Glimpses Of World Religions

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

Page 24

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Hinduism (The religion of the Hindus)
Brahman scripture-writers have constructed six different philosophical systems in the form of pithy, short sentences; those are known as 's'ad-darshan' or the six systems of philosophy. If there might be in the 'Brahmanas' and upanishadic 'shastras' anything which are either self-contradictory or unintelligible teachings of 'knowledge' - to explain all these, 'Darshanas' or systems of philosophy have been written. There are 3 pairs of two systems each :
(1) Samkhya and Yoga
(2) Nyaya and Vaisheshika
(3) Poorva Mimāmsā and Uttar Mimāmsā.
All these six systems, because they accept the validity of the Vedas, are called the 'Astika Darshanas'. The Samkhya Darshan has been framed or written by Kapil Muni (the Sage Kapila) and it is very old or ancient. The Yogasutra is composed by Patanjali.
Kanāda has composed the Vaisheshika Darshan as a systematic presentation. The Nyaya Darshan has been propagated by sage Gautama. 'Poorva Mimāmsā has been written by Jaiminee and the Uttar Mimāmsā propounded by Badrāyanā Vyāsa. The prime objective of all these systems or Darshanas is to introduce Hindu Dharma and philosophy in easy terms. These s'ad-darshanas have done a wonderful job of explaining in simplified terms the secrets and inner motives of religion and to make them, in this way, beneficiaries to mankind; and they have also provided the platform or ground for understanding Hinduism and have made as realise or see the 'Truth'.
The religion as made explicit in the 18 Puranas is the finalised form of that type of religious life which began in the period after the Vedas being made more elaborate. Recording