Upamana refers to the process of gaining knowledge about something unknown by comparing it to something known. There are four stages to gaining knowledge through upamana: 1) coming across the unknown object, 2) recollecting prior knowledge of a comparison, 3) seeing similarities between the objects, 4) reaching a conclusion about the unknown object. Upamana is considered an independent source of knowledge in Nyaya philosophy because the knowledge is not based on direct perception or inference. Ayurveda utilizes upamana in diagnosing diseases and identifying herbs by comparing clinical features or characteristics to known objects.

1. Upamana
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2. Upamana
• Nirukti
• उपमीयते अनेन इतत उपमानम्।
• उपममतत करणम् उपमानम्। Ta.Sa.
• Through which Upamiti is gained is called
Upamana.
• Upamiti means & Knowledge gained through
Upama or comparison.
• Upamiti- Sadhya (Prama/ true knowledge)
• Upamana- Sadhana or instrument/ Karana
• Upamana is the factor for Upamiti.
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3. Upamana Lakshana
• अथौपम्यम्- औपम्यं नाम यदन्येनान्यस्य सादृश्यमधिकृ त्य प्रकाशनं;
यथा- दण्डेन दण्डकस्य, िनुषा िनुुःस्तम्भस्य, इष्वासेनाऽऽरोग्यदस्येतत ||
Ch.vi.8/42
• The knowledge gained by comparing an unknown
object with a known one is called ‘Upamana’
Pramana.
• We gain the knowledge of an unfamiliar ‘gavaya’ by
comparing its features with those of a ‘cow’. Since
cow is a familiar animal, when a person comes
across an animal looking like a cow, he will compare
the new animal with a cow and come to a
conclusion that the new animal is ‘Gavaya’.
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4. • the conclusion drawn that ‘this must be the gavaya’
is called ‘Upamiti’.
• Dandaka vyadhi by comparing with Danda/stick.
• Dhanustambha by comparing with Dhanusha/ bow.
• Good physician by comparing with a successful
archer.
• The body of a Patient suffering from Dandaka
becomes stiff like a stick.
• The body of a Patient suffering from ‘Dhanustambha’
bends like a bow.
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5. DhanustambhaDhanustha (Bow)
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6. Elephant leg Elephantiasis
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7. • सादृश्यमधिकृ त्य अन्येन प्रमसद्िेन अन्यस्याप्रमसद्िस्य
प्रकाशनम ्। Charakopaskar
The knowledge gained by finding similarity of
an unknown object with a known one is called
‘Upamana Pramana’.
• प्रमसद्िसािम्याात ्साध्यसािनमुपमानम ्- Nya.Da.
• Knowledge of Sadhya is achieved by
comparing the features of known object.
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8. • In gaining knowledge through Upamana there
are 4 stages.
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9. Gaining the knowledge of an
unknown object through a
trustworthy person e.g. gavay looks
like a cow.
Coming across that unknown object.
Seeing ‘gavaya’.
Recollecting the knowledge of comparison
between known and unknown object. E.g.
recollecting the knowledge that cow and
Gavaya are similar animals.
Applying the knowledge of similarity
and coming to a conclusion. E.g. this
must be the Gavaya.
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10. • Sankhya, Yoga and Vaisheshika Darshana did
not accept Upamana as a separate and
independent pramana.
• But Sushruta Samhita and Nyaya Darshana-
Upamana as a separate Pramana accepted.
• Charak Samhita mentioned Upamana in
Vadamarga.
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11. Upamana as an independent Pramana
• Acco. to Nyaya darshana:
1. Upamana can not be considered under
‘Pratyaksha’ because the complete knowledge of
an object is not gained by ‘Pratyaksha’.
2. It cannot be included under Anumana since the
knowledge gained is not based on the Pratyaksha
Pramana and there is no Vyapti between the two
objects of comparison.
Because of the above mentioned reasons Upmana is
said to be an independent Pramana.
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12. Characteristics
• There should be a similarity in the main or important
feature of two objects.
E.g. Tiger and Cheetah
Zebra and donkey
Crow and cuckoo
Tila and Tilakalaka
The similarity should not be too simple and incomplete.
e.g. if one say cow and buffalo are similar animals because both
are mammals, both have four legs, one cannot gain new
knowledge and so cannot be taken as Upamana.
