Doctrine of Purva Mimamsa Philosophy

Purva Mimamsa Darshana

1. Introduction

• Purva Mimamsa (Dharma Mimamsa) is paired with Vedanta (Uttara Mimamsa).
• Purva Mimamsa's tenets are based on the karma kanda of the Vedas (Brahmanas & Samhitas).
• Vedanta's tenets are based on the jnana kanda (Upanishads).
• Purva Mimamsa emphasizes Brahmanas (ritual aspect).
• Vedanta emphasizes Upanishads.

2. Goals & Differences

• Purva Mimamsa: Liberation (moksha) is achieved by engaging in Vedic rituals.
• Vedanta: Liberation (moksha) is achieved by total detachment from worldly activities.
• Purva Mimamsa does not accept the concept of Ishvara (God).
  • It's a Vedic system that is not dependent on belief in Ishvara.
• Vedanta, to a large extent, accepts Ishvara.

3. Common Beliefs

• Both accept the existence of atman (self).
• Both believe in karma and rebirth of the atman in various physical forms due to karma.
• Both believe in a cycle of birth and death, and the goal is liberation.

4. Purva Mimamsa: Etymology and Core Tenets

• Mimamsa: Reflection or critical investigation.
• Focus: Critically investigating the meaning of Vedic utterances.
• Vedic Utterances: Unauthored and eternal.
  • Opposes Nyaya & Vaisheshika (Vedic utterances authored by Ishvara).
  • Ishvara or god is not relevant to the understanding of Vedic utterances.

5. Goal of Purva Mimamsa

• To interpret and understand these unauthored Vedic utterances.
• Rules of interpretation are systematized by Jaimini Rishi (Mimamsa Sutras).
• Jaimini's Sutras are collection of 2500 sutras.
• Sutra literature is followed by bhashya (commentary).
• Shabara Bhashya is a detailed commentary on Mimamsa Sutras.
• Commentaries further developed by Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara (leading to different schools).
  • Bhatta School of Mimamsa
  • Prabhakara School of Mimamsa

6. Purpose of Vedic Rituals

• This philosophy Provides a philosophical justification for continuing Vedic rituals.
• Liberation is achieved by performing Vedic rituals and accumulating punya (merit).
• Self is trapped in a cycle of birth and death.
• To break this cycle, one must engage in karma (action) that is permitted by the Vedas (dharmic action).
• Proper interpretation of Vedic text leads to dharmic actions.
• Result: Accumulation of punya, leading to swarga and ultimately, liberation.
• Improper interpretation leads to adharma & cycle of birth and death.

7. Importance of Interpretation (Mimamsa Rules)

• Purva Mimamsa provides a theory of interpretation & philosophy of language.
• Concerned with the interpretation of Vedic utterances for dharmic goal realisation.
• Principles can be developed into a general theory of interpretation or hermeneutics.
• Can be applied in other areas (like legal treatises).
• Mimamsa rules help navigate complex articles/laws.
• Mimamsa rules are interpretative rules, contextual rules etcetera.
• Rules are used to see how things are connected to each other.
• Mimamsa rules can be applied in general discourses and discourse analysis.