Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Nyäya

One of the six orthodox systems of

Hindu philosophy. While best known

for its detailed treatment of logic and

epistemology (tarkaÿästra) Nyäya also

deals with metaphysical matters such as

the nature of the self and means of final

emancipation (adhyätmavidyä). The

beginnings of Nyäya may be traced to

the disputations of Vedic scholars and

the debates of Upani•adic sages. The

oldest text is the Nyäya Sütras, ascribed

to GAUTAMA(2), which were comment-

ed upon by later specialists. In the 12th

century Nava Nyäya, the ‘new school of

logic’, developed, focusing on the means

of valid cognition (PRAMÄŒAS). The

most important text is Gaögeÿa’s Tattva-

cintämaæi.

The Nyäya Sütras assert that a

knowledge of the true character of the

16 categories it deals with leads the stu-

dent to the attainment of the highest

good. Nyäya uses a syllogism of five

members: statement of the point to be

proved (pratijñä), reason (hetu), illustrative

example (udahäraæa), corroborative

instance (upanaya) and inference (niga-

mana).

Some later Nyäya works offer proofs

for the existence of God, against the

assertions of Buddhists and Cärväkas.

The Lord is qualified by the absence

(abhäva) of lawlessness (adharma), fal-

sity (mithyäjñäna), and error (pramäda),

and by the positive presence of right-

eousness, knowledge and goodwill.

nyäya

Well-known maxims such as andha-

paraƒpara-nyäya, the maxim of the

blind following the blind.

Nyäya Sütras (c. 300 BCE)

The basic text of the Nyäya darÿana

(system), ascribed to GAUTAMA (2),

dealing with means of right cognition,

objects of right cognition, doubt, dis-

putation etc. commented upon by

VÄTSYÄYAŒA(1).

129 Nyäya Sütras

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