Mimamsa, Mīmāṃsā: 16 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Mimamsa means something in Hinduism , Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source : Shodhganga: Facts of society in the Manusamhita Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा):—The central idea of Mīmāṃsā philosophy is to know dharma. The relation between this branch and Manusaṃhitā is much connected. It is because the Manusaṃhitā mainly deals with the social and religious behavior of people following the concept of dharma . So dharma plays important role in the Manusaṃhitā . This aspect of Mīmāṃsā generally is explained by commentators with the help of the definition of dharma propounded by Jaimini, the great authority on the said branch of philosophy.

Source : Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Education: Systems & Practices Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा) refers to “analysis” or “interpretation” and represents one of the nine divisions of the Paurūṣeya classification of Śāstra knowledge; all part of the ancient Indian education system, which aimed at both the inner and the outer dimension of a person.

context information Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source : Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—A philosophical system issuing from Brahmā's mouth; ¹ read by the Asuras; ² an aṅga of the Vedas. ³

1) Matsya-purāṇa 3. 4; 53. 6; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 6. 27; V. 1. 38.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 35. 87; IV. 12. 17.
3) Vāyu-purāṇa 61. 78.

context information The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)

Source : Srimatham: Mīmāṃsa: The Study of Hindu Exegesis Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा) simply takes for granted the philosophical concepts of the other 5 systems; it does not enter into any analysis or debate on the nature of the Ultimate Reality, the Self, and the Universe, or their mutual relationship. Its entire methodology is dependent upon their acknowledged existence. Its basic premise of right action ( dharma ) can be established and validated by the means of knowledge taught by the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika school. And, on the other hand all the declared effects of Dharma would be meaningless without the analysis of the evolution of consciousness taught by the Sāṃkhya-Yoga school.

Mīmāṃsā is divided into two systems based on the twofold division of the Vedas ( karma-khāṇḍa dealing with sacrifices and jñāna-khāṇḍa dealing with spiritual knowledge); both use the same logical method of handling their problems; both use the same literary form; but each has its own limited sphere of interpretation.

The primary purpose of Mīmāṃsa is to establish the nature of right action ( Dharma ). The basic premise of Mīmāṃsa is that action is fundamental to the human condition. Without application, knowledge is vain; without action, happiness is impossible; without action human destiny cannot be fulfilled; therefore, right action ( Dharma ) is the sine-qua-non of a meaningful life on earth.

Source : Manblunder: Understanding Philosophies - Part 9 - Mimamsa Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा) means “reasoned conclusion” and is broadly divided into two divisions— Pūrva Mīmāṃsā and Uttara Mīmāṃsā . Mīmāṃsā is so called because it clarifies certain points of Vedānta that are doubtful in nature, mainly because of one’s inability to understand properly (spiritual ignorance). [...] Mīmāṃsā accepts Law of Karma and souls go to heaven or hell based on the Law of Karma. Though it accepts the theory of rebirth, it does not accept the concept of annihilation of the universe. According to Mīmāṃsā, the universe constantly exists as the same, without any expansion. Though it is said that Mīmāṃsā saved the Sacred Vedas over a period of time, yet it does not accept the existence of Īśvara, the Brahman.

context information Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source : Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—The Vedāṅga of philosophical investigation of scripture; a division of Indian philosophy. Note: Mīmāṃsā is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

context information Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish ) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source : Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition) Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा) refers to “a philosophical doctrine that has two divisions: (1) pūrva , or karma-mīmāṃsā , founded by Jaiminī, which advocates that by carrying out the ritualistic duties given in the Vedas, one can attain the celestial planets, and (2) uttara-mīmāṃsā founded by Bādarāyaṇa Vyāsadeva, which deals with the nature of brahma , the Absolute Truth”. ( cf . Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā ).

context information Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source : WikiPedia: Hinduism Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा), a Sanskrit word meaning "investigation" (compare Greek ἱστορία), is the name of an orthodox (Sanskrit: astika) school of Hindu philosophy whose primary enquiry is into the nature of dharma based on close hermeneutics of the Vedas. The nature of dharma is not accessible to reason or observation, and must be inferred from the authority of the revelation contained in the Vedas, which are considered eternal, authorless (apauruṣeyatva), and infallible. The school of Mimamsa consists of both atheistic and theistic doctrines and is not deeply interested in the existence of God, but rather in the character of dharma.

Mīmāṃsā is strongly concerned with textual exegesis, and consequently gave rise to the study of philology and the philosophy of language. Its notion of "speech" (Skt. śabda) as indivisible unity of sound and meaning (signifier and signified) is due to Bhartṛhari (ca. 5th century CE).

