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== परिचयः॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः॥ Introduction ==

The theories of cognition (Pramana) formulated by the ancient thinkers, arose out of a need to understand valid cognition and Nyaya darshana offers the definition and lakshanas for Pramanas. Different Darshana shastras have accepted the need and function of Pramana but they have their unique principles about the nature and scope of the Pramanas. (Pages 39 to 42 of Reference <ref name=":32">Harh, Amal Kumar. (1994) Ph. D Thesis Title : The Means of knowing a negative fact a critical study on the theory of Anupalabdhi in Indian philosophy. [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/137453/7/07_chapter_02.pdf (Chapter 2)] University of North Bengal</ref>). Both Astika and Nastika schools of thought have their own explanations for the pramanas accepted by them, thus atleast ten pramanas have been put forth in various Darshanas. Of the ten pramanas, six of them are accepted in varying numbers by each school of Darshana shastras. Here we discuss briefly what the ten pramanas are and of them the shad pramanas which are accepted by the Astika darshanas.   

The theories of cognition (Pramana) formulated by the ancient thinkers, arose out of a need to understand valid cognition and Nyaya darshana offers the definition and lakshanas for Pramanas. Different Darshana shastras have accepted the need and function of Pramana but they have their unique principles about the nature and scope of the Pramanas. (Pages 39 to 42 of Reference <ref name=":32">Harh, Amal Kumar. (1994) Ph. D Thesis Title : The Means of knowing a negative fact a critical study on the theory of Anupalabdhi in Indian philosophy. [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/137453/7/07_chapter_02.pdf (Chapter 2)] University of North Bengal</ref>). Both Astika and Nastika schools of thought have their own explanations for the pramanas accepted by them, thus atleast ten pramanas have been put forth in various Darshanas. Of these pramanas, six of them are accepted in varying numbers by each school of Darshana shastras. Here we discuss briefly what the different kinds of pramanas are and of them the shad pramanas which are accepted by the Astika darshanas.   

==षड्प्रमाणाः ॥ Shad Pramanas==

 

Pramanas though are more than ten in number, six of them (Shad Pramanas) accepted by astika schools of darshanas are discussed here.

 

===षड्प्रमाणाः ॥ Shad Pramanas===

Pramanas though are ten in number, six of them (Shad Pramanas) accepted by astika schools of darshanas are discussed here.

#प्रत्यक्षम् ॥ Pratyaksha (perception)

#प्रत्यक्षम् ॥ Pratyaksha (perception)

#अनुमानम् ॥ Anumana (inference)

#अनुमानम् ॥ Anumana (inference)

#शब्दः ॥ Shabda or aagama (verbal testimony)

#शब्दः ॥ Shabda (Word) or आगमः ॥ Agama (verbal testimony)

#उपमानम् ॥ Upamana (comparison)

#उपमानम् ॥ Upamana (comparison)

#अर्थापत्तिः ॥ Arthaapatti (presumption)

#अर्थापत्तिः ॥ Arthaapatti (presumption)

#अभावः ॥ Abhaava (negation or non-apprehension)

#अभावः ॥ Abhaava or अनुपलब्धिः ॥ Anupalabdhi (negation or non-apprehension)

Gautama in his Nyayasutras lays down that there are four kinds of Pramanas. Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Analogy) and Shabda (Words) are the Pramanas. (Page 36 of Reference <ref name=":6">Mm. Ganganatha Jha. (1939) Gautama's Nyayasutras With Vatsyayana Bhashya. Poona : Oriental Book Agency. ([https://archive.org/details/GautamasNyayasutras/page/n20 Page no 20])</ref>)<blockquote>प्रत्यक्षानुमानोपमानशब्दाः प्रमाणानि ।।३।। {प्रमाणौद्देशसूत्रम्} (Nyay. Sutr. 1.1.3) <ref name=":4">Nyaya Sutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1 Ahnika 1])</ref></blockquote>

To facilitate ease of explaining the various pramanas the sutras of Nyaya darshana have been used to explain four of these six pramanas in the present article. It may be noted that while these same concepts are accepted in other darshanas also they are assumed and not explicitly mentioned as sutras. Gautama in his Nyayasutras lays down that there are four kinds of Pramanas. <blockquote>प्रत्यक्षानुमानोपमानशब्दाः प्रमाणानि ।।३।। {प्रमाणौद्देशसूत्रम्} (Nyay. Sutr. 1.1.3) <ref name=":4">Nyaya Sutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1 Ahnika 1])</ref></blockquote>Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Analogy) and Shabda (Words) are the Pramanas. (Page 36 of Reference <ref name=":6">Mm. Ganganatha Jha. (1939) Gautama's Nyayasutras With Vatsyayana Bhashya. Poona : Oriental Book Agency. ([https://archive.org/details/GautamasNyayasutras/page/n20 Page no 20])</ref>) Now we proceed to discuss the six pramanas.

