Orthodox School
- This school believed that Vedas were the supreme revealed scriptures that hold the secrets to salvation.
- They did not question the authenticity of the Vedas.
- They had six subschools that were called the Shada Darshana: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta.
- Samkhya
- Founded by Kapila.
- Samkhya is the oldest of the orthodox philosophical systems, and it postulates that everything, in reality, stems from purusha (self, soul, or mind) and prakriti (matter, creative agency, energy).
- Yoga
- Founded by Patanjali
- Yoga means the union of two principal entities.
- Yogic techniques control body, mind & sense organs, thus considered as a means of achieving freedom or mukti.
- Nyaya
- Founded by Gautama Muni
- Nyaya Philosophy states that nothing is acceptable unless it is by reason and experience (scientific approach).
- Nyaya is considered as a technique of logical thinking.
- Vaisheshika
- Founded by Kanada.
- The basis of the school’s philosophy is that all objects in the physical universe are reducible to a finite number of atoms and Brahman is regarded as the fundamental force that causes consciousness in these atoms.
- Purva Mimamsa
- Founded by Jamini
- This philosophy encompasses the Nyaya-vaisheshika systems and emphasises the concept of valid knowledge.
- Vedanta
- The Vedanta, or Uttara Mimamsa, school concentrates on the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads (mystic or spiritual contemplations within the Vedas), rather than the Brahmanas (instructions for ritual and sacrifice).
Unorthodox Schools
- Charvaka
- Founded by Brihaspati.
- Charvaka is a materialistic, sceptical and atheistic school of thought.
- Ajivika
- It was a school of thought that developed in India during the same time as Jainism and Buddhism.
- It is one of the schools under Nastika philosophy (it does not believe in the authority of Vedas).
- It was founded by Goshala Maskariputra (He is considered to be friends with Mahavira).
- Buddhist Philosophy
- Jain Philosophy
