Shad-Darshan
(Darshan Shastras)
Six
Schools of Vedic Philosophy
The Sanatana
Dharma literature is so extensive that it is hard even for a Vedic genius
to comprehend and remember the theme of all of entire literature related to Sanatana
Dharma. So for the systematic process of understanding, the deep rooted
philosophy of Santaana Dharma, the Great Sages wrote Darshan
Shastras – defining six schools of Vedic Philosophy in the forms of Sutras.
These Shad-Darshans
are the six instruments of true teaching or the six demonstrations of Truth.
Each of these schools of philosophies differs in one way or the other in terms
of its concepts, phenomena, laws and beliefs. Each philosophy has developed,
systematized and correlated the various parts of the Vedas in its own way. Each
system has its Sutrakara, i.e., the one great Rishi who systematized the
doctrines of the school. It is important to know that the founders of each
school of philosophy are sages of the highest order that have devoted their
lives for the study and propagation of specify philosophy. Each system of is
called a Darshana, thus the Sanskrit word ‘Shad-Darshan’
refers to ‘the six systems of philosophy’.
All six schools
of Vedic philosophy aim to describe following three key features:
Nature
of External World and its Relationship with Individual Soul
Relationship
of World of Appearances to Ultimate Reality
Describing
the Goal of Life and Means by which one can attain the Goal
Briefly outline of Shad-Darshan is
given below:
1. Nyaya - by
Sage Gautam
Logical Quest of
Supreme, Phases of Creation, Science of Logical Reasoning
It is a logical
quest for God, the absolute Divinity. It tells that the material power “Maya”,
with the help of God, becomes the universe. Nyaya Darshan is
based on establishing the fact that only the Divinity (God) is desirable,
knowable and attainable, and not this world. Nyaya philosophy is
primarily concerned with the correct knowledge to be acquire in the human life
and the means of receiving this knowledge.
2. Vaishesika – by Sage Kanad
Science of
Logic, Futility of Maya, Vedic Atomic Theory
Its aim is to
receive happiness in this life (by renouncing worldly desires) and finally to
receive the ultimate liberation (through the attachment of the true knowledge
of the Divine). According to this school of philosophy, there is no creation or
annihilation but rather an orderly and morally systematized composition and
decomposition of matter. Atoms (not we studied in our elementary science) are
the smallest particle exists in the universe and are eternal in nature.
3. Sankhya - by Sage
Kapil
Eliminate
Physical and Mental Pains for receiving liberations, Nontheistic Dualism
The dualistic
philosophy of Purusa and Prakrti; according to many
followers of Sankhya philosophy, there is no such God exists. For
them Purusa is sufficient to inspire the unconscious Prakrti
to manifest herself in the form of universe. However, a section of Sankhya
philosophers believed about the existence of Supreme Being who
guides Prakrti independently accordingly to His will. The extent
of mayic creation and Divinity beyond that; it tells that the entire mayic
creation is worth discarding and only the Divinity is to be attained because
that is the only source of Bliss.