Unit 5: Purva Mimamsa Philosophy

1. The Concept of Dharma

Mimamsa is essentially an inquiry into Dharma. Jaimini defines Dharma as Codana-laksano'rtho dharmah—duty as enjoined by the Vedic commands.

2. Epistemology: The Six Pramanas

Mimamsa (specifically the Bhatta school) recognizes six valid sources of knowledge, adding two to the four recognized by Nyaya:

1. Pratyaksha: Perception.
2. Anumana: Inference.
3. Upamana: Comparison.
4. Shabda: Verbal Testimony (The most important for Mimamsa).
5. Arthapatti: Presumption (e.g., if Devadatta is fat but doesn't eat by day, he must eat by night).
6. Anupalabdhi: Non-perception (The source of knowledge for the absence of an object).

3. Svatah-Pramanyavada

Mimamsa holds the theory of Self-Validity of Knowledge.

• Knowledge is valid by itself. It does not need another source to prove its truth.
• An apprehension is true unless it is set aside by a contradictory experience or by the discovery of defects in the causes of the knowledge.

4. Apauruseyatva (Eternity of the Vedas)

Mimamsa argues that the Vedas are not the work of any person (human or divine). They are Apauruseya (authorless) and eternal.

5. Arthapatti and Anupalabdhi

These two pramanas are unique to Mimamsa and Vedanta:

• Arthapatti (Presumption): Necessary postulation of a fact to explain a perceived conflict. If you see a living person is not in their house, you presume they are outside.
• Anupalabdhi (Non-perception): Used to know "Non-existence." I know there is no jar on this table because I do not perceive it where it ought to be perceived.