Philosophy in India – Six Schools (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta)
Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.12
The six schools of Indian philosophy, called Shad Darshana or Astika systems because they accept the authority of the Vedas, are Nyaya of Gautama, Vaisheshika of Kanada, Sankhya of Kapila, Yoga of Patanjali, Purva Mimamsa of Jaimini and Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta of Badarayana. Nyaya deals with logic and four means of knowledge; Vaisheshika with atomism and seven categories; Sankhya with the dualism of Purusha and Prakriti; Yoga with the eight-limbed path; Mimamsa with ritual duty; and Vedanta with Brahman. They are paired as Nyaya-Vaisheshika, Sankhya-Yoga and Mimamsa-Vedanta.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism
At a Glance
- Name Shad Darshana, Astika schools
- Logic Nyaya and Vaisheshika
- Dualism Sankhya and Yoga
- Vedic schools Mimamsa and Vedanta
- Opposite group Nastika: Charvaka, Buddhism, Jainism
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism
Where Does It Fit?
This is the twelfth topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It begins the philosophy block and is followed by the topics on the sub-schools of Vedanta and on the Charvaka school. Previous topic: Judaism. Next topic: Vedanta Sub-Schools (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita).
What Are the Six Schools of Indian Philosophy?
| School | Founder and text | Core idea | Pramanas accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyaya | Gautama (Akshapada); Nyaya Sutra | Logic and reasoning. Knowledge of reality frees the soul. God is accepted as creator in later Nyaya. Navya-Nyaya developed by Gangesha | Four: pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference), upamana (comparison), shabda (testimony) |
| Vaisheshika | Kanada (Uluka); Vaisheshika Sutra; Prashastapada’s commentary | Atomism: the world is made of eternal atoms called paramanu. Seven categories: dravya, guna, karma, samanya, vishesha, samavaya and abhava | Two: perception and inference |
| Sankhya | Kapila; Sankhya Karika by Ishvarakrishna | Dualism of Purusha (conscious soul) and Prakriti (matter) with three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. Twenty-five principles. Traditionally atheistic | Three: perception, inference, testimony |
| Yoga | Patanjali; Yoga Sutras | Control of the mind through the eight limbs. Accepts Ishvara as a special purusha. Uses Sankhya metaphysics | Three, as in Sankhya |
| Purva Mimamsa | Jaimini; Mimamsa Sutra; Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara | The Vedas are eternal; right ritual action gives dharma. Gives little place to God | Five (Prabhakara) or six (Kumarila), with arthapatti and anupalabdhi |
| Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta) | Badarayana; Brahma Sutra; Upanishads and Gita | Brahman is the ultimate reality; liberation by knowledge. Sub-schools differ on Brahman and the self | Six in Advaita |
What Are the Key Concepts Behind the Schools?
- Astika and Nastika: Astika schools accept the Vedas; Nastika schools such as Charvaka, Buddhism and Jainism reject them, as in Charvaka/Lokayata School
- Pramana: the means of valid knowledge, such as perception, inference, comparison and testimony
- Purusha and Prakriti: the conscious principle and the material principle in Sankhya; their contact is the cause of the world
- Three gunas: sattva (purity), rajas (activity) and tamas (inertia), the strands of Prakriti
- Eight limbs of Yoga: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi
- Paramanu: the atom of Vaisheshika, which is indivisible and eternal; Kanada is an early atomist
- Apurva: the unseen force of Mimamsa that links ritual action to later results
- Prasthanatrayi: the three sources of Vedanta: the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate names: Darshana means view or vision; Shad Darshana is the six views; Saddarshana is used by some; Purva Mimamsa is also called Karma Mimamsa and Uttara Mimamsa is called Jnana Mimamsa or Vedanta
- Pairs: Nyaya-Vaisheshika share logic and nature; Sankhya-Yoga share metaphysics; Mimamsa-Vedanta share the Vedic text
- Theism of the schools: Sankhya and Mimamsa are generally treated as non-theistic in early forms, while Nyaya, Yoga and Vedanta accept God in different ways
- Karika: a verse form used for philosophical summaries, such as the Sankhya Karika
- Link with Buddhism: Buddhism and Jainism shared some debates with these schools, as in tripitaka/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Founder Siddhartha Gautama, Sakya clan Core teaching Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path Canon Tripitaka in Pali Three schools Theravada,…">Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka)
- Link to yoga today: yoga as practice is dated to this tradition, and summer solstice) UN resolution 69/131, 11 December 2014 Co-sponsors 175 (record) Nodal ministry AYUSH First event…">International Yoga Day on 21 June is covered in International Yoga Day
- Link to Vedanta: the three major Vedanta lines are in Vedanta Sub-Schools (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita)