The two objects of comparison should not have total similarity
also. In such case, no new knowledge can be gained.
e.g. hoarse looks like a horse. This will not lead to any new
knowledge.
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13. Upamana types
• Initially only similarities between objects were
considered under Upamana. But later on some
scholars of Nyaya Darshana considered
dissimilarity and peculiarity also under
‘Upamana’.
• 3 types of Upamana.
1. Sadharmya Upamana: Gaining the knowledge of
an unknown object through the comparison of
similarities of a known object.
e.g. as mentioned in beginning of the topic.
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14. 2. Vaidharmya Upamana: Gaining the knowledge of an
unknown by comparing its dissimilarities with those of
a known object.
e.g. A person can identify a leopard but did not see a lion.
Someone tries to explain him in what all ways a lion
differs from leopard. Next time when he comes across
a lion, he will see all dissimilarities with a leopard and
identifies it as a lion.
it is useful in differential diagnosis of disease. Like in
Sandhivat and Amavata; Prameha and Adhoga
Raktapitta.
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15. 3. Dharmamatropamana: this is the way of identifying an
object on the basis of a special character present in it.
e.g. even if a person comes across a camel for the first
time, if he knows the special character of it ‘the hump’,
he can identify it. Likewise an elephant with special
character trunk/ floppy ears.
by Pratyatma linga one can identify disease.
Grahani- Muhur baddha muhur Drava Mala Pravritti.
Shotha- Utsedha
Jwara- Santapa
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16. Utility of Upamana in Ayurved
• Both Acharya Charaka and Sushruta did not
give much importance to this Pramana. They
gave more importance to the other 3
Pramana- Aptopdesha, Pratyaksha and
Anumana. But both of them mentioned the
use of Upamana in the diagnosis of disease.
• And it is also useful in identification of herbs,
also.
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17. • Knowledge of diseases is based upon comparison.
• E.g. in Dandaka disease, without the help of Upamana, knowldege of
Dandaka is not easily gained. But with comparison of stick, it is said that
body becomes stiff like stick in Dandaka Vyadhi, it is easily understood.
• Dhanustambha– body becomes like a bow
• Mashaka - like a Masha
• Vidari- like a Vidarikanda
• Sarshapika- like a Sarshapa
• Yauvanapidika & looks like thorn of Shalmali
• Kachchhapi- shape of Pidika like back of tortoise.
• Shleepada- compared with elephant foot.
• Gridhrasi- compared with gait of vulture.
• Ashmari- urine smell like a goat.
• Tilakalak- Like sesame seed
• Panasika- Like Shalooka
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18. • Galaganda: मुष्कवल्लम्बते – like a scrotum
• Ajagallika: मुद्गसन्न्नभा – like Mudga
• Ushtrageeva Bhagandara: swelling like shape
of Camel’s neck
• Shambukavarta Bhagandara: swelling of the
size of tip of the great toe.
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19. In identification of drugs
• Vana tulasi- compared with Tulasi
• Bhumyamalaki- compared with Amalaki
• Daruharidra- compared with Haridra.
• Grudhranakhi- compared with nails of vulture.
• Vyaghranakhi- compared with nails of tiger.
• Gojihwa- leaves like tongue of cow (Rough).
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20. In Sharira gyan
• Shukra- स्फटिकाभं, तैलक्षौद्रतनभं
• Artava- शशासृक्प्प्रततमं, लाक्षारसोपमम्
• Oja- Sarpi Varna, Madhu Rasa
• Rakta- like Padma, Alaktaka (lack)
• Prakriti- Anukatva (similarity)
• Hridaya- पुण्डरीके ण सदृशं हृदयं
• Use of Upamana in Dhatu poshana nyaya: there are
three kind of Nyaya are described to justify Dhatu
Poshana.
– Kshira dadhi Nyaya
– Kedari kulya Nyaya
– Khale Kapota Nyaya
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21. • Use of Upamana in understanding treatment
• शुष्काण्यपप टि काष्ठातन स्नेिस्वेदोपपादनैुः |
नमयन्न्त यथान्यायं ककं पुनर्जीवतो नरान् ||
Ch.Su.14/5
• Here, for understanding the treatment of
Snehana & Swedana, Upamana Pramana is
unitized. Even the dry pieces of wood bend after
proper application of oil and heat then what is to
be said about the living human beings?
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