Schools of Indian Philosophy

Indian philosophy, also known as the Hindu philosophy, is all about the philosophical beliefs and traditions followed in ancient times by schools of philosophy in the Indian subcontinent. Indian philosophy is primarily divided into two schools of thought. One is the orthodox school of thought, also called the Astika school of philosophy, and the other is the heterodox school of thought, also known as the Nastika school of philosophy. Most of the schools of Indian philosophy were recognised and declared official between the period of 500 BCE (Before the Common Era) and the late centuries of the Common Era (CE). 

Classification Criteria for Schools of Indian Philosophy

The classification of schools of Hindu philosophy as Orthodox and Heterodox schools or the Astika and Nastika schools is primarily based on three criteria. The first and the most important one is whether a particular school of thought believes and acknowledges the Vedas as a useful source of knowledge. The orthodox schools of Indian philosophy consider the Vedas a relevant source of knowledge, while the heterodox schools of philosophy do not consider it a good knowledge resource. Another criterion differentiating the two schools of thought is their belief in Brahman and Atman. And the third criterion is whether the school supports the belief in Devas and the afterlife.

Orthodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

There are six main orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. They are 

• Sankhya Philosophy
• Yoga Philosophy
• Nyaya Philosophy
• Vaisheshik Philosophy
• Purva Mimamsa
• Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta). 

Together they are also known as Shatdarshanas. Let us look at them in detail.

• Yoga Philosophy

Patanjali founded the yoga philosophy. Though it does not emphasise believing in God, the idea is not completely rejected as it may help in the initial stages of achieving mental control and concentration. Yoga teaches the methods of attaining mental and physical discipline.

• Sankhya Philosophy

It is the oldest Indian philosophy and was introduced by Kapila, and Sankya does not have a lot of original literature. The philosophy believes in attaining self-knowledge through concentration and meditation, and it assumes that self-knowledge is the only way to achieve liberation.

• Nyaya Philosophy

Gautam put forward this philosophy, and its principles and beliefs are recorded in Nyaya sutras. The primary essence of this philosophy is that anything that is not according to experience and reason cannot be accepted. There must be Pramana for true knowledge, and Pratyaksha Pramana is considered the main way of gathering knowledge.

• Purva Mimamsa Philosophy

This orthodox school of Indian philosophy believes in Brahmanas of the Vedas. Mimamsa means understanding and analysing something thoroughly. It believes in performing rituals like Yagya to attain spiritual benefits and benefits related to the world.

• Vedanta Philosophy

Also known as Uttara Mimamsa, Vedanta believes in Maya. In other words, it means that the world is not real and only one reality exists, and that is Brahman. Vedanta philosophy is derived from Sankya philosophy and believes in the Upanishads.

• Vaisheshik Philosophy

This philosophy is considered to be the most realistic philosophy. It can also be called the physics of olden times. Its founder was Kannada, who advocated the atomic theory. Initially, Vaisheshik philosophy was considered a part of Nyaya philosophy but was later separated from it to form a new philosophy.

Heterodox Schools of Indian Philosophy

There are three major heterodox schools of Indian philosophy. They are 

• Charvaka
• Buddhist Philosophy
• Jain Philosophy.

Let us look at them in detail.

• Charvaka

Charvaka is also known as Lokayata. It is a materialistic school of philosophy, and Charvaka founded it. The philosophy emphasises happy living, and it believes that perceiving anything is the best way to prove the truth.

• Buddhist Philosophy 

Buddhist philosophy comes from the teachings of Gautam Buddha, and Buddhism does not rely on believing in the existence of God. It assumes that if suffering is in the world, there is a cause of suffering, and then there is a way to end suffering.

• Jain Philosophy

The Jain philosophy is still in existence and was revived by Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara. According to this philosophy, a person can obtain liberation through the right conduct, knowledge, and philosophy.

Conclusion:

Philosophy derived in India is called Indian or Hindu Philosophy. Schools of Indian philosophy have a balanced approach toward any topic. The orthodox schools’ teachings aim to achieve perfection in life through three life goals: Dharma, Kama, and Artha. Someone who manages to attain these three life goals finally moves towards achieving the ultimate goal in life, Moksha. Indian philosophy is practical and life-centric. It emphasises self-improvement so that a person can achieve happiness and peace in life. It is not only theoretical but, for the most part, has a practical aspect to it.