Indian Philosophy, Volume 1

The opening chapter, “The Philosophy of the Upaniṣads,” traces the movement from Vedic polytheism, henotheism, and monotheism toward philosophical monism and idealism. Sinha analyzes the distinction between Para Brahman and Apara Brahman, the concepts of nirguṇa and saguṇa Brahman, the relation of the individual self (jīvātman) to the Supreme Self, bondage through avidyā, liberation through vidyā, and the Upaniṣadic accounts of cosmology, rebirth, immortality, worship, asceticism, yoga, devotion, and divine grace. He also identifies in the Upaniṣads the conceptual “germs” of later systems such as Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Sāṃkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāṃsā, Buddhism, Jainism, and Cārvāka. 

Chapter II, “The Cults in the Minor Upaniṣads,” examines later sectarian developments in Śaivism, Śāktism, Vaiṣṇavism, and the worship of Gaṇeśa, Sūrya, and Rāma. These texts are presented as combining Upaniṣadic metaphysics with increasingly explicit devotional, theistic, yogic, and Tantric elements. The chapter discusses the philosophical basis of Śaiva and Śākta theology, māyā, śakti, devotion, renunciation, yoga, monism, and ascetic morality. 

Chapter III, “The Philosophy of the Epics,” turns to the Manusmṛti, the Mahābhārata, and the Rāmāyaṇa. The uploaded portion includes a substantial analysis of Manu’s cosmology, ethics, dharma, karma, rebirth, social duties, self-control, asceticism, and the four aims of human life. Sinha then begins his discussion of the Mahābhārata, where he examines Brahman, prakṛti, puruṣa, divine governance, human freedom, destiny, moral action, and the interaction between Sāṃkhya, Vedānta, and theistic ideas. 

Table of Contents:

1. The Philosophy of the Upaniṣads

2. The Cults of the Minor Upaniṣads

3. The Philosophy of the Epics

4. The Philosophy of the Purāṇas: Viṣṇuism, Śaivism and Śāktism

5. The Philosophy of the Gītās: The Ways to the Goal

6. The Common Ideas in Indian Philosophy

7. The Philosophy of the Cārvāka

8. The Vaiśeṣika Philosophy

9. The Nyāya Philosophy

10. The Navya-Nyāya Philosophy

11. The Mīmāṃsā Philosophy

12. The Śabda Philosophy