| School | Founder | Core Focus | Key Concepts | Path to Moksha / Liberation | Other Important Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sankhya | Kapila Acharya | Metaphysics: Creator & Creation | Dualism – Purusha (Soul) and Prakriti (Nature) | Liberation through true knowledge of distinction between Purusha and Prakriti | One of the oldest systems; does not strongly emphasize a personal God |
| Yoga | Rishi Patanjali | Practical discipline for spiritual realization | Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Limbs) – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi | Control of mind and senses leading to Samadhi | Based on Yoga Sutras; closely related to Sankhya philosophy |
| Nyaya | Akshapada Gautama | Logic and Epistemology | Four valid means of knowledge (Pramana) | Removal of ignorance through valid knowledge | States suffering is due to cycle of birth and death |
| Vaisheshika | Kanada Rishi | Atomism and Metaphysics | Reality composed of atoms; categories of existence | Realization of true nature of Soul | Accepts existence of God (Supreme Soul) |
| Purva Mimamsa | Jaimini Rishi | Ritualism and Dharma | Importance of Vedic rituals | Performance of Vedic duties leads to ultimate goal | Focuses on Karma (ritual action) |
| Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta) | Ved Vyasa | Nature of Brahman and Ultimate Reality | Brahman as supreme reality | Knowledge of Brahman leads to liberation | Divided into three main sub-schools based on relation between God & Universe |
Founder: KapilaOriginally, Sankhya emphasized Prakriti (Nature).
Early Sankhya was either silent or neutral about God.It explained creation and destruction as natural processes—everything that comes into existence will eventually perish. This is the law of nature.Later (around 4th century CE), the concept of Purusha (Soul/Consciousness) was added.Sankhya became a dualistic philosophy:
The interaction (permutation and combination) of Purusha and Prakriti leads to the creation of individual beings (Jiva).
Ignorance (Avidya).
Acquire knowledge through three Pramanas:
Removing ignorance through knowledge leads toward liberation.
Founder: PatanjaliYoga is essentially Sankhya plus God (Ishvara).It also accepts:
But Yoga adds systematic practical techniques to attain liberation.
Ignorance.
Not only knowledge, but disciplined practice.Yoga prescribes the Eightfold Path (Ashtanga Yoga):
Through these practices, awareness becomes permanent, and one attains Moksha (liberation).
Founder: Akshapada GautamaNyaya focuses primarily on Epistemology—the study of how knowledge is acquired.Nyaya accepts four Pramanas (means of valid knowledge):
Upamana means understanding something by comparison.
Nyaya holds an interesting view:
Anything that truly exists is knowable.If something exists in the universe, it can, in principle, be known. This is a very rational and logical approach.
Ignorance.
Correct knowledge through valid means (Pramanas).Nyaya does not strongly emphasize God; it remains largely neutral in its early form.
Founder: Kanada (Kanada Rishi)Vaisheshika is closely related to Nyaya and is also concerned with epistemology. However, it accepts only two Pramanas:
It rejects Upamana and Shabda as independent means.
Vaisheshika is famous for its atomic theory (Paramanuvada).
Unlike early Nyaya and Sankhya, Vaisheshika accepts the existence of God.
God is seen as the force that initiates motion in atoms.Thus:
Founder: JaiminiMimamsa focuses on the earlier portions of the Vedas:
These sections deal with rituals and sacrifices (Karmakanda).
Salvation (Moksha) can be attained through proper performance of Vedic rituals and duties.Mimamsa emphasizes:
It considers the Upanishads secondary and not essential for liberation.
Mimamsa schools differ internally:
God is not central; ritual performance itself generates results.
Founder traditionally attributed to VyasaVedanta focuses on the Upanishads, the final portion of the Vedas.
Hence the name: Vedanta = “End of the Veda.”Key concepts: