Shad Darshan
6 schools of philosophy
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Indian philosophy encourages multiple perspectives and POVs, giving rise to as many alternate belief paradigms, or Darshans as there are schools of thought.
Shad is the 6 in sanskrit numbers. Darshan's root is drishya (to view). So Shad Darshan is the six major points of view that examine life, existence, all creation and self. Sanatan doesn't break down Srishti (creation) into individual parts but examines the entirety of creation, from multi universes to atoms and particles, in one comprehensive PoV.
Astik Darshans
Orthodox Schools of Thought
6 world views by the orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, predominantly considered to be theist, though there are atheist versions of some of these as well.
These PoVs, while examing whole creation/ all existence, pair off into related schools of philosophy. Nyay and Vaisheshika go together, Samkhya and Yoga draw from and complement each other, and Mimansa and Vedanta team up.
1. Nyaya
school of logic
right & wrong
Sutrakaar: Gautama
Bhashyakaar: Vatsyayana
PoV that believes primarily in proof and logic. Only that which can be seen and measured, exists. Science of logic comes from this school.
Focus is on means of knowing, Pramana.
2. Vaisheshika
scientific thought
objectivity
Sutrakaar: Kanaada
Bhashyakaar: Prashashtapaada
Maps to all our modern science knowledge. Includes physical sciences and humanities.
Focus is on Prameha, the object of knowing. Object knowledge is primary.
Vaisheshika emphasises scientific temper and borrows the empirical methodolgy from nyaya.
3. Samkhya
enumerated
correct knowing
Sutrakaar: Kapila
Oldest darshan
The duality of Purusha and Prakriti is regarded as the root of this Theory of Everything, which explains creation and describes non creation too. There are astik and a nastik versions, along with Dvait and Advait versions too. Theoretical basis of Yoga.
4. Yoga
seeking union
duality
Sutrakaar: Patanjali
Bhashyakaar: Ved Vyasa
Though Shiva is considered Adi Yogi, first yogee, who brought the science of yoga to us, Patanjalis 196 yogasutras are considered the best instructions for achieving yog in today's times. Oldest text is Shiv Samhita.
Swamij.com on Yoga
Yogasutras on Swamij.com
Vivekanand On Yogasutras
Yoga gives the practical aspects and Sankhya offers the theoretical framework, and so they form a pair.
For the above four schools, logic is the overarching authority in their PoV, while Vedas are a secondary authority; unlike the last two darshans - Purva Mimansa and Uttara Mimansa - where Vedas are the final authority.
5. Mimamsa
school of subjective enquiry
Sutrakaar: Jaimini
Bhashyakaar: Shabara
Also known as Purva Mimansa, includes rituals and actions - Karmakand, cultural life. Path to gain anything in life, including salvation, is performing action.
6. Vedanta
back to the Godhead
Sutrakaar: Ved Vyasa
Bhashyakaar: Adi Shankaracharya (Advait), Ramanujacharya (Vishisht Advait), Madhavacharya (Dwait)
Also known as Uttara Mimansa, delves mainly into Brahman - Jnanakand, spiritual life. Path to moksha (salvation) is knowledge.
Prasthanatraya -- three texts of Vedanta are Brahmasutras, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
For these last two darshanas, Vedas are the primary authority, before logic; unlike the earlier four schools of thought.
The rituals of Karmakand are the final authority for Purva Mimansa, and the Upanishads are the final authority for the Vedantic school of thought.
Nastik Darshans
Unorthodox Darshans
6 alternative world views to the orthodox (theist, astik) schools of Indian philosophy, these are either atheist or agnostic. Some sub-schools do leave room for the possibility of theist versions e.g. Jainism and Buddhism both have theist versions as well.
1. Chaarvakha
materialism/ hedonism
atheism
Brihaspati
2. Ajeevika
fatalistic school
determinism
Gosala
3. Jainism
24 Tirthankaras
Mahavir
4. Buddhism
eight fold path
Siddarth Gautam
5. Arthashastra
power & politics
Chanakya
6. Agynaana
sceptics/ agnostics
Non-committals
None of these schools of thought are mutually exclusive. No one school will put down or ban the thoughts of another. Sanatan is very inclusive, wise and mature enough to recognise the inherent plurality in human thoughts and emotions, and so there is no rigid compartmentalisation.
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