prasthana trai | प्रस्थान त्रै

Prasthana Trai (Devanagari: प्रस्थान त्रयी; ISO 15919: prasthānatrayī) refers to the Three Sources of Authority or the "Triple Canon" of Vedic philosophy.

The Necessity for Evidence A material mind, limited by material experiences and partial knowledge, cannot independently grasp divine rules. Since the Vedas are the final authority in Sanatana Dharma, though they are impossible to fully comprehend, one still must rely on Shabda Pramana (scriptural evidence) to acquire true spiritual knowledge (tattvajnana).

This Tattvajnana is the only defense against the proliferation of all Kusanga (bad association/misconceptions).

The Three Pillars To ensure the correct interpretation of spiritual truth, the Vedas are cross-referenced within this collective body of evidence known as Prasthana Trai:

1. Shruti Prasthana (Revealed Truth): The Upanishads (Vedic texts).
2. Smriti Prasthana (Remembered Truth): The Bhagavad Gita.
3. Nyaya Prasthana (Logical Truth): The Vedanta Sutras (or Brahma Sutras), which provide the logical foundation.

Further Reading and Reference

• Related Concepts:
  • krita grantha
  • pratyaksha pramana
  • anumana pramana