Hindu Schools of Darshana

Mimansa
Jaimini, Mimansa-Sutra
This philosophy emphasizes the concept of valid knowledge. According to Purva
Mimamsa, Vedas are eternal and possess all knowledge. It says that the essence of the
Vedas is dharma.

Yoga
Patanjali, Yoga-Sutra
Yoga literally means the union of two principal entities. Yogic techniques control body,
mind & sense organs, thus considered as a means of achieving freedom or mukti.

Vaiseshika
Kanada, Vaiseshika-Sutra
The basis of the school's philosophy is that all objects in the physical universe are
reducible to a finite number of atoms and Brahman is regarded as the fundamental force
that causes consciousness in these atoms. Vaisheshika believe that all objects of the
universe are composed of five elements–earth, water, air, fire and ether.

Nyaya
Gautama, Nyaya-Sutra
Nyaya Philosophy states that nothing is acceptable unless it is in accordance with reason
and experience (scientific approach). Nyaya is considered as a technique of logical
thinking.

Samkhya
Kapila, Samkhya-Sutra
Samkhya postulates that everything in reality stems from purusha (self, soul or mind)
and prakriti (matter, creative agency, energy). Purush cannot be modified or changed
while prakriti brings change in all objects.
Vedanta
Badarayana, Vedanta-Sutra
The Vedanta, or Uttara Mimamsa, school concentrates on the philosophical teachings of
the Upanishads. Six schools originated from vedanta.
I) Dvaita, the dualistic philosophy propagated by Mādhvācārya says that the
Brahman and individual soul are different.
II) Vishishtadvaita is qualified non-dualism and propagated by Śrī Rāmānuja.
According to him, Brahman and soul are different, yet the individual soul is
dependent on the Brahman and has to ultimately become one with the Brahman.
III) Advaita propagated by Śrī Śaṃkarācārya. According to advaita philosophy,
individual soul is nothing but the Brahman. All that exists in the world is only the
Brahman, thereby asserting the omnipresent nature of the Brahman.
IV) Dvaitadvaita propagated by Nimbarka. It states that the Brahman is the highest
reality, the controller of all.
V) Shuddhadvaita propagated by Vallabhacharya. It states that both God and the
individual self are the same, and not different.
VI) Achintya Bheda Abheda (Bhakti) propagated by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It
emphasizes that the individual self (Jīvatman) is both different and not different
from Brahman.

Charvaka
Brhaspati, Barhaspatya-Sutras
According to Charvaka there is no other world. Hence, death is the end of humans &
pleasure is the ultimate object in life. It is also known as the Lokayata. Charvaka Sutra
claims that all reality is material. What this directly implies is that there is no such thing
as spirit, and God does not exist.

Buddha
Sidhhartha, Tripitaka
The world as full of misery and the cause of this misery is desires due to ignorance. It is
considered a man’s duty to seek nirvana (liberation) from this painful world. The
philosophy talks about four noble truths. Suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world.
Every suffering has a cause – Samudya. Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha. It
can be achieved by following the Ashtanga Magga (Eight-Fold Path).
 I) Theravada (Hinayana), Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's
adherents, termed Theravādins, have preserved their version of Gautama
Buddha's teaching or Buddha Dhamma in the Pāli Canon for over a millennium.
II) Mahayana, Mahāyāna Buddhism generally sees the goal of becoming a Buddha
through the bodhisattva path as being available to all and sees the state of the
arhat as incomplete.
III) Vajrayana, a form of Tantric Buddhism that developed in India and neighboring
countries, notably Tibet. Vajrayana, in the history of Buddhism, marks the
transition from Mahayana speculative thought to the enactment of Buddhist
ideas in individual life.

Jain
Mahavira, Agama Sahitya
A basic principle is anekantavada, the idea that reality is perceived differently from
different points of view, and that no single point of view is completely true. Emphasises
that the ultimate truth and reality is complex, and has multiple-aspects.

Ajivika
Makkhali Gosala, Nikayas
Ajivika means, “following the ascetic way of life”. The Ājīvika school is known for its
Niyati ("Fate") doctrine of absolute determinism, the premise that there is no free will,
that everything that has happened, is happening and will happen is entirely preordained
and a function of cosmic principles. Ājīvikas considered the karma doctrine as a fallacy.