The concept of Sharira as Prameya
by Elizabeth T. Jones | 2019 | 42,436 words
This page relates ‘Carvaka Philosophy� of the study on the concept of Sharira as Prameya Based on Nyaya (shastra), which represents one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. Nyaya philosophy basically represents the “science of reasoning� and primarily deals with epistemology and logic. Sharira (“body�) refers to one of the twelve Prameyas (“objects of valid knowledge�), as defined in the Nyayashastra literature.
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The °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ Philosophy
There is no historical evidence regarding the origin of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹²õ. In ±Ê³Ü°ùÄåṇa²õ and ±õ³Ù¾±³óÄå²õ²¹²õ, there is some mentioning about this way of thinking. There is a story regarding the origin of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹. The story tells that the great tutor µþá¹›h²¹²õ±è²¹³Ù¾± had several disciples among whom °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ was one. He was cursed by his teacher for some reason. As a result, he became a non-believer of Vedas. But he had much knowledge about several things in the world. He started a new school to popularize his philosophy. He was rational in his thoughts and he became an atheist.
°äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ advises to enjoy life ‘B´Ç°ù°ù´Ç·É money and drink ghee, there is no question of rebirth since the body is burnt to ashesâ€�[1]. Such a thought was new to a country like India where the great philosophies like Vedanta are born. Naturally people began to follow him since they could lead a life free from miseries at least for a short time. We see quotations of aphorisms of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ philosophy in later books. ±«»å²¹²â²¹²ÔÄ峦Äå°ù²â²¹, in his ±·²âÄå²â²¹°ì³Ü²õ³Ü³¾ÄåñÂá²¹±ô¾± refutes the philosophy of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ in the first chapter. Actually, one comes to know about the ideas of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ only from these books. But, at the same time, much references of this system are available in ³§²¹°ù±¹²¹»å²¹°ùÅ›²¹²Ô²¹²õ²¹á¹ƒg°ù²¹³ó²¹ written by SÄyaṇamÄdhava[2]. The first chapter in this book is dedicated to the philosophy of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹.
Among the accepted eight ±è°ù²¹³¾Äåṇa °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹²õ accept the first one that is ±è°ù²¹³Ù²â²¹°ìá¹£a (perception)[3]. In the query of happiness, no man can lead a virtuous life. So °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹²õ do not accept any ±è°ù²¹³¾Äåṇa except ±è°ù²¹³Ù²â²¹°ìá¹£a. Though this philosophy seems to be rational, one cannot ignore a typical type of mental state revealed in this system. The inevitable sorrow called death which pervades the life of all beings may have tempted this sage to think in this way. °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹ asks why the people do not return after death seeing the sorrow of their close relatives. The Orthodox systems also have no valid reply for this miracle. He says the soul is eternal but why it cannot appear in its previous form. Any way all the philosophers including Bauddhas do not accept this way of thinking of °äÄå°ù±¹Äå°ì²¹²õ.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Indian Philosophy, p. 257
[2]:
Indian Philosophy, vol.1, p.257
[3]:
Indian Philosophy, vol,1, p.255