2.3. Nyāya Darśana

Gautama Munī is the founder of the Nyāya Darśana. By creating the Nyāyasūtras, he established the principles of the tradition within a dārśanic framework. Gautama Munī was also known as Akśapāda.

Hence, this Darśana is also recognized as the Akshapāda Darśana.

“pramāṇairarthaparīkṣaṇaṃ nyāyaḥ”^[1]

This Darśana defines ‘nyāya’ as the examination of objects through valid means of knowledge. Pratyakṣa (perception), anumāṇa (inference), upamāṇa (comparison and analogy) and śabda (verbal testimony) are the four means to attain valid knowledge.

Moreover, the School proclaims sixteen padārthas

“pramāṇaprameyasaṃśayaprayojanadṛṣṭāntasiddhāntāvayavatarkanirṇayavāda-jalpavitaṇḍāhetvābhāsacchalajātinigrahasthanānāṃtattvajñānātniḥśreyasādhigamaḥ”

“Means, right knowledge, doubt, purpose, familiar instance, established tenet, members, confutation, ascertainment, discussion, wrangling, cavil, fallacy, quibble, futility, and occasion for rebuke, by the knowledge of these substances on can attain mokṣa.”^[2]

The Nyāya Darśana is a school of thought that emphasizes the significance of reasoning. By providing authentic reasoning and various means of knowledge, this Darśana offers great contributions towards re-establishing and reinforcing eternal Vedic principles. These principles include, among others, the authenticity of the Vedas, the immortality of the ātmān, the existence of Paramātmān, and reality of the world. Although the Nyāya Darśana does not exist today as a living tradition, its texts are still meticulously studied for their insights on skillfully establishing one’s belief through accurate reasoning and obtaining proficiency in scriptural debates.^[3]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Nyāysūtra, Vatsyāyan Bhāshya, 1/1/1

[2]:

Dr. Joshi G.N., Atma and Moksa, Gujrat university Ahmedabad, 1965, pp.1-27

[3]:

Brahmadarśanadāsa Sādhu, Bhāratīya Darśanonī Ruparekhā-1, 2007, pp. 182-199