ન્યાય દર્શન – એક પરિચય (Nyaya Darshan – Ek Parichay)

The article provides an accessible introduction to the Nyaya school of Indian philosophy. It explains that the Nyaya-sutra attributed to Gautama establishes sixteen categories, including means of knowledge, objects of knowledge, doubt, purpose, example and debate, which structure philosophical inquiry. Unlike purely metaphysical systems, Nyaya emphasises critical reasoning and defines four valid sources of knowledge: perception, inference, comparison and verbal testimony. The author shows how classical Nyaya analyses each source to ensure reliability, establishing rules for inference and the relationship between a middle term and major term. Historical development is traced through commentaries by Vatsyayana, Uddyotakara, Jayantabhatta and the Navya-Nyaya movement initiated by Gangesa, illustrating how Nyaya responded to Buddhist critiques and refined its logical vocabulary. Quotations from modern scholars highlight that Nyaya can be seen as a science of debate comparable to early Western logic. By outlining the structure of arguments and categories, the article demonstrates that Nyaya’s commitment to clarity and rational debate has enduring relevance. It encourages readers to appreciate this tradition not only as a philosophical system but also as a method of disciplined reasoning that remains useful in contemporary discourse.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.