Vaisheshika-sutras

The Vaisheshika-sutras is a foundational text in Indian philosophy, attributed to the philosopher Kanada Kashyapa. This system, known as Vaisheshika, is notable for its naturalism and its attempt to classify all existing entities into categories.

The Vaisheshika system identifies six (later seven) categories of being (padarthas):
* Substance (dravya): The underlying substratum of reality, including earth, water, fire, air, ether, time, space, spirit, and mind.
* Quality (guna): Subdivided into 24 types.
* Action (karma): Occurs within substances.
* Generality (samanya): Similarities that group objects.
* Particularity (vishesha): Distinguishing features of individual objects.
* Inherence (samavaya): Inseparable connections between things.
* Nonexistence (abhava): Added later, referring to absence.

The Vaisheshika school also posits an atomistic view of the universe, suggesting that all physical matter is composed of indivisible atoms of earth, water, fire, and air. These atoms are set in motion by a divine will and unseen forces of merit and demerit. The school later merged with the Nyaya school, becoming known as Nyaya-Vaisheshika.123