Darsana

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Darsana (aka Darshana, Dyasana) is a sanskrit word meaning "to see". It can refer to the action of visiting sculptures of deities in temples, and also to one of the six philosophical viewpoints or schools of Hinduism. In the latter sense, darsana contains a richer experience than just the visual, as it involves other senses, contemplation of reality and so on.

[edit] Philosophies

In Hinduism, the Darsana is also called the Shad-Darsana, or 6 Darsanas. It is part of the Smriti.

1) Nyaya Sutras or logic was written by Sage Gautama. It consists of 537 Sutras in 5 chapters. It deals with the analysis of the mental process of knowing.

2) Vaisheshika is a supplement to Nyaya; it was written by Sage Kanada. It consists of about 373 Sutras in 12 chapters. It elaborates on a six-fold grouping of things like Dravya (money), Guna (Sattwa, Rajas, Tamas), Karma etc.

3) Sankhya consists of six chapters by Kapila Muni. It teaches that the goal of life is to get absolute freedom from the three kinds of miseries.

4) Yoga (aka Raja-Yoga) consists of 194 Sutras in four parts Sage Patanjali. Its themes include control of character by control of body, mind (emotions), intellect etc. in the eight-fold steps.

5) Purva Mimamsa or actions was written by Jaimini. It consists of 12 chapters.

6) Uttara Mimamsa is by Badarayana or Vyasa. There are two kinds; the second consists of 4 chapters. Mimamsa Uttara is also known as Sharirika, Vedanta, BrahmaSutra, knowledge. It tries to explain the process of realising the identity of Jiva (individual soul) with Brahman (Supreme Reality).

[edit] Other Uses

Darsana is also the name of a game made using the DarkPlaces engine.