Course Content

Fundamentals of Mīmāṃsā

 Module 1: Introduction to Mīmāṃsā

❖Historical Context

• The Vedic period and the emergence of philosophical schools
• The role of Mīmāṃsā in preserving and interpreting Vedic texts

❖ The Six-Fold Vedic Knowledge System (Ṣaḍaṅga)

• Phonetics (śikṣā)
• Ritual (kalpa)
• Grammar (vyākaraṇa)
• Etymology (nirukta)
• Prosody (chandas)
• Astronomy (jyotiṣa)

 Module 2: Mīmāṃsā’s Hermeneutical Principles

❖ The Purpose of the Vedas

• The concept of Dharma and its significance in Vedic texts
• The role of Vedic rituals in achieving spiritual goals

❖ The Methods of Interpretation (Vyākhyāna-Paddhati)

• The importance of context and textual analysis
• The use of linguistic and logical tools in interpretation
• The role of tradition and authority in Vedic interpretation

 Module 3: Key Concepts and Debates in Mīmāṃsā

❖ The Debate on the Authority of the Vedas

• The Mīmāṃsā defense of Vedic authority
• The challenge from other philosophical schools

❖ The Theory of Meaning and Reference

• The concept of abhidhā (direct meaning) and lakṣaṇā (implied meaning)
• The role of context in determining the meaning of Vedic texts

 Module 4: The Practical Application of Mīmāṃsā

❖ Mīmāṃsā and Daily Life

• The relevance of Mīmāṃsā in modern times
• Applying Mīmāṃsā’s principles to ethical and social issues

❖ Mīmāṃsā and Other Disciplines

• The influence of Mīmāṃsā on Indian philosophy, linguistics, and literature