The core tenets of Pūrva Mīmāṃsā are ritualism (orthopraxy), anti-asceticism and anti-mysticism. The central aim of the school is elucidation of the nature of dharma, understood as a set ritual obligations and prerogatives to be performed properly.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source : DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—f (S) A philosophical system of the Hindus. The first part, the pūrvamīmāṃsā or mīmāṃsā simply, illustrates the karmakāṇḍa of the Vedas, or the practical part (the ritual) of religion and devotion, including also moral and legal obligations. The second part, or uttaramīmāṃsā, is the same as the Vedant, founded on the jñānakāṇḍa or theological portion of the Vedas, and treating of the spiritual worship of the divinity as the substance of the universe. 2 Investigation of truth, research, study.

Source : DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).— f A philosophical system of the Hindus. Research.

context information Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source : DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—[ mān-vicāre svārthe san a ]

1) Deep reflection, inquiry, examination, investigation; अथातो व्रतमीमांसा ( athāto vratamīmāṃsā ) Bṛ. Up.1.5.21; रसगङ्गाधरनाम्नीं करोति कुतुकेन काव्य- मीमांसाम् ( rasagaṅgādharanāmnīṃ karoti kutukena kāvya- mīmāṃsām ) R. G.; सैषा आनन्दस्य मीमांसा भवति ( saiṣā ānandasya mīmāṃsā bhavati ) Tait. Up.; so दत्तक°, अलंकार° ( dattaka°, alaṃkāra° ) &c.

2) Name of one of the six chief darśanas or systems of Indian philsophy. (It was originally divided into two systems :-the pūrvamīmāṃsā or karmamīmāṃsā founded by Jaimini, and the uttaramīmāṃsā or brahmamīmāṃsā ascribed to Bādarāyaṇa; but the two systems have very little in common between them, the first concerning itself chiefly with the correct interpretation of the ritual of the Veda and the settlement of dubious points in regard to Vedic texts; and the latter dealing chiefly with the nature of Brahman or the Supreme Spirit. The pūrvamīmāṃsā is, therefore, usually, styled only mīmāṃsā or the Mīmāṃsā, and the uttara- mīmāṃsā, vedānta which, being hardly a sequel of Jaimini's system, is now considered and ranked separately.) मीमांसाकृतमुन्ममाथ सहसा हस्ती मुनिं जैमिनिम् ( mīmāṃsākṛtamunmamātha sahasā hastī muniṃ jaiminim ) Pt.2.34.

Source : Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—f.

( -sā ) One of the philosophical systems of the Hindus, or rather a two-fold system, the two parts of which form two of the six Darśhanas or schools of philosophy; the first part, the Purva Mimansa, or Mimanś simply, originates with the Muni Jaimini, and illustrates the Karma-kanda of the Vedas or the practical part, (the ritual,) of religion and devotion, including also moral and legal obligations. The second part, or Uttara Mimansa, ascribed to Vyasa, is the same as the Vedanta, founded on the Jnana-kanda, or theological portion of the Vedas, and treating of the spiritual worship of the Supreme Being or soul of the universe. E. mān to seek knowledge, affs. aṅ and ṭāp; the derivative takes the augment of the reduplicate form of the verb.

Source : Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary Mīmāṃsa (मीमांस).—see man .

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Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—i. e. mīmāṃsa + a , f. Two of the philosophical systems of the Hindus, distinguished as pūrva and uttara .

Source : Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा).—[feminine] reflection, consideration, examination, [Name] of a philos, system.

Source : Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—consists of two kinds. The first called Pūrvamīmāṃsā, Karmamīmāṃsā, Dharmamīmāṃsā, Bhāṭṭa, is based on the Jaiminisūtra. The second Uttaramīmāṃsā, Vedānta, rests on the authority of the Brahmasūtra by Bādarāyaṇa. The following works belong only to the Pūrvamīmāṃsā.

Source : Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary 1) Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा):—[from mīmāṃsaka ] f. profound thought or reflection or Consideration, investigation, examination, discussion, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Taittirīya-āraṇyaka]

2) [ v.s. ...] theory ( cf. kāvya-m )

3) [ v.s. ...] ‘examination of the Vedic text’, Name of one of the 3 great divisions of orthodox Hindū philosophy (divided into 2 systems, viz. the Pūrva-mīmāṃsā or Karma-mīmāṃsā by Jaimini, concerning itself chiefly with the correct interpretation of Vedic ritual and text, and usually called the Mīmāṃsā; and the Uttara-mīmāṃsā or Brahma-mīmāṃsā or Śārīraka-mīmāṃsā by Bādarāyaṇa, commonly styled the Vedānta and dealing chiefly with the nature of Brahmă or the one universal Spirit), [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 46; 98 etc.]

context information Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् ( saṃskṛtam ), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Mimamsa

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