This blogpost elucidates the concept of Vaisesika Philosphy of Hinduism. It explains how Sage Kanada defines the meaning of this universe with the help of this philosophy.
DEFINITION
Vaisesika: A Concept of Atomism
Vaisesika came into being by the genius and knowledge of Rishi Kanada during the 300 BCE. He wrote the Vaisesika Sutra to detail his profound knowledge and inference of the concept of our life and our universe. According to the Vaisesika Philosophy, the believes the universe of the brahman is made up of certain fundamental particles called Atoms. This philosophy of Atomism forms the foundational basis of the philosophy of Vaisesika. According to the Vaisesika philosophy, the world and the experience we have in this universe are caused by an interaction and arrangement of these Atoms or Parmanu.
The word, Vaises or Visesa basically means uniqueness or particularity of any element in this universe.
ORIGIN
The Uniqueness of every Substance
According to this school of Hindu Philosophy, everything that exists in our universe is a Padarth. Every Padarth is unique in its existence and its functions. They can also be divided into six types: Dravya or Substance, Guna or Quality, Karma or Activity, Samanya or Generality, Samanya or Particularity and Samavaya or Inherence.
EXPLANATION OF THE PHILOSOPHY
Vaisesika: The Science of the Philosophy
As a form of Atomis, the concept and logic of Vaisesika theory is based on the function and forms of eternal substances. There are basically five types of Eternal Substances, Time, Space, Self, Mind and Ether. There are four non-Eternal substances as well, namely Earth, Water, Fire and Air. According to Vaisesika, the way of attaining knowledge is two pronged: through Perception and Inference. This means that instead of using four elements of attaining knowledge as proposed by Nyaya philosophy, Vaisesika only suggests two types of Pramanas.
ANCIENT USAGE
Vaisesika: Over the centuries
The Vaisesika Philosophy grew over various centuries and culminated into its complete form with the conception of Vaisesika Sutra in 300 BCE. The outlook of this philosophy is very spiritual and progressive in its outlook. According to this theory any kind of ignorance prevents us from attaining complete liberation from the suffering of life. It supports the Law of Karma which gets initiated with our actions and its consqequences.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL USAGE
The Beginning of Dharma and Liberation
The Vaisesika Philosophy gave the concept of Dharma prime importance. According to Rishi Kanada, the concept of Dharma is the correct way to complete progress in the physical world as well as the spiritual world. The Vaisesika Philosophy teaches and advocates the way one should lead a life which is in congruence with Dharma in the physical world and attain knowledge so as to attain Liberation.
ADAPTATION OF CONCEPT IN OTHER PHILOSOPHIES
Vaisesika, God and Buddhism
Buddhism and Vaisesika have some theories and beliefs in common, like the concept of Nominalism. The Vaisesika Philosophy also supports the existence of God. According to the Vaisesika Philosophy, God controls the movement and patterns of atoms which form the fundamental unit of the universe. According to this theory the actions of individuals ned up in a reward or a punishment as per the law of Karma. This theory supports that the creation of the universe is because of the God.
Vaisesika and our Life
Many contemporary theories and beliefs have the foundation of Vaisesika Philosophy. It supports the understanding of this universe with the concept of Atomism and supports the attainment of knowledge by letting go of ignorance and adopting the method of Perfection and Inference.
To understand more about life and the guiding philosophies of our Universe as explained by Hinduism, keep reading more post on our blog, Sameedh.
