramanujacharya(12th Cen CE)

- Dvaita of Madhvacharya. (13th Cen CE)

PC -Shringeri Sharada Peetham

- Oldest text that forms the basis of this philosophy - Brahmasutra of Badrayana (2nd Cen BCE)

- Brahma is the reality of life and other everything is Maya

- Atma is similar to Brahma - Equalizes Atma and Brahma

- Believed in the theory of Punarajanma or Rebirth

𝑩𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- The founder is Gautama Buddha (born-563BCE at Lumbini)

- Rejected authority of Vedas

Four Noble Truths in Buddhism
- suffering
- cause of suffering
- cessation of suffering
- way to the cessation of suffering

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To get ‘Nirvana – 8 Fold Path

Right Faith (Samyak Dristi)
Right Resolve (Samyak Sankalpa)
Right Speech (Samyak Vakya)
Right Action (Samyak Karmanta)
Right Living ( Samyak Ajiva)
Right Thought (Samyak Smriti)
Right concentration (Samyak Samadhi)
Right Effort (Samyak Vyayama)

Buddha’s teachings were codified in Tripitakas

- Vinaya Pitaka ( Rule of order for Buddhist)

- Sutta Pitaka (Buddha’s sermon and doctrine)

- Abhidhamma Pitaka (Budhha’s Philosophy)

𝑱𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- First elaborated by Rishabh Deva

- Revived by Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara

- Nirvana or liberation is obtained through three jewels:

Right Philosophy, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct (Triratna)

IMG- Rishabh deva
PC -wikipedia

Two basic types of existence:

- Astikaya(Something that has physical shape )

- Anastakiya (Something which has no physical shape)

- Dharma- everything that has a substance

- The substance is eternal and unchangeable.

- Man should practice Brahmacharya if he wants to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Foundation laid by Brihaspati

- One of the earliest school that developed Philosophical theory

- Mentioned in Vedas and Brihadarankya

- Characterized as a materialistic and aesthetic school of thought

- Lokayata- means strong attachment to the physical and material world

- Denied the existence of supernatural agent who regulates our conduct on earth

- Discussed against the need to achieve salvation

- Denied existence of Brahma or God and their representatives on the earth

- Man is the center of all activities & Insists on joyful living

- Not considered ether as one of the 5 elements

- Considered no other world after this – death is the end of human life (not believe in rebirth)

- Pleasure should be the ultimate objective of life

PC -ancient.eu

𝑨𝒋𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒔 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

- Most important leader Makkhali Goshala contemporary to Mahavira and Buddha

- Central belief - absolutely everything is predetermined by fate

- Basic theme of ajivikism is the doctrine of niyati or destiny

- Main source of information on ajivikism is Bhagwati Sutra

- Barabar Caves in Bihar – made for Ajivikas

IMG- Barabar caves, Bihar
PC -incredibleindia.org

References

-vedicheritage.gov.in
-incredibleindia.org
-ancient.eu
- Jain Times
- The Upanishads - Swami Paramanand
- Indian Art & Culture by Gaurav Agarwal
- Indian Art & Culture by Nitin Singhania