Page 100 - AGRANI SAMKALP SILVER JUBILEE SOUVENIR

AGRANI SAMKALP SILVER JUBILEE SOUVENIR

INDIAN PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM-FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE
AND WISDOM TO THE WORLD

Prof. Shikha Saxena
HOD, Dept. of Humanities

The land of India is always blessed with nature's bounties. 1. Nyaya and Vaisheshika: These
Mother nature adorned it with numerous colors from the snow- schools focus on logic,
capped mountains of the Himalayan Range up to the epistemology, and the nature of the
Ramesshram in the South. White glistening snow-covered physical world. They emphasize
Himalaya is the abode of many gods and goddesses. It empirical evidence and reason as
introduces the spiritual progress of India to the outside world. the foundation of knowledge.
To the south lies the azure Neelambudhi, whose playful waves 2. Sankhya and Yoga: These
enhance the beauty by caressing its shores. The external beauty philosophies concentrate on
of India is as magnificent as its inner essence is blissful and understanding the mind and consciousness. Sankhya
luminous. This is our Bharat-Mata, the mother of civilization. provides a theoretical framework of dualism between
At a time when other nations were engulfed in barbarism Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter), while Yoga
and ignorance, the first dawn broke over India, and the bright offers practical methods to attain spiritual liberation.
rays of the Sun of Knowledge dispelled the darkness. This 3. Mimamsa and Vedanta: Mimamsa is concerned with
country has the honor of spreading civilization across the the rituals and duties prescribed in the Vedas,
earth. The foundation of all human activities is human thought. emphasizing the importance of karma (action). Vedanta,
As stated in the Bhagavad Gita (17.3), a man acts according on the other hand, explores the metaphysical aspects of
to his beliefs, which shape his actions and determine his reality, focusing on the nature of Brahman (the ultimate
outcomes. In this sense, every human has a 'philosophy,' reality) and Atman (the self).
whether they are conscious of it or not. Philosophy is
intertwined with our lives; we cannot separate it from our Sankhya Philosophy is undoubtedly one of the oldest
existence. The word 'Darshan' (philosophy) means "that schools of Indian philosophy. Indications of Sankhya-Yoga
through which one sees. principles are found in the Chhandogya, Prashna, Kath, and
especially the Shvetashvatara Upanishad. These principles
The Mundaka Upanishad describes Brahmavidya (the are also present in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita,
knowledge of Brahman) as the essence of all knowledge. as well as in the Smritis and Puranas. Shankaracharya has
While elucidating his manifold attributes in the Bhagavad described Sankhya as the “Pradhan Malla” (major opponent)
Gita, Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of spiritual of Vedanta. He argues that although Sankhya is taught by
knowledge, considering it supreme among all sciences. Maharishi Kapil and has been accepted by sages and scholars,
Kautilya, the author of the Arthashastra, states that 'Anvikshiki its dualistic nature prevents it from being considered Shruti-
Vidya' (the science of inquiry) is a guiding light for all based or Upanishad-based.In Shruti and Smriti, the terms
learnings, the correct path for performing rituals, and the Sankhya and Yoga have been used to mean knowledge and
foundation of all religions. action, respectively.
Therefore, Nyaya and Vaisheshika, which focus on After Sankhya, Vaisheshika's Philosophy appears to be
explaining worldly experiences, are considered first. Next the most ancient. It predates Jainism, Buddhism, and even
are Sankhya and Yoga, which delve into mental experiences Nyaya. The name “Vaisheshika” derives from its analysis of a
and processes. Mimamsa and Vedanta fall between these two dhatu called ‘Vishesh’, meaning “particularity.” This
groups. Mimamsa provides a thorough analysis of religious philosophy is a form of pluralistic objectivism, emphasizing
practices, while Vedanta offers a detailed exploration of divine the differences between things. Its founder, Acharya Maharishi
essence. There is a special similarity between these schools, Kanad, is known as Kanbhuk Kashyap and Aulukya. He earned
even amidst their diverse approaches, which is described as the name Kanad or Kandhuk because of his habit of collecting
follows: and consuming the leftover grains scattered in the fields after

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