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Ultimate Goal of Life

Darshan Shastra — Schools of Philosophy

JKP Literature

— 3 min read
Darshan Shastra — Schools of Philosophy

There are six schools of philosophy in Sanatan dharma. Each of those philosophies are written in a scripture. So, there are six scriptures which are collectively referred to as Darshan shastra (दर्शन शास्त्र, darśana śāstra ).

In are Sanskrit the word darshan (दर्शन​, darśana) has 2 meanings.

  1. The more popular meaning being "to see" e.g. darshan (see) of the form of God.
  2. There is another obscure meaning of the word darshan which means that by which we have an absolutely accurate and decisive conclusion about something. It is this meaning which is referred to in the phrase Darshan Shastra .

All philosophies in the world, that were, are and will be propagated can be broadly divided into two types:

astika darshan

astik darshan (अस्तिक दर्शन, astika darśana) is the theistic philosophy means they believe in existence, omnipresence, omnipotence of God.

This is also called ishvarvaadi darshan (ईश्वरवादी दर्शन, īśvaravādī darśana ).

nastika darshan

nastik darshan (नास्तिक दर्शन, nāstika darśana ) are the atheistic philosophies. This is also called anishvarvaadi darshan (अनीश्वरवादी दर्शन, anīśvaravādī darśana).

Each of these are further divided into

  1. vaidik darshan (वैदिक दर्शन, vaidika darśana) - Vedic philosophy and
  2. avaidik darshan (अवैदिक दर्शन, avaidika darśana) - non-Vedic philosophy.

In Sanatan dharma there are six schools of philosophy. Collectively they are called Darshan Shastras .

Though all Darshan Shastras are part of Vedic scriptures yet Sankhya , Patanjali and Vedant are astik darshan whereas Nyay, Vaisheshik and Mimansa are nastik darshan.

Types of Darshan and their examples
Types of Darshan and their examples

​All the six Darshan Shastra s are in codified Sanskrit verses called sutra. General outline of all the six Darshan Shastra s is as follows.

Sankhya

Sankhy (सांख्य, sāṁkhya ) was propagated by Bhagwan Kapil. Sankhya Sutras explain the extent of mayic creation and the contemplate beyond that. It tells that the entire mayic creation is worth discarding.

Nyay

Nyay (न्याय, nyāya) was propagated by Sage Gautam. It is the science of reasoning. This inferential logic is used to deduce concepts like looking at the world it can be ascertained that the creator of this world must be some Almighty power. This scripture describes the logical steps a human being can follow to determine the rights and the wrongs to find the absolute good.

Mimansa

Mimansa (मीमांसा, mīmāṁsā ) was propagated by Sage Jaimini.

The Vedic literature is so extensive that it is hard even for a Vedic scholar to comprehend and remember the details of all those scriptures. So Sage Jaimini, the pupil of Ved Vyas, wrote the Poorv Mimansa Sutras to promote proper understanding of the Karm prescribed in Vedas for various varna and ashram.

It is also called Poorv Mimansa (पूर्व मीमांसा, pūrva mīmāṁsā ).

Patanjali

Patanjali (पतंजलि, pataṁjali ) means the Yoga sutras codified by Sage Patanjali. They explain the practical process of mind purification which might qualify a person to contemplate on all the teachings of the scriptures.

Vaisheshik

Vaisheshik (वैशेषिक, vaiśeṣika) was propagated by Sage Kanad. Just like Nyaya Vaisheshik darshan also uses experiential logic to deduce that looking at the world it can be ascertained that the creator of this world must be some Almighty power. It also described the logical steps of how to determine the rights and the wrongs in order to find the absolute good.

Vedanta

Vedanta (वेदांत, vedāṁta ) was propagated by Bhagwan Ved Vyas. Vedant reveals this secret - God is absolute Divinity and absolute Bliss, and He is Gracious. So, deeply yearn for Him, remember Him and with His grace experience His absolute Blissfulness forever.

It is also referred to by a few other names:

  • uttar mimansa (उत्तर मीमांसा, uttara mīmāṁsā )
  • brahm sootra (ब्रह्म सूत्र, brahma sūtra )
  • sharirik bhashy (शरीरिक भाष्य, śarīrika bhāṣya )

Out of all the Shastras Vedant is the most important one. All of the past Jagadgurus and 2 prominent saints have interpreted this scripture in the light of the philosophy they propagated.

The question arises, do all these philosophies have to be followed simultaneously? Or perhaps they have to be followed in some order? Maybe only one of them has to be followed?

Moreover who has the time and intellectual capability to learn then understand all these and then assimilate them into their life?

All these are good questions. Please read the sequel to this Which Vedic Darshan Should I Follow?

Further Reading and References

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