The six main schools of Hindu philosophy

  The six main schools of Hindu philosophy, known as the Shat Darshanas (Sad Darshana), are Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. These orthodox (astika) schools accept the authority of the Vedas and generally share the goal of attaining moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.  

The six schools of Hindu philosophy

Samkhya: An ancient dualistic philosophy that posits two fundamental realities: Purusha (spirit, consciousness) and Prakriti (nature, matter). It provides the philosophical basis for Yoga. 

Yoga: A system founded by the sage Patanjali, which is closely aligned with Samkhya's metaphysics but emphasizes the practical discipline of self-realization through meditation and concentration. 

Nyaya: A school of logic and rational thought, founded by the sage Gautama. It focuses on the mechanisms of knowledge (pramanas) and the use of the five senses as a path to liberation. 

Vaisheshika: A realist system that includes an atomistic theory of the physical world, founded by the sage Kanada. 

Mimamsa: Also known as Purva Mimamsa (earlier Mimamsa), this tradition focuses on Vedic exegesis and the correct performance of rituals. 

Vedanta: Also known as Uttara Mimamsa (later Mimamsa), this system is based on the Upanishads and focuses on the metaphysical understanding of reality and the nature of God. A major school within Vedanta is Advaita Vedanta