Philosophical Writings

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

Page 94

The Role of Beauty as a Value in Everyday Life
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Ananada (Bliss) as essence of Beauty, but enable us to differentiate between spurious and authentic beauty."3+
According to Indian Philosophy Bliss (Ananda) could be Priya (Smiple Joy), Moda (Conscious Joy) and Pramoda (Loftiest Joy). These are the three categories. The first one Priya i.e. ‘Pleasing' is the result of "an unsophisticated and simple experience of the beautiful”. Here there is pleasure at the first sight. There is no conflict in the mind and a feeling of tranquilily is bestowed upon the beholder. That is Priya. The Moda is bliss attained as a result of the conscious effort. When the light and reason mingle through an experience of free imagination Moda is experienced. Pramod is the loftiest joy. “This comes to an individual through his active participation in the creative expression of beauty. "25 Bilss or Ananada is the result of experience of Beauty and it is experienced by Atman or Soul. In fact all these three catagories are the three phases of bliss, that of a simple experience, conscious experience and loftiest experience of beauty.
Not Beauty by conception of Bliss or Ananada is the hallmarks of Indian Philosophy but unique contribution of the Indian thought in the form of Trinity: Satyam (Truth) Shivam (Goodness) and Sundaram (Beauty) is to the world philosophy. Mahatma Gandhi says, “The absolute idea as conceived by intellect is the highest truth, as realised in practice is the gratest good, and as manifested in man and nature is the Supreme beauty”. 26
In Bhagavadgita, Lord Krishna, declares that "Whatever beauty we find in the universe it is ultimately an aspect of godhead” 27
2.6.4. A lot can be said about the Indian asethetics and thus about Beauty. But due to space constraints I mention a few ideas from Jainism and Buddhism, schools of India Philosophy. Both Jainism and Buddhism do not pay any attention to Physical or wordly beauty. They do talk about beauty as a value. Both have contributed to Indian aesthetics in general, since it is not our subject to discuss the differences and discussions amongst Jainism, Buddhism