Padartha Vijnana (English)

Padartha Vijnana is a fundamental concept in Ayurveda and Indian philosophy, particularly within the framework of the Nyaya-Vaisheshika school of thought. The term “Padartha” refers to “categories” or “objects,” and “Vijnana” means “knowledge” or “science.” Therefore, Padartha Vijnana can be understood as the science or knowledge of categories.

Overview of Padartha Vijnana

Padartha Vijnana deals with the classification and understanding of everything that exists in the universe. It provides a systematic approach to comprehending the nature of reality and forms the philosophical foundation for many traditional Indian sciences, including Ayurveda.

The Six Categories (Shad Padartha):

The classical Nyaya-Vaisheshika system categorizes all objects of knowledge into six categories:

1. Dravya (Substance):
   • Dravya refers to substances or entities that possess qualities and actions. These are the foundational elements that constitute the universe.