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| === Advaitha Drishtikona === | | === Advaitha Drishtikona === |
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− | Advaita vedanta also defines pramana as the operative cause (kaarana) of prama or ture knowledge. It defines | + | Advaita vedanta also defines pramana as the operative cause (kaarana) of prama or ture knowledge. It defines prama in two ways. First, prama means knowledge that has both the characteristics of novelty and uncontradictoriness. This means that true knowledge is uncontradicted and original, i.e. it gives us new information. Secondly, prama simply means uncontradicted knowledge of objects, excluding or including memory. |
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− | There are ten kinds of Pramanas but three are most prominent. | + | === Samkhya and Yoga Drishtikona === |
| + | Samkhya and Yoga concept of pramana is different and original from all the other mentioned views. Pathanjali of Yoga holds that pramana is the function of chitta. Samkhya considers knowledge as belonging to buddhi only, which though essentially is insentient, acts like a sentient entity when the sentience of Purusha is reflected upon it. Both these systems offer an original definition of pramana as the function of the buddhi or chitta. |
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| + | == Number of Pramanas == |
| + | There are ten kinds of Pramanas, but in the matter of recognizing different pramanas, different schools of Indian Philosophy adopted divergent schemes. The number of pramanas accepted by them vary from one to eight. |
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| + | Charvakas accept pratyaksha pramana (perception) only as a single means of knowledge. |
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| + | Vaiseshikas accept pratyaksha (perception) and anumana (inference). |
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| + | Samkhya, Yoga, Dvaita, Visishtaadvaita schools of Uttara Mimamsa recognize 3 Pramanas - pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference) and shabda or aagama (verbal testimony) as the means of knowledge. |
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| + | Naiyaayikas recognize 4 Pramanas - pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference) and shabda or aagama (verbal testimony) and Upamana (comparison) as the means of knowledge. |
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| + | Prabhakara school of Purva Mimamsa accepts 5 Pramanas - pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference) and shabda or aagama (verbal testimony) and Upamana (comparison) and arthaapatti (presumption) as the means of knowledge. |
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| + | Kumarilabhatta school of Purva Mimamsa and Advaita Vedanta of Uttara Mimamsa school both accept 6 pramanas - pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference), shabda or aagama (verbal testimony) and Upamana (comparison), arthaapatti (presumption) and abhaava (negation or non-apprehension) as the means of knowledge. |
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| + | Pauranikas admit the above 6 with the addition of sambhava (probability or inclusion) and aitihya (tradition or rumour). |
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| + | Tantrikas recognize admit along with the above 8 |
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| Pramana means that which is the cause of evidence or "prameya," prame means right understanding. one who uses such pramana is called "pramatra," and the right understanding becomes "pramiti," | | Pramana means that which is the cause of evidence or "prameya," prame means right understanding. one who uses such pramana is called "pramatra," and the right understanding becomes "pramiti," |