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Course Description: Tattva Mīmāṃsā in Jain, Bauddha, Vaiśeṣika, and Sāṅkhya Traditions

This course offers an in-depth study of Tattva Mīmāṃsā—the philosophical inquiry into the nature, classification, and function of reality—across four major Indian philosophical traditions: Jainism, Buddhism (Bauddha), Vaiśeṣika, and Sāṅkhya. It aims to develop a nuanced understanding of how each system conceptualizes tattva (fundamental principles of existence) and uses these ontological frameworks to explain bondage, cognition, suffering, and liberation.

The course critically examines key categories such as jīva–ajīva, skandha, dharma–adharma, puruṣa–prakṛti, dravya, guṇa, karma, and kāla, highlighting both convergences and philosophical divergences among these schools. Special attention is given to epistemological grounding, metaphysical assumptions, and the practical implications of tattva theory for ethics and soteriology.

Through comparative analysis, students will learn how different traditions respond to common philosophical questions:
What is real?
How is plurality explained?
What is the status of the self?
How does knowledge transform existence?

Designed for UG/PG students, competitive examination aspirants (NET/SET/JRF), and research scholars, this course emphasizes conceptual clarity, analytical depth, and structured comparison. It equips learners with the intellectual tools required to engage with classical Indian philosophy at an advanced academic level, while also fostering critical reflection on the relevance of tattva inquiry in contemporary philosophical discourse.