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Indian Philosophy
A tenet of this Darshana is that by Ishvara’s design this
Universe has been built up from atoms. Therefore, in this
Darshana, Ishvara has been accepted as the Creator.
Padarthâs
This Darshana has accepted seven padarthâs (categories
of realities) and four sources of valid or true knowledge. The
padârthâs are ‘dravya’ (the repository of qualities & energies or
substance), ‘guna’ (quality), ‘karma’ (past deeds or actions or
motions),’sâmânya’ (uniformity or generality), ‘visesh’ (particu-
lar variety or individuality), ‘samvâya’ (inherence), and ‘abhâva’
(negation or nothingness or non-being).
Dravya
Dravya (substance) is of nine types. ‘Prithvi’ (earth), ‘Jal’
(water), ‘Tej’ (fire or light), ‘Vâyu’ (air), ‘Âkâsh’ (ether), ‘Kâla’
(time), ‘Dishâ’ (space), ‘Âtma’ (soul), and ‘Man’ (mind).
Guna
The Gunas total 24 in number. These are ‘Roopa” (form
or colour), ‘Rasa’ (taste), ‘Gandha’ (odour or smell), ‘Sparsha’
(touch or tangibility), ‘Sankhyâ’ (numbers), ‘Parimân’(measure
or dimension), ‘Pruthaktva’ (distinctness or individuality),
‘Samyoga’ (conjunction), ‘Vibhâga’ (division or disjunction),
‘Paratva’ (distance, degree, or level), ‘Aparatva’ (proximity),
‘Gurutva’ (gravity or weight), ‘Dravatva’ (fluidity), ‘Sneha’ (vis-
cidity or stickiness), ‘Shabda’ (sound), ‘Buddhi’ (cognition or
knowing), ‘Sukha’ (pleasure or happiness), ‘Dukha’ (pain or sor-
row), ‘Ichhâ’ (desire or longing), ‘Dvesha’ (aversion or hatred),
‘Prayatna’ (effort or striving), ‘Dharma’ (good conduct or merit),
‘Adharma’ (bad conduct or demerit), ‘and ‘samskâr’ (faculty of
impression or self-reproductive quality).