Jaimini
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Jaimini was an Indian philosopher and the author of the Mimamsa-sutra, the foundational text for the Mimamsa school of Indian philosophy. This system, also known as Purva-Mimamsa or Karma-Mimamsa, focuses on interpreting the Vedas, the earliest scriptures of Hinduism, and providing a philosophical basis for Vedic rituals.1
The primary goal of Mimamsa is to understand dharma, defined as ritual obligations that maintain world harmony and fulfill personal goals. Mimamsa emphasizes that dharma can only be known through the Vedas, which are considered eternal and infallible. Jaimini's work, along with the commentary by Shabara, stresses that performing Vedic sacrifices leads to attaining heaven, and that duty is instrumental to long-term happiness. Jaimini's interpretation is considered closer to the original Mimamsa-sutras than that of his later follower, Prabhakara.123
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Indian philosophyRoles of sacred texts, mythology, and theismThe Purva-Mimamsa of Jaimini (c. 400 bce), the greatest philosopher of the Mimamsa school, posits various deities to account for the significance of Vedic rituals but ignores, without denying, the question of the existence of God. The Advaita Vedanta of Shankara rejects atheism in order to prove that…
Read MoreThe Purva-Mimamsa of Jaimini (c. 400 bce), the greatest philosopher of the Mimamsa school, posits various deities to account for the significance of Vedic rituals but ignores, without denying, the question of the existence of God. The Advaita Vedanta of Shankara rejects atheism in order to prove that…
Read More- Indian philosophyThe Purva-mimamsa-sutras and Shabara’s commentary
Jaimini, who composed sutras about the 4th century bce, was critical of earlier Mimamsa authors, particularly of one Badari, to whom is attributed the view that the Vedic injunctions are meant to be obeyed without the expectation of benefits for oneself. According to Jaimini, Vedic…
Read MoreJaimini, who composed sutras about the 4th century bce, was critical of earlier Mimamsa authors, particularly of one Badari, to whom is attributed the view that the Vedic injunctions are meant to be obeyed without the expectation of benefits for oneself. According to Jaimini, Vedic…
Read More - Indian philosophyPrincipal texts and relation to Shabara
…Kumarila remained closer to both Jaimini and Shabara. Kumarila, like Jaimini and Shabara, restricted Mimamsa to an investigation into dharma, whereas Prabhakara assigned to it the wider task of inquiring into the meaning of the Vedic texts. Kumarila understood the Vedic injunction to include a statement of the results to…
Read More…Kumarila remained closer to both Jaimini and Shabara. Kumarila, like Jaimini and Shabara, restricted Mimamsa to an investigation into dharma, whereas Prabhakara assigned to it the wider task of inquiring into the meaning of the Vedic texts. Kumarila understood the Vedic injunction to include a statement of the results to…
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