Orthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

Schools of Indian Philosophy
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Philosophy arose in India as an enquiry into the mystery of life and existence.
Indian Philosophy refers to several traditions of philosophical thought that
originated in the Indian subcontinent.
Over centuries, India’s intellectual exploration of truth has come to be represented by
six systems of philosophy. These are known as Vaishesika, Nyaya, Samkhya, Yoga,
Purva Mimansa and Vedanta or Uttara Mimansa.
These six systems of philosophy are said to have been founded by sages
Konada, Gotama, Kapila, Patanjali, Jaimini and Vyasa, respectively. These
philosophies still guide scholarly discourse in the country.
The six systems of philosophy were developed over many generations with
contributions made by individual thinkers. However, today, we find an underlying
harmony in their understanding of truth, although they seem distinct from each
other.
Orthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

Orthodox (astika) schools, originally called sanatana dharma, are collectively referred to as
Hinduism in modern times. The ancient Vedas are their source and scriptural authority.
Hinduism consists of six systems of philosophy & theology.
Samkhya (Kapila): Samkhya is the oldest of the orthodox philosophical systems,

and it postulates that everything in reality stems from purusha (self, soul or mind)
and prakriti (matter, creative agency, energy).
Purush cannot be modified or changed while prakriti brings change in all
objects.
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Yoga (Patanjali): Yoga literally means the union of two principal entities. Yogic
techniques control body, mind & sense organs, thus considered as a means of
achieving freedom or mukti.
This freedom could be attained by practising self-control (yama), observation
of rules (niyama), fixed postures (asana), breath control (pranayama),
choosing an object (pratyahara) and fixing the mind (dharna),
concentrating on the chosen object (dhyana) and complete dissolution of self,
merging the mind and the object (Samadhi).
Yoga admits the existence of God as a teacher and guide.
Nyaya (Gautama Muni): Nyaya Philosophy states that nothing is acceptable
unless it is in accordance with reason and experience (scientific approach). Nyaya is
considered as a technique of logical thinking.
Nyaya Sutras say that there are four means of attaining valid knowledge:
perception, inference, comparison, and verbal testimony.
Vaisheshika (Kanada): The basis of the school's philosophy is that all objects in
the physical universe are reducible to a finite number of atoms and Brahman is
regarded as the fundamental force that causes consciousness in these atoms.
Vaisheshika system is considered as the realistic and objective philosophy of
universe.
The reality according to this philosophy has many bases or categories which are
substance, attribute, action, genus, distinct quality and inherence.
Vaisheshika thinkers believe that all objects of the universe are composed of
five elements–earth, water, air, fire and ether.
They believe that God is the guiding principle. The living beings were rewarded
or punished according to the law of karma, based on actions of merit and
demerit.
The Vaisheshika and Nyaya schools eventually merged because of their
closely related metaphysical theories (Vaisheshika only accepted perception
and inference as sources of valid knowledge).
Purva Mimamsa (Jaimini): This philosophy encompasses the Nyaya-vaisheshika
systems and emphasises the concept of valid knowledge. According to Purva
Mimamsa, Vedas are eternal and possess all knowledge.
According to Mimamsa philosophy Vedas are eternal and possess all
knowledge, and religion means the fulfilment of duties prescribed by the Vedas.
It says that the essence of the Vedas is dharma. By the execution of dharma one
earns merit which leads one to heaven after death.
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Vedanta: The Vedanta, or Uttara Mimamsa, school concentrates on the
philosophical teachings of the Upanishads (mystic or spiritual contemplations within
the Vedas), rather than the Brahmanas (instructions for ritual and sacrifice). The
school separated into six sub-schools, each interpreting the texts in its own way and
producing its own series of sub-commentaries:
Advaita (Adi Shankara): It states that both the individual self (Atman) and
Brahman are the same, and knowing this difference causes liberation.
Visishtadvaita (Ramanuja): It believes that all diversity is subsumed to a
unified whole.
Dvaita (Madhvacharya): It considers Brahman and Atman as two different
entities, and Bhakti as the route to eternal salvation.
Dvaitadvaita (Nimbarka): It states that the Brahman is the highest reality,
the controller of all.
Shuddhadvaita (Vallabhacharya): It states that both God and the
individual self are the same, and not different.
Achintya Bheda Abheda (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu): It emphasizes that
the individual self (Jīvatman) is both different and not different from Brahman.
Unorthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

Schools that do not accept the authority of Vedas are by definition unorthodox (nastika)
systems. The following schools belong to heterodox schools of Indian Philosophy.
Charvaka (Brihaspati): Charvaka is a materialistic, sceptical and atheistic school

of thought.
According to Charvaka there is no other world. Hence, death is the end of
humans & pleasure is the ultimate object in life.
It is also known as the Lokayata Philosophy-the philosophy of masses.
Buddhist philosophy (Siddhartha Gautama): Buddhism is a non-theistic
philosophy whose tenets are not especially concerned with the existence or
nonexistence of God. Buddha considered the world as full of misery and considered a
man’s duty to seek liberation from this painful world. He strongly criticized blind
faith in the traditional scriptures like the Vedas
Jain philosophy (Mahavira): A basic principle 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 Jainism, only the Kevalins, those who have infinite knowledge,
can know the true answer, and that all others would only know a part of the
answer.
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Orthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

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Schools of Indian Philosophy

Orthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

Samkhya (Kapila): Samkhya is the oldest of the orthodox philosophical systems,

Unorthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

Charvaka (Brihaspati): Charvaka is a materialistic, sceptical and atheistic school

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