Ṣaḍ Darśanas — The Six Classical Philosophical Schools
Ṣaḍ darśanas (Sanskrit: ṣaḍ = six + darśana = sight/viewpoint/philosophical school; 'the six viewpoints') refers to the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Indian philosophy that accept the authority of the Vedas as pramāṇa (valid source of knowledge).
The Six Schools:
- Nyāya — Logic and epistemology; founded by Gautama; establishes valid means of knowledge.
- Vaiśeṣika — Atomic pluralism; founded by Kaṇāda; analyses the categories of reality.
- Sāṃkhya — Dualistic enumeration; founded by Kapila; posits puruṣa and prakṛti as the two ultimate realities.
- Yoga — Discipline of the mind; founded by Patañjali; the practical complement of Sāṃkhya.
- Mīmāṃsā — Exegesis of the Veda's ritual injunctions; founded by Jaimini; emphasises dharma and karma.
- Vedānta — Enquiry into the nature of Brahman; founded on the Prasthāna-traya (Upaniṣads, Brahma Sūtras, Gītā); the culminating school.
Viśiṣṭādvaita's Place: Among the Vedānta schools (Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, etc.), Viśiṣṭādvaita as established by Śrī Rāmānujāchārya is held by the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition to be the most faithful interpretation of the prasthāna-traya — preserving the reality of individual souls and the world while affirming the supremacy of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa.