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The Six Darsanas  or Shad Darshanas (Samskrit : षड्दर्शनानि) include the intellectual and philosophical discussions of concepts found in Bharatiya siddhantas (सिद्धान्तः । theory). Indian Philosophy has been intensely spiritual and has always emphasized on practical realization of truth as against the Western Philosophy which is essentially an intellectual quest for truth.     

The Six Darsanas  or Shad Darshanas (Samskrit : षड्दर्शनानि) include the intellectual and philosophical discussions of concepts found in Bharatiya siddhantas (सिद्धान्तः । theory). Indian Philosophy has been intensely spiritual and has always emphasized on practical realization of truth as against the Western Philosophy which is essentially an intellectual quest for truth.     

== व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology ==

The word '<nowiki/>''philosophy''<nowiki/>' means 'love of learning'. It signifies a natural and necessary urge in human beings to know themselves and the world in which they 'live and move and have their being'. The word '''darshana''<nowiki/>' means 'vision' and also the 'instrument of vision'. It stands for the direct, intermediate and intuitive vision of Reality, the actual perception of Truth, and also includes the means which lead to this Realization.<ref name=":22">Sharma, Chandradhar. (1962). ''The Indian Philosophy : A Critical Survey.'' USA: Barnes & Noble, Inc.</ref>

Darshana shastras give an insight into the natural and necessary urge in human beings to know themselves and the world in which they 'live and move and have their being'. The word '''darshana''<nowiki/>' means 'vision' and also the 'instrument of vision'. It stands for the direct, intermediate and intuitive vision of Reality, the actual perception of Truth, and also includes the means which lead to this Realization.<ref name=":22">Sharma, Chandradhar. (1962). ''The Indian Philosophy : A Critical Survey.'' USA: Barnes & Noble, Inc.</ref>

 

 

Brhdaranyaka Upanishad describes the fundamental concept of Atma (आत्मा ) during [[Yajnavalkya Maitreyi samvada (याज्ञवल्क्यमैत्रेय्योः संवादः)|Yajnavalkya Maitreyi Samvada]] as follows <blockquote>साक्षात् मोक्षसाधनानि इमानि आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः श्रोतव्यो मन्तव्यो निदिध्यासितव्यः ।  बृहदारण्यकोपनिषत् २-४-५ (Brhd. Upan. 2.4.5)  </blockquote>आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः । See the Self is the keynote of all schools of Bharatiya Darshana Shastras.  And this is also the reason why most of these schools are also religious sects.<ref name=":22" />

Brhdaranyaka Upanishad describes the fundamental concept of Atma (आत्मा ) during [[Yajnavalkya Maitreyi samvada (याज्ञवल्क्यमैत्रेय्योः संवादः)|Yajnavalkya Maitreyi Samvada]] as follows <blockquote>साक्षात् मोक्षसाधनानि इमानि आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः श्रोतव्यो मन्तव्यो निदिध्यासितव्यः ।  बृहदारण्यकोपनिषत् २-४-५ (Brhd. Upan. 2.4.5)  </blockquote>आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः । See the Self is the keynote of all schools of Bharatiya Darshana Shastras.  And this is also the reason why most of these schools are also religious sects.<ref name=":22" />

== Origin of Darshanas ==

== Origin of Darshanas ==

The origin of Indian Philosophy, easily traced in the Vedas, has developed as an autonomous system practically unaffected by external influences.<ref name=":22" />

The origin of Bharatiya Astika Darshanas, easily traced in the Vedas, has developed as an autonomous system practically unaffected by external influences.<ref name=":22" />

The closing period of the Samhitas witness the conception of a single creator and controller of the Universe, variously called Prajapati, Visvakarman, Purusha, Hiranyagarbha, Brahmanaspati and Brahman. But this divine controller was yet only a deity and the quest to know the nature of this deity began in the Upanishads.<ref name=":12" />

The closing period of the Samhitas witness the conception of a single creator and controller of the Universe, variously called Prajapati, Visvakarman, Purusha, Hiranyagarbha, Brahmanaspati and Brahman. But this divine controller was yet only a deity and the quest to know the nature of this deity began in the Upanishads.<ref name=":12" />

Upon this foundation of the Upanishads, principal systems of philosophy developed with systematic treatises being written in short pregnant half sentences called Sutras, which did not elaborate the subject, but were intended for those who had direct elaborate oral instructions on the subject.<ref name=":12" />

Upon this foundation of the Upanishads, principal systems of philosophy developed with systematic treatises being written in short pregnant half sentences called Sutras, which did not elaborate the subject, but were intended for those who had direct elaborate oral instructions on the subject.<ref name=":12" />

== Systematization of Darshanas ==

== Systematization of Darshanas ==

It can be seen that the spirit of philosophical enquiry, although had begun in the days of the earliest Upanishads, had continued even in circles other than those of the Upanishads. The Buddha and Jaina activities were also probably happening concurrently as no reference to them is seen in the Upanishads. Thus, it can be said that there were different forms of philosophical inquiry in spheres other than those of the Upanishads, of which we have but scanty records. In the assemblies of the sages and their pupils, the views of the heretical or heterodox thinkers were probably discussed and refuted. So it may have continued until some illustrious member of the assembly such as Gautama or Kanada collected the purport of these discussions on various topics and problems, filled up many of the missing links, classified and arranged these on the form of a system of philosophy and recorded it in '''Sutras (सूत्रम्)'''.<ref name=":12" /> Thus, the object of these treatises, whether Astika or Nastika Darshanas, is three-fold   

It can be seen that the spirit of philosophical enquiry, although had begun in the days of the earliest Upanishads, had continued even in circles other than those of the Upanishads. The Buddha and Jaina activities were also probably happening concurrently as no reference to them is seen in the Upanishads. Thus, it can be said that there were different forms of philosophical inquiry in spheres other than those of the Upanishads, of which we have but scanty records. In the assemblies of the sages and their pupils, the views of the heretical or heterodox thinkers were probably discussed and refuted. So it may have continued until some illustrious member of the assembly such as Gautama or Kanada collected the purport of these discussions on various topics and problems, filled up many of the missing links, classified and arranged these on the form of a system of philosophy and recorded it in '''Sutras (सूत्रम्)'''.<ref name=":12" /> Almost all shastras granthas are written in a certain writing format and the [[Shastra Lekhana Paddhati (शास्त्रलेखनपद्धति)|lekhana paddati]] (way of writing) includes one or a few of the following 

The object of these treatises, whether Astika or Nastika Darshanas, is three-fold   

# To consolidate the teaching of the particular school to which they belong.   

# To consolidate the teaching of the particular school to which they belong.   

# To criticize others where they diverge from a particular school.   

# To criticize others where they diverge from a particular school.