 

==प्रत्यक्षप्रमाणम् ॥ Pratyaksha Pramana==

==प्रत्यक्षप्रमाणम् ॥ Pratyaksha Pramana==

Knowledge which is produced by the contact of a sense-organ with an object is called pratyaksha pramana. Pratyaksha pramana is the primary and fundamental of all the sources of valid knowledge and it is universally recognized so by all schools of philosophy. According to Nyaya , perception is not the only source of our knowledge, but is the basis of the other sources or means of knowledge.  

Knowledge which is produced by the contact of a sense-organ with an object is called pratyaksha pramana. Pratyaksha pramana is the primary and fundamental of all the sources of valid knowledge and it is universally recognized so by all schools of philosophy. According to Nyaya , perception is not the only source of our knowledge, but is the basis of the other sources or means of knowledge.  

Shabda pramana is designated in various ways by the different schools of Indian Darshanas. Thus, it is "shabda", according to Naiyayikas and Mimamsakas, "Shastra" according to Vedantins, "Aptavachana" according to Samkhya and "Aagama" to Yoga darshana.<blockquote>तया च सर्वेषां व्यवहाराः प्रवर्तन्त इति । एवमेभिः प्रमाणैर्देवमनुष्यतिरश्च व्यवहाराः प्रकल्पन्ते नातोऽन्यथेति ।</blockquote>Thus concludes the bhasyam of the 4 pramanas given by Nyaya sutras.

Shabda pramana is designated in various ways by the different schools of Indian Darshanas. Thus, it is "shabda", according to Naiyayikas and Mimamsakas, "Shastra" according to Vedantins, "Aptavachana" according to Samkhya and "Aagama" to Yoga darshana.<blockquote>तया च सर्वेषां व्यवहाराः प्रवर्तन्त इति । एवमेभिः प्रमाणैर्देवमनुष्यतिरश्च व्यवहाराः प्रकल्पन्ते नातोऽन्यथेति ।</blockquote>Thus concludes the bhasyam of the 4 pramanas given by Nyaya sutras.

==Arthaapatti Pramana==

==Arthaapatti Pramana==

Arthapatti is the presumption of something for the explanation of a known fact. The word arthaapatti gies under various translations as presumption, postulation, supposition, implication, and assumption. When a given or perceived fact cannot be explained without some other fact we have to presuppose or postulate the existence of this other fact even though we do not perceive it. Example : when a particular person named Chaitra, known to be alive, is not found in his house, it is assumed that he must be somewhere outside.  What is presumed is said to be a distinct source of knowledge.

Arthapatti is the presumption of something for the explanation of a known fact. The word arthaapatti goes under various translations as presumption, postulation, supposition, implication, and assumption.  

 

When a given or perceived fact cannot be explained without some other fact we have to presuppose or postulate the existence of this other fact even though we do not perceive it. Example : when a particular person named Chaitra, known to be alive, is not found in his house, it is assumed that he must be somewhere outside.  What is presumed is said to be a distinct source of knowledge.

==Anupalabdhi Pramana==

==Anupalabdhi Pramana==

According to Kumarila Bhatta Mimamsa and Advaita Vedanta Anupalabdhi is an independent pramana.<ref name=":32" />  

According to Kumarila Bhatta Mimamsa and Advaita Vedanta Anupalabdhi is an independent pramana.<ref name=":32" />  

Knowledge by which we immediately cognize the non-existence of an object, e.g. absence of rainfall indicates that the connection of cloud and the wind has not happened. <ref name=":42">M. Chandraiah. (2002) Ph. D. Thesis Title : ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/71380 Anupalabdhi as a Pramana. A Critical Study.]'' Tirupati : Venkateswara University</ref>

Knowledge by which we immediately cognize the non-existence of an object, e.g. absence of rainfall indicates that the connection of cloud and the wind has not happened. <ref name=":42">M. Chandraiah. (2002) Ph. D. Thesis Title : ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/71380 Anupalabdhi as a Pramana. A Critical Study.]'' Tirupati : Venkateswara University</ref>

== Pramanas in Astika Darshanas ==

== Pramanas in Astika Darshanas ==

It is generally admitted by all the schools of philosophy that pramaa is the true knowledge and pramaana is the source of such knowledge. However, difference of opinions exist as to the the nature of the truth which each of them claims for its pramaana. The sutras and commentaries which explain the various Pramanas accepted by each of the astika Shad Darshanas are henceforth addressed in this context.

