SHAT DARSHANA
though capacity of a human mind is marvellous as it providesfor endless expansion of the horizons, yet, it is generally to understand the human mind, which could be categorized under the following heads:
:: Introvert
:: Extrovert
For a person who is extrovert the thing that is visible and can be touched is exciting and worthwhile like reading stories of Mahabharata, Ramayana etc. may be heart warming.
Understanding the Bhagawat Gita, which forms part of Mahabharata requires delving deeper into the psyche of mind so that the essence of the vast knowledge can be gauged and understood. This can only be one by the introvert mind.
It does not mean that an extrovert mind can never think like an ontrovert mind and vice versa. On the other hand after certain point of time there is mutual transfer of ideas between both these type of minds. We had talked about Agamas in earlier it is totally based on the extrovert mind and Darshana on the other hand is based on the introspective aspect. There are Six Darshana or Shat-Darshana contributed by different sages on different schools of thought.
It is not possible to provie the knowledge in elaborate manner as so many sages created small couplets or sutras to convey their views and concept.
For a general person these condensed forms of knowledge may not provide the expanse that is within them, but for a Bhashyakar it is condensed form of ocean that is waiting to overflow.
SHAT-DARSHANA: SIX PILLARS OF PHILOSOPHY
(1) NYAYA……….by Gautama Rishi
(2) VAISESHIKA……….by Kanada Rishi
(3) SANKHYA……….by Kapila Muni
(4) YOGA……….by Patanjali Maharshi
(5) PURVA MIMAMSA……….by Rishi Jaimini
(6) UTTARA MIMAMSA (VEDANTA)……….by Badarayana (Vyasa)
Though there are six schools of thoughts, yet each of the schools have not presented their thoughts contradicting each other. each of the thought process join each other to provide a clear picture like a puzzle.
Each school of thought had provided their knowledge comprising of Sutra, Bhashya, Vritti, Varttika, Vyakhana, Tippani.
SUTRA
Sutra is a short yet composite formula with least letters to explain a long and detailed concept. A person who composes Sutra is called a Sutrakara.
In modern terms the Haiku poems can be compared to sutras. In India, there were many sutrakaras but the father of sutra is considered Panini. Ashtadhyayi is one the composite yet complex form of sutras.
Some of the prominent Sutra are:
(1) VYAKARMASUTRAS of Sage Panini
(2) YOGASUTRA of Sage Patanjali
(3) BHAKTISUTRA of Sage Shandilya
(4) BHAKTISUTRA of Sage Narada
(5) TANTRASUTRA of Sage Karnavashistha
BHASHYA
It is very difficult to understand a Sutra, as it requires similar kind of thinking and understanding as that of a Sutrakara.
Thus emerged the concept of explaining the Sutra in an elaborate manner with meaning of each word explained in all contexts. Such people who explained the Sutras were called Bhashyakar.
Like the father of Sutra is Sage Panini, the father of Bhashya is Sage Patanjali. He had deciphered the Vyakarnasutras of Sage Panini and still today, it is called a Mahabhashya (elaborated book of explanation).
Some of the prominent Bhashya are:
:~ Mimamsa Sutras by Sabara-Swamin
:~ Brahma-Sutra by Shankara
VRITTI AND TIPPANI
Whenever brief explanation is provided for any sutra then it is called as a Vritti.
If the explanation of the Sutra is made in brief yet simple language it is called a tippani.
VARTTIKA
Bhashya though provides detailed explanation to any Sutra yet it is inevitable that certain portions of the Sutras remain unexplained.
Naturally for a person who is doing research on it would only receive half-baked knowledge, and in order to overcome these imperfections; certain philosophers have made a critical study of Bhashya as well as Sutras and have them corrected.
VYAKHANA
When detailed explanation is provided in a clear and running manner of a Sutra, it does not try to change or use overtone to create a different sort of impression of the Sutra, but provides explanation in a short and simple manner.
This great article is taken from below book:
Book Name: INDIA, Known things Unknown secrets
Writer: R. VENUGOPALAN
ISBN: 81-8056-373-1
Book Code: BV-5725
Publisher: Health Harmony, New Delhi, India
KathaVarta.com: for Short and Moral stories 