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Doctrine of Purva Mimamsa Philosophy

Purva Mimamsa Darshana

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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.
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