🛡️ *Schools of Indian Philosophy*
♟️During the later Vedic period, definite ideas and philosophies about the true nature of soul or Atman and the cosmic principle or Brahman who represented the ultimate reality were developed.
♟️These Vedic philosophical concepts later on gave rise to various schools of philosophies called Shada Darshana.
♟️They fall in the category of the orthodox system, as the final authority of the Vedas is recognised by all of them.
♟️The orthodox schools of Indian philosophy are as follows:
💎 *Samkhya system*
♟️Propounded by Kapil Muni, this philosophy holds that reality is constituted of two principles- one female and the other male i.e., Prakriti and Purusha respectively.
♟️It tries to establish a relationship between Purusha and Prakriti to explain the creation of the universe.
💎 *Yoga*
♟️The origin of yoga is found in the Yogasutra of Patanjali believed to have been written in the second century BC.
♟️By purifying and controlling changes in the mental mechanism, yoga systematically brings about the release of purusha from prakriti.
♟️Yogic techniques control the body, mind and sense organs.
♟️Thus, this philosophy is also considered a means of achieving freedom or mukti.
💎 *Nyaya*
♟️Gautama is said to be the author of the Nyaya Sutras.
♟️Nyaya is considered as a
technique of logical thinking.
♟️The school holds that there are four valid means of knowledge:
1. perception (pratyaksha),
2. inference (anumana),
3. comparison (upamana), and
4. sound, or testimony
(shabda).
💎 *Vaisheshika*
♟️Kanada wrote the basic text of Vaisheshika philosophy.
♟️Vaisheshika system is
considered as the realistic and objective philosophy of the universe.
♟️It believes that all objects of the universe are composed of five elements–earth, water, air, fire and ether.
♟️Further, God is the guiding principle and the living beings are rewarded or punished according to the law of karma.
💎 *Mimamsa*
♟️Mimamsa philosophy is basically the analysis of interpretation, application and the use of the text of the Samhita and Brahmana portions of the Vedas.
♟️According to the philosophy,
Vedas are eternal and possess all knowledge, and religion means the fulfilment of duties prescribed by the Vedas.
💎 *Vedanta*
♟️Vedanta implies the philosophy of the Upanishad, the concluding portion of the Vedas.
♟️It also believes that there is no distinction between the Brahman and the self.
♟️Shankaracharya believes that the Brahman is existent, unchanging, the highest truth and the ultimate knowledge.
♟️The knowledge of the Brahman is the essence of all things and the ultimate existence.
Apart from these orthodox schools, there are also unorthodox schools of Indian philosophy, such as:
💎 *Charvaka/Lokayata*
♟️This school does not accept the authority of Vedas.
♟️It is a materialistic, sceptical and atheistic school of thought, which believes that there is no other world.
♟️Hence, death is the end of humans and pleasure is the ultimate object in life.
💎 *Buddhism*
♟️It is a non-theistic philosophy whose tenets are not especially concerned with the existence or non-existence of God.
♟️Buddha gave the concept of “four noble truths” and expounded the “ashtangika marg”.
💎 *Jainism*
♟️A basic principle of Jainism is anekantavada, the idea that reality is perceived differently from different points of view, and that no single point of view is completely true.
♟️According to it, only the Kevalins (those who have infinite knowledge) can know the true answer, and all others would only know a part of the answer.