History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization (Vol- II Part 6)

by D.P. Chattopadhyaya

Purvamimamsa is one of the six systems of Indian Philosophy and very ancient. Purvamimamsa developed into two schools, Bhatta school initiated by Kumarila Bhatta, and Prabhakara school initiated by Prabhakara.

Mimamsa has made rich contribution to the areas of epistemology, linguistics and programme organization. The concept of the intrinsic validity of cognition, including the impersonal nature of the Veda, and acceptance of the cognition of certain entities such as ethical values beyond the empirical means of cognition, are its contribution to epistemology. Considering the language as autonomous as word, sentence and discourse levels and developing a distinct hermeneutics to interpret the Vedic passages and developing the rules of interpretation, are its contribution to linguistics.

Developing detailed guideline for organizing the ritual programme is, however, its most important contribution. The rules of interpretation evolved by Purvamimamsa for the purpose of interpreting Vedic passages are so fundamental and universal that these can be applied to interpret any other scripture.

About the Author:

D.P. Chattopadhyaya, M.A., LL.B., Ph.D. (Calcutta and London School of Economics), D. Litt. (Honoris Causa) researched, studied Law, Philosophy and History and taught at various Universities in India, Asia, Europe and USA FROM 1954-1994. founder-Chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (1981-1990) and President-cum-Chairman of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (1984-1991), Chattopadhyaya is currently the Project Director of the multi-disciplinary 96-Vol. Project of History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization (PHISPC) and Chairman of the Centre for Studies in Civilizations (CSC). Among his 32 publications (authored 17 and edited 15) are Individuals and Societies (1967), Individuals and World (1976), Sri Aurobindo and Karl Marx (1988), Anthropology and Historiography of Science (1990), Induction, Probability and Skepticism (1991), Sociology, Ideology and Utopia (1997), Societies, Cultures and Ideologies (2000), Interdisciplinary Studies in Science, Society, Value and Civilizational Dialogue (2002) and Philosophy of Science, Phenomenology and Other Essays (2003). Besides, he held high public Offices like Union Cabinet Ministership and State Governorship.