- Vaisheshika and science: Vaisheshika atomism is sometimes compared with ancient Greek atomism, but the two arose independently
- Navya-Nyaya: the new school of logic that flourished in Mithila and Navadvipa in Bengal from the thirteenth century
- Dating: the sutras are dated variously between the early centuries BCE and the early centuries CE; exam questions focus on the person and the idea
- Twenty-five tattvas: Sankhya counts Purusha, Prakriti, Mahat or Buddhi, Ahamkara, Manas, five senses of knowledge, five organs of action, five subtle elements and five gross elements
- Seven padarthas: Vaisheshika lists substance, quality, action, universality, particularity, inherence and non-existence as the categories of reality
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Match schools: founder and text pairs
- Pramanas: number accepted by each school
- Ideas: atomism, dualism, ritual and Brahman
- Pairs: Nyaya-Vaisheshika, Sankhya-Yoga and Mimamsa-Vedanta
- Common errors: calling Sankhya monistic, or Patanjali the founder of Sankhya
As an analytical point, the six schools show a long tradition of reasoned debate, in which even non-theistic systems were counted as part of one culture. Their ideas of logic, mind and ethics remain a resource for modern philosophy and wellbeing.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Match Founder, text, idea
- Pramanas Counts asked
- Mains Rationalism in tradition
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the three sub-schools of Vedanta. Next topic: Vedanta Sub-Schools (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita).
Key People and Terms
- Darshana Philosophical view
- Pramana Means of knowledge
- Purusha Conscious soul
- Prakriti Primal matter
- Paramanu Atom
- Brahman Ultimate reality
Related Topics in Maarg Manthan
Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.
- Six Systems of Indian Philosophy (Ancient History)
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Nyaya: Gautama, logic, 4 pramanas.
- Vaisheshika: Kanada, atoms.
- Sankhya: Kapila, Purusha-Prakriti.
- Yoga: Patanjali, eight limbs.
- Mimamsa: Jaimini; Vedanta: Badarayana.
Do Not Confuse With
- Nyaya and Vaisheshika Logic and reasoning versus atoms and categories
- Sankhya and Yoga Metaphysics versus practice
- Purva and Uttara Mimamsa Ritual versus knowledge of Brahman
Memory Hook
Gautama reasons, Kanada atoms, Kapila divides, Patanjali trains, Jaimini acts, Badarayana knows.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the relevance of Indian philosophy and its rational tradition. These points give a balanced frame.
- Rationalism Debate and logic
- Plurality Theist and non-theist views
- Relevance Yoga and ethics today
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“The six schools of Indian philosophy reflect diversity within a common tradition. Discuss.”
How to Answer
- Schools Six and their founders.
- Ideas Logic to Brahman.
- Pairs Three linked pairs.
- Value Debate culture.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the six schools of Indian philosophy?
The six schools are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta. Together they are called Shad Darshana or the Astika systems because they accept the authority of the Vedas. They are traditionally attributed to Gautama, Kanada, Kapila, Patanjali, Jaimini and Badarayana in that order.
Who founded Nyaya, Vaisheshika and Sankhya?
Nyaya is traditionally attributed to Gautama, also called Akshapada, whose Nyaya Sutra covers logic. Vaisheshika is credited to Kanada, who taught atomism. Sankhya is credited to the sage Kapila, and its main early text is the Sankhya Karika of Ishvarakrishna, which describes Purusha and Prakriti.
What are the main teachings of the Sankhya school?
Sankhya teaches dualism of two eternal realities, Purusha, the conscious soul, and Prakriti, the unconscious matter made of three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. The world arises when the two come in contact, and liberation comes from knowing that Purusha is different from Prakriti.
What is the difference between Astika and Nastika schools?
Astika schools accept the authority of the Vedas and include the six systems from Nyaya to Vedanta. Nastika schools reject the authority of the Vedas and include the Charvaka or Lokayata, Buddhism and Jainism. The terms do not mean theist and atheist, since Sankhya and Mimamsa are Astika.
Why are the six schools important for UPSC?
The six schools are a steady source of Prelims questions on founders, texts, pramanas and ideas such as atomism and dualism, and they feed Mains essays on rationalism in Indian thought. They also help in optional philosophy and in understanding Vedanta, Bhakti and yoga.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Kanada is the founder of the Vaisheshika school.
It teaches atomism.
2 Sankhya is a monistic school of philosophy.
It is dualistic: Purusha and Prakriti.
3 The Yoga Sutras were composed by Patanjali.
They describe eight limbs.
4 Nyaya accepts four pramanas.
Perception, inference, comparison and testimony.
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