Samavaya Foundation of Nyaya-Vaisesika Philosophy

Book Specification

Book Description

Preface

Samavaya is one of the six categories, i.e. the sixth category in the Vaiseikastra and the Prasastapda-bhya. Later on abhva (absence) is added to these six.The Vaiseika system developed independently side by side with the Nyya system of Philosophy. Both Nyaya and Vaiseika being realist and with causality as the basic theory, came to be regarded as one system, in course of time. The commentators and particularly the authors of the prakaraa granthas treated them as one.

The Nyaya system has accepted the seven categories of Vaiseika though the Nyya-stra enumerated sixteen categories, different from that of the Kanda-sutra. In fact, the sixteen categories of Nyaya are quite different in concept of categories of Vaiseika. The Vaiseika traces the evolution of the physical world to the six categories, which are considered as ultimate reality. Therefore, the pluralist and realist Naiyyika has got to accept the Vaiseika categories. The Vaiseika theory of emergence of the gross elements in, or from the subtle element, anu or atom is based on samavya. Without the instrumentality of savavaya combination of subtle and unperceptible anus cannot be explained. According to Vaiseika system the gross physical entity emerges through the combination of subtle atoms and acquires dimension and perceptibility when atoms are combined in the given process through samavya. Thus for explaining logically the evolution of the world order the role of samvya in Nyaya-Vaiseika philosophy is om nipotent and overpervading, without which the system cannot stand. It is why samavya is termed as the corner stone of this system of philosophy; while some other describes the function of samavaya ‘the magic of samavaya’. Even if it is ‘a magic’ that is to be investigated.

Introduction

The Indian Philosophical Thoughts: Origin and Development of Nyya-Vaieika

The Indian philosophical thoughts may broadly be divided into two categories the astika (theist) and nastika (atheist). Usually those who accept the authority of the Vedas and consider the Vedas as infallible are called astikas and those who reject the authority of the Vedas are termed as nstikas.

However, we find the following distinct schools of Indian philosophical thoughts-the materialistic philosophy, tradition ally ascribed to Carvaka, also known as Carvaka darana; the phi losophy of the Jainas and the Philosophy of the Bauddhas; and the six systems of philosophy, commonly termed as the Brhmanical philosophy by the European scholars. These six systems are also clubbed as Nyaya-Vaiseika (N-V), Samkhya-Yoga (S-Y), and Mims-Vedanta (M-V) or Prvottara-Mims. Leaving the case of materialistic philosophy all other systems may be divided as idealist and realist, monistic and pluralistic, according to the basic concepts about the origin of the universe and the ultimate reality.

**Contents and Sample Pages**