Which of the following is/are correctly matched from the given pairs ?

Philosophy – Propounder
A. Vaisheshika - Kanada
B. Nyaya - Jaimini
C. Samkhya - Gautam

Question

Which of the following is/are correctly matched from the given pairs ?

Philosophy –  Propounder 
A. Vaisheshika - Kanada 
B. Nyaya - Jaimini 
C. Samkhya - Gautam

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The question requires matching the classical schools of orthodox Hindu philosophy (Shad Darshana) with their traditional propounders. The Vaisheshika school is correctly matched with its propounder, Kanada (also known as Kashyapa). The Vaisheshika school is characterized by its atomistic philosophy and its systematic categorization of reality into six categories (Padarthas): substance, quality, action, generality, particularity, and inherence. The Vaisheshika Sutra, attributed to Kanada, serves as the foundational text for this school, making statement A the only correct pairing among the choices. This school provides a scientific and logical framework for understanding the physical universe through its unique perspective on atomic structure.

The incorrect option is 2 (B and C):
This option is incorrect because both pairs B and C are mismatched. The Nyaya school's foundational text, the Nyaya Sutras, was written by Akshapada Gautama, not Jaimini. The Samkhya school's original founder is traditionally regarded as the sage Kapila, not Gautama.

The incorrect option is 3 (Only C):
This option is incorrect because statement C is a misidentification. As explained above, the founder of the Samkhya school is the sage Kapila, whose work lays the metaphysical groundwork for this dualistic system of Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter). Gautama is the propounder of the Nyaya school.

The incorrect option is 4 (A and C):
This option is incorrect because while A (Vaisheshika - Kanada) is correct, C (Samkhya - Gautam) is incorrect. The inclusion of the incorrect pair C renders this combined option false. Students must remember the six primary schools and their founders: Nyaya (Gautama), Vaisheshika (Kanada), Samkhya (Kapila), Yoga (Patanjali), Purva Mimamsa (Jaimini), and Uttara Mimamsa/Vedanta (Vyasa/Badarayana).