While what the shad pramanas are have been discussed here, [[Pramanas in Astika Darshanas (आस्तिकदर्शन-प्रमाणानि)]] discusses which darshana accepts which pramanas as means for valid cognition along with the number of pramanas that they consider in their siddhanta.

 

 

 

<blockquote>इन्द्रियप्रणालिकया चित्तस्य बाह्यवस्तूपरागात्तद्विषया सामान्यविशेषात्मनोऽर्थस्य विशेषावधारणप्रधाना वृत्तिः प्रत्यक्षं प्रमाणम् । फलमविशिष्टः पौरुषेयश्चित्तवृत्तिबोधः । </blockquote><blockquote>अनुमेयस्य तुल्यजातीयेष्वनुवृत्तो भिन्नजातीयेभ्यो व्यावृत्तः सम्बन्धो यस्तद्विषया सामान्यावधारणप्रधाना वृत्तिरनुमानम् । यथा देशान्तरप्राप्तेर्गतिमच्चन्द्रतारकं चैत्रवत्, विन्ध्यश्चाप्राप्तिरगतिः । </blockquote><blockquote>आप्तेन दृष्टोऽनुमितः वा अर्थः परत्र स्वबोधसङ्क्रान्तये शब्देनोपदिश्यते । शब्दात्तदर्थविषया वृत्तिः श्रोतुरागमः । यस्याश्रद्धेयार्थो वक्ता न दृष्टानुमितार्थः स आगमः प्लवते । </blockquote>Summarizing the Vyasa Bhashya given above an object naturally has generic (सामान्या) and specific (विशेषः) attributes. The Pratyaksha pramama considers the specific aspect of the object. Chitta when affected by the external object through the path of sense-organs gives rise to a function with the specific attribute of that object. Such a function is called Pratyaksha pramana. The effect of Pratyaksha pramana ultimately is that the Purusha cognises the function of Chitta (चित्तवृत्तिबोधः).<ref>Yoga Sutras with Vyasa Bhashyam ([https://archive.org/details/YogaSutrasOfPatanjaliBhashyaOfVyasaGanganathaJha1907/page/n29 Pada 1])</ref>

 

Further Anumana or Inference is explained. There is a certain relationship which is common (अनुवृत्तिः) to all homogenous objects (तुल्यजातीयेषु) and dissociated (व्यावृत्तः) from the heterogenous ones (भिन्नजातीयेषु). Anumana is that function having the above said relationship for its object concerned chiefly with the ascertainment (अवधारणप्रधाना) of its generic attribute. For e.g. a person, say Chaitra, changes his position only through movement. Similarly when we see planets changing their positions we infer that there is movement, just like in Chaitra, which cannot be perceived. On the other hand, Vidhya mountain does not change its position so we infer that there is no movement.

 

A certain object, having been either perceived or inferred by an authoritative person, is verbally expressed for the sake of transferring that cognition to another person. Vrtti (function of the object) generated by verbal transfer of cognition is Agama for the listener. That Agama given by an untrustworthy person, who has neither seen nor inferred an object fails. 

 

 

According to Nyaya darshana, pramana is the unique operative cause (kaarana) of pramaa or right knowledge.  It is the complex of specific conditions or causes (karana), other than the subject and the object, which invariably produces valid knowledge.    <blockquote>प्रत्यक्षानुमानोपमानशब्दाः प्रमाणानि ।। ३ ।। {प्रमाणौद्देशसूत्रम्}</blockquote>

 

Kanda who occupies the first place  in traceable history of epistemological tradition states that the general definition of pramana should be based on the principle that the cause of cognition should be free from defects (अदुष्टं विद्या । वैशेषिक-९,२.१२ । adustam vidya (Vais. Sutr. 9.2.12)   

 

 

 

'''Shabda Pramana''' - Vedas<blockquote>औत्पत्तिकस् तु शब्दस्यार्थेन संबन्धस् तस्य ज्ञानम् उपदेशोऽव्यतिरेकश् चार्थेऽनुपलब्धे तत्प्रमाणं बादरायणस्यानपेक्षत्वात् -१.१.५<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>On the other hand, the relation of the word with its meaning is eternal. Consequently Upadesha (injunctions or vedopadesa) is the means of knowing dharma and it is undeviated in regard to objects not perceived by other means of knowledge. It is authoritative specially as it is independent according to Badarayana. Page 23 of [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.274358/page/n22 Link]

 

'''Shabda Pramana''' - Smrtis<blockquote>अपि वा कर्तृसामान्यात् प्रमाणम् अनुमानं स्यात् -१,३.२</blockquote>But on account of Karta (teacher and preacher of Veda and Smrtis) being the same, inference would be that Smrti is also pramana just like the Vedas. Page 72 of [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.274358/page/n22 Link]

 

 

 

 

 

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Darshanas]]

[[Category:Darshanas]]