Hinduism Philosophy

1. Hindu Philosophy
The Six Daranas

2. • Indian philosophy is a practical
instrument designed to fathom the
conditions of the life process
• The principal topics are bondage and
freedom, in part due to the prevalence
of the doctrines of transmigration and
karman-
Purpose

3. Questions To Be Answered
• Why is there suffering in the world?
• What is the nature of the human
person?
• What is the nature of the world in which
he lives?
• What is the proper method of living in
the light of one’s knowledge of himself,
the world, and the Supreme Being?

4. • All religions and philosophies abide by
conceptual maps designed to explain
these questions and to help individuals
cope with the chaotic forces
surrounding them
• Answers to Why? What? How? Prevent
despair, fatalism, and mental anguish
Conceptual Maps

5. • That which provides system, order to
the myriad facts bombarding the mind
revolve around
– Bondage
– Transmigration (sasra-)
– Karman-
– Freedom
The Map

6. • It was in these dialogues that this map
was first introduced
• From the Upaniads it entered later
Indian schools and sects
• To a degree, it applies to heterodox as
well as orthodox schools
• The only difference between the two is
the means of arriving a the end.
The Upaniads

7. • All schools—orthodox and heterodox—
sought after the same goal:
– A vision (darana-) of truth (tattva)
concerning the individual, the world and
the Supreme
Darana

8. • Truth sets one free: free from all the
entanglements of this world
– Sayag-darana-sampanna karmabhir
na nibadhyate; daranena vihnastu
sasra pratipadyate
– [‘He who possesses the correct vision is
not bound down by (his) actions; indeed,
he who is devoid of that vision is drawn
into the vortex of life and death (sasra-
)]
Truth

9. • The search for truth led to the formation of a
method of philosophical discussion.
• With this method comes the intellectual,
logical, metaphysical, epistemological and
ethical arenas emphasized in all philosophical
systems
• Important also is the understanding of other
schools and opinions.
Philosophical Method

10. • These were closely investigated. Thus,
– A philosopher would first state his opponent’s case
(known as the prva-paka or “prior view”
– Followed by refutation (khaana)
– Finally, a statement and proof of the philosopher’s
own position (= “subsequent view: uttara-paka or
conclusion: siddhnta)
Rival Positions

11. • All schools of Indian philosophy are
listed as stika “those who accept the
authority of the Veda” or nstika “those
who don’t accept the authority of the
Veda”
• The first are orthodox (hence Hindu);
the latter are heterodox
The Hindu Daranas

12. • Vednta (Uttara-Mms; Jna-
Mms): Bdaryaa
• Mms(Prva-Mms;
Mms):
Jaimini
• Yoga: Patajali
• Skhya: varaka
• Nyya: Gautama
• Vaieika: Kada
stika Schools

13. • These are the six traditional schools
• Other schools also exist, such as
– Pinya (Grammarian) School
– Rasevara (Medical) School
Both are mentioned in the Sarva-Darana
Sagraha of Mdhavcrya
The Six Daranas

14. • Crvka ‘Materialist School’
• Bauddha ‘Buddhist School’
• Jaina (the school of the Jinas or the
Conquerors)
Nstika Schools

15. Schema

16. • Directly based upon the Dharma Stras
and -stras, the Kalpa Sutras,
Brhmaas, and Sahits
• One purpose of the school was to
systematize the ritual performances in these
Vedic Works
Prva-Mms

17. • Emphasized the speculative approach and
so derived its main inspiration from the
Upaniads
Uttara-Mms

18. • Skhya, Yoga, Nyya, Vaieika are all
based on experience and reason
• All are in harmony with the Veda
• The Bauddha, Jaina, Crvka, however,
do not attempt to harmonize the Veda with
experience and reason
The Other Daranas

19. • Ordinary, normal experience, i.e. those
findings brought about by intellectualizing
on the sense data presented to the brain, is
wholly accepted by the Nyya, Vaieika,
Skhya, and Crvka
Intellection

20. • The teacher’s authority or testimony of
qualified persons and scriptures are other
primary means of knowledge followed by
the Vednta and Mms.
• Direct realization (darana or
sktkra-) is also widely accepted by
many schools.
The Teacher

21. • Two traditions exist in India:
– The oral
– The written
Of the two, the oral is more highly
regarded. It is more effective and
prestigious to receive the tradition or
sacred knowledge from the mouth of the
teacher rather than from books.
Sources of the Schools

22. • This is the best and , to many, the only way
that knowledge is to be acquired.
• The Veda is the prime example of the oral
tradition. Bauddha, Jaina, and other schools
also belong to this category
• As a result the teacher as the bearer and
preserver of sacred knowledge was highly
venerated
Oral Tradition

23. • Introduced with the classical daranas.
• It is probable that the Indian writing systems came
from a Semitic script and that it began to take hold
from the 3rd century B.C.E. in inscriptions.
• The script that we commonly see today is
devangar, which assumed its characteristic
shape in the 7th or 8th c. C.E. with the presence of
inscriptions.
Written